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I'm going through this exact same situation right now - mailed my SDI claim 10 days ago when my home WiFi went down for emergency repairs and I couldn't get to a library in time before the deadline. The stress has been unreal, especially reading about 4-6 week processing times vs the 1-2 weeks for online! Just tried @Charlie Yang's registration trick and got the dreaded "no existing claim" error too, so mine definitely hasn't been entered into their system yet. But honestly, having a way to actually check the status without calling is such a relief - at least I'm not completely in the dark anymore. I'm planning to call at exactly 8am tomorrow since I'm hitting that sweet spot several people mentioned where it's worth checking on receipt. The waiting is killing me with bills piling up, but reading @Natasha Volkova and @Lincoln Ramiro's success stories gives me hope that the backpay will make up for this awful waiting period. Really wish EDD would be transparent about how much longer paper claims actually take - if their website said "4-6 weeks for mail vs 1-2 weeks online" I definitely would have figured out another way to file electronically! Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences, it's been a lifesaver knowing I'm not alone in this mess.
@Omar Zaki I m'so sorry you re'going through this too! I just joined this community because I m'in almost the exact same situation - mailed my claim 2 days ago when my laptop crashed during a power outage. Reading through everyone s'experiences here has been both terrifying and reassuring at the same time. The fact that you re'at 10 days with no movement in their system really shows how backed up they are with paper claims. @Charlie Yang s registration'trick seems to be the only reliable way to actually track progress, which is kind of sad that we have to use workarounds just to know if our claims exist! I m taking'notes on everyone s advice'here for when I hit the calling stage - the 8am strategy seems to be universally recommended. Really hoping you get some good news tomorrow when you call! It s crazy'that we all have to become EDD experts just to navigate what should be a straightforward disability claim process. The stress of not knowing anything while bills pile up is just awful. Keep us posted on how your call goes - fingers crossed they at least confirm receipt!
I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed my SDI claim by mail 5 days ago when my internet was out for maintenance, and I've been stressing about it ever since. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea paper claims took 4-6 weeks vs just 1-2 weeks online. EDD's website really doesn't make that difference clear at all! Just tried @Charlie Yang's registration trick and got the "no existing claim" error too, so mine definitely hasn't hit their system yet. That's actually such a helpful way to check without dealing with their phone system - wish I'd known about that sooner! It's both comforting and frustrating to see so many of us in the same boat right now. Seems like technology failures at the worst possible time are more common than we'd think! I'm definitely planning to try the 8am calling strategy once I hit day 10 based on everyone's advice here. Thanks to @Amara Torres for the professional insight about the pandemic backlog still affecting things, and to @Natasha Volkova and @Lincoln Ramiro for sharing your success stories. Knowing the backpay covers everything from the start date helps make this wait feel slightly more manageable. We'll all get through this together!
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Just want to add my recent experience to help others - I submitted my SDI documents about 3 weeks ago and learned a few things that might be useful. First, when you're scanning your ID, make sure the edges aren't cut off even slightly - EDD rejected my first submission because a tiny corner of my license was missing from the scan. Second, if you have an older W2 that's starting to fade, you can sometimes improve the contrast by placing a white sheet of paper behind it when scanning to make the numbers more visible. Finally, I found that naming my files with the date helped me keep track of which version I submitted: "DE1234567_DriversLicense_Front_2025-03-29.pdf". This was super helpful when I had to call EDD to reference my submission. The whole process took about 12 business days from upload to claim approval, so definitely be patient but stay on top of checking your status. Good luck everyone!
These are all excellent tips! The edge cutting issue is something I never would have considered - it's crazy how picky EDD can be about document formatting. Your idea about using white paper behind faded documents is brilliant too. I'm dealing with a W2 from 2023 that's gotten pretty light over time, so I'll definitely try that scanning trick. The date-based file naming system is really smart for keeping track of submissions, especially if you end up having to resubmit anything. 12 business days total isn't too bad considering all the horror stories you hear about EDD processing times. Thanks for sharing your timeline - it helps set realistic expectations! Did your claim status update gradually throughout those 12 days, or did it just suddenly change to approved at the end?
I've been following this thread closely since I'm about to submit my own documents for SDI verification. The collective wisdom here is incredible! One thing I wanted to add that might help future readers - if you're using your smartphone to take photos of documents instead of scanning, make sure to turn off the flash and use natural lighting from a window. I learned this the hard way when my first attempt at photographing my ID created terrible glare that made parts of the text unreadable. Also, for anyone worried about file sizes, most modern phones let you adjust photo quality in camera settings - choosing "high efficiency" or "medium" quality usually keeps files under the 5MB limit while still maintaining good clarity. The multiple submission approach everyone's recommending really does seem like the safest bet. I'm planning to upload tonight during off-peak hours like Diez suggested, then mail certified copies tomorrow morning. This community has turned what seemed like an impossible bureaucratic maze into a manageable step-by-step process. Thank you all for sharing your experiences!
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This thread is exactly what I needed to read! I'm a benefits coordinator at a mid-size company and I see this confusion ALL the time. Employees constantly think that filing with Sedgwick automatically handles everything, when in reality Sedgwick is just our third-party administrator for FMLA and company leave policies. What I always tell our employees is: Think of it as two completely different buckets - Sedgwick protects your job and tracks your time off, while EDD SDI replaces a portion of your lost wages. They don't talk to each other AT ALL. For anyone reading this who might face this situation in the future, I'd also recommend asking your HR department for a clear breakdown of what benefits are available to you BEFORE you need them. Some companies offer supplemental short-term disability that pays more than state SDI, while others rely entirely on the state program. Knowing this ahead of time can save you stress and confusion when you're already dealing with a medical issue. Miguel, your sister is so fortunate to have you advocating for her. The number of employees who miss out on benefits simply because no one explained the system properly is honestly heartbreaking.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective as a benefits coordinator! It's really validating to hear from someone who sees this confusion regularly - it makes me feel less frustrated about how unclear this whole process has been. Your "two buckets" analogy is perfect and I'm definitely going to use that when explaining it to my sister. The fact that you see this confusion ALL the time really highlights how poorly this system is communicated to employees. I think the proactive approach you mentioned about asking HR for a benefits breakdown before you need them is brilliant advice that everyone should follow. It's just unfortunate that most people (like us) only learn about these distinctions when they're already in the middle of a medical situation and stressed about other things. Your point about employees missing out on benefits due to poor explanation is exactly what we were worried about happening to my sister. Thank you for the work you do in helping employees navigate these systems - it clearly makes a huge difference!
This has been such an educational thread! I'm actually going through something similar right now - my wife is about to start a 4-week medical leave for a procedure, and our HR department gave us the same vague "contact Sedgwick" advice without mentioning EDD at all. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear that we need to be much more proactive about filing separately with both systems. I'm curious - for those who have been through this process, how long did it typically take to get approved and start receiving SDI benefits after filing? My wife is the primary breadwinner in our household, so timing is pretty important for us. Also, did anyone have issues with their doctor being unfamiliar with the EDD medical certification forms? Her surgeon is part of a large medical group, so I'm hoping they deal with these forms regularly, but I want to be prepared in case we need to provide additional guidance to their office. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to save us from making the same mistakes that so many others have made!
Great questions! From my experience, once you file the SDI claim and the doctor submits the medical certification, it typically takes about 14 days for EDD to process and approve the claim. Then benefits usually start flowing within a few days after approval. Since there's the 7-day waiting period before benefits kick in anyway, the timing usually works out where you start receiving payments around the 2-3 week mark from when the disability began. As for doctors and the EDD forms - larger medical groups are usually pretty familiar with disability certifications, but it doesn't hurt to mention specifically that it's for "California State Disability Insurance" when you schedule the appointment. Some medical offices have dedicated staff who handle these forms, which can speed things up. The key is to get the EDD application started as soon as her leave begins, even before the doctor completes their part - the system will hold your claim while waiting for medical certification. One tip that really helped us: when your wife calls to schedule her follow-up appointments, mention that she'll need disability paperwork completed and ask if there are any forms she should bring or if they prefer to receive them electronically through the EDD system. Being proactive about this saved us several days of back-and-forth!
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I'm a new mom who just went through this exact situation two months ago! My heart goes out to you because I know how panicked and helpless you feel right now. One thing that really helped me was preparing a "correction packet" before going to my doctor's office. I included: a copy of my baby's birth certificate, hospital discharge summary, a printed blank DE 2501 form, and a simple letter explaining exactly what needed to be corrected and why it was urgent. When I walked into the office with everything organized and ready, they took me much more seriously. I also asked to speak with the office manager rather than just the front desk staff - sometimes you need to go up the chain to get action. The key phrase I used was "this medical error is costing my family thousands of dollars in legally entitled benefits" - that seemed to really drive home the urgency. Also, definitely submit that DE 1000A appeal form as backup protection while you're working on the medical correction. You've got this, mama! Keep advocating for yourself and your family. 💪
This is such comprehensive advice! I'm definitely putting together a correction packet like you described - having everything organized in one place sounds like it will make a huge difference in how seriously they take the issue. I especially appreciate the suggestion to ask for the office manager and that key phrase about "legally entitled benefits." Sometimes I think we need to be more direct about the financial impact rather than just hoping they'll understand the urgency. It's so helpful to hear from someone who just went through this recently - knowing that you successfully got it resolved gives me a lot of confidence going into my appointment tomorrow. Thank you for the detailed roadmap and the encouragement! 🙏
I'm a new mom who went through almost the exact same thing 4 months ago with my SDI claim! My doctor wrote my c-section date wrong by one day and my return to work date was off by 6 weeks - it was absolutely terrifying when I realized EDD was going to cut my benefits short by thousands of dollars. Here's what worked for me: I went to my doctor's office first thing in the morning with a "correction folder" containing my hospital discharge papers, baby's birth certificate, and a pre-filled DE 2501 form with the CORRECT dates highlighted. I told them I wasn't leaving until they fixed it and submitted it electronically. The key was being polite but firm - I said "this medical error is jeopardizing my family's financial stability during my recovery." They submitted the correction that day and I got confirmation within 72 hours. Also, make sure you screenshot your current SDI Online account showing the wrong dates as evidence. The whole thing took about a week to fully process once submitted. You're doing everything right by being persistent - don't let them brush you off! This is fixable and you will get your full benefits. Hang in there mama! 💪
Daniel Price
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I submitted a return to work form two weeks ago, but then my condition worsened and my doctor just submitted extension paperwork yesterday. I've been absolutely panicking about this conflict. Reading through everyone's experiences here, I feel so much more confident about getting this resolved. The advice about calling right at 8 AM using the 1-6-1 menu options seems to be the key that multiple people have had success with. I'm also going to send a detailed message through SDI Online explaining the situation while I keep trying to get through on the phone. One thing I wanted to add for anyone else going through this - I spoke with my doctor's office today and they confirmed they can see when forms are submitted on their end of the system. My doctor's assistant mentioned that EDD typically sends them a confirmation within 24-48 hours when extension paperwork is processed. So if you're waiting to see if your doctor's extension shows up in your account, that might give you a timeline to expect. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice. It's so reassuring to know this is a fixable situation and that EDD has processes in place to handle these conflicts. Will definitely update once I get through to them!
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Andre Dupont
•I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! I've been reading through everyone's experiences here and it really does seem like this is more common than any of us initially thought. It's really smart that you're planning to both call and send a message through SDI Online - that dual approach seems to be what worked best for several people here. That's really useful information about the 24-48 hour timeline for EDD to send confirmation to doctors when extension paperwork is processed. I didn't know that, and it gives a good benchmark for when to expect things to show up in our accounts. The fact that your doctor submitted the extension after you submitted the return to work form is actually very similar to Rachel's original situation, so you should definitely be able to follow the same resolution path that worked for others. From what I've gathered reading through all these responses, the key seems to be getting to a human at EDD who can make a note in your file that the medical extension should take precedence over the self-reported return date. I'm actually planning to call tomorrow morning myself using those same menu options - maybe we'll both get through quickly! Really hoping your call goes smoothly and you get this sorted out without any benefit interruptions. Please do update us on how it goes!
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Isabella Silva
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where I submitted conflicting paperwork to EDD. My doctor submitted an extension last week, but I had already told EDD I'd be returning to work this Friday. After reading everyone's experiences here, I feel much more prepared to handle this. A few things I learned from this discussion that I want to highlight for anyone else in this situation: 1. The 8 AM call time with menu options 1-6-1 seems to be the most successful approach 2. EDD's system actually flags conflicting paperwork, which can work in your favor by preventing automatic processing 3. Medical certifications typically take precedence over self-reported return dates 4. Documentation is crucial - both phone calls AND messages through SDI Online I also wanted to mention that I called my doctor's office after reading this thread, and they confirmed they can submit a letter explaining the medical necessity for the extension if needed. It sounds like being proactive with your medical provider is just as important as contacting EDD directly. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and outcomes. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these confusing EDD situations. I'll definitely update with my results after I call tomorrow morning!
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