Update: I FINALLY got my issue resolved! I ended up using the Claimyr service that someone recommended here, and I got through to a real person in about 30 minutes. Turns out there was a mismatch between the dates on my doctor's certification and what I put on my initial application. The EDD representative was able to fix it immediately. My claim was approved yesterday and they said payments should start processing in the next 2-3 business days. Such a relief after all this stress! Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions. For anyone else struggling with this, I'd say the most effective options are: 1. Try the Claimyr service if you can't get through by phone 2. Visit an EDD office in person if possible 3. Submit a hardship request through your SDI Online account Good luck to everyone dealing with this frustrating system!

Congratulations on getting this resolved! As someone who's been lurking in this community dealing with my own EDD nightmare, your update gives me so much hope. I've been stuck in "pending review" for 6 weeks now and was starting to panic. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service - seems like multiple people here have had success with it. Quick question though - did they charge you for the service, and if so, was it worth it compared to the stress and time you were spending trying to call? Also really appreciate you listing out the most effective solutions at the end. This thread should be pinned as a resource for others going through the same thing!

Hi Angelica! I'm new to this community but your situation really hits home for me. I went through something very similar last year - left my marketing job after 6 years to start freelance consulting, then had surgery about 8 months later and needed to navigate the SDI system. The good news is that based on everything you've described, you should definitely qualify for benefits! Since you paid into SDI during your base period at your tech job, you meet the fundamental eligibility requirements. The self-employment questionnaire is totally standard - they just need to verify that you're actually experiencing income loss due to your disability, which is obviously the case with childbirth. A couple of things that really helped my case: - I documented exactly when I stopped being able to work vs when I was still doing some freelance projects - I kept detailed records of my typical monthly consulting income before the disability - I was very clear about any work I had to turn down or postpone due to my condition The fact that EDD already reversed your initial denial is actually a huge positive sign! That means they've confirmed your disability claim is valid and they're just working through the employment details now. The waiting is absolutely brutal (especially with a newborn!), but it sounds like you're on the right track. Your weekly benefit amount will be based only on your old W2 wages, not your consulting income, but honestly any financial support during this time is such a relief. My claim took about 2-3 weeks to process once I submitted all the additional forms. Hang in there - you've got this! This community has been such a great resource for navigating all the EDD confusion. 💙

Hi Angelica! I'm new to this community but your situation really resonates with me as someone who's currently navigating a similar path. I left my corporate job about 6 months ago to start freelancing and I'm now 5 months pregnant, so I've been researching all of this extensively in preparation. From everything I've learned through this thread and my own research, it sounds like you're in a really strong position! The fact that EDD reversed your initial denial is huge - that's the hardest part right there. The self-employment questionnaire is definitely intimidating, but it seems like they're just verifying that you're experiencing genuine income loss due to your disability, which is clearly the case after childbirth. What really gives me confidence about your case is that you have that solid base period of W2 employment where you were paying into SDI. That's the foundation they need to approve benefits. The timing of when you switched to consulting actually works in your favor since it was after building up that contribution history. One thing I've learned from reading everyone's experiences here is how important it is to be very specific about timelines and income documentation. It sounds like you're already on top of that, which should make the questionnaire process smoother. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially with a newborn and bills piling up. But based on everything shared in this thread, it really seems like claims with your profile typically get approved once they work through the paperwork. Hang in there - you've got this! Congratulations on your baby, and thank you for sharing your experience. It's helping those of us who will be going through this process soon! 💜

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was in almost exactly the same boat a few months ago - doctor put me on disability, HR gave confusing info about having to exhaust PTO first, and I was totally lost about the timing. Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: SDI and your company's leave policies are completely separate things. Your employer can't prevent you from filing for SDI, period. It's a state benefit you've been paying into through every paycheck, so it's YOUR money. My advice: File your SDI claim TODAY online. Use some of your 3 weeks of PTO during that first week (the waiting period) since SDI doesn't pay anything anyway. Then once SDI kicks in at 60-70% of your salary, you can use your remaining PTO to supplement and get closer to your full income. The online portal will ask about concurrent benefits - just be honest that you're using some employer PTO alongside SDI. This actually helps them coordinate everything properly rather than causing problems. Don't let your HR department's confusion cost you money or delay benefits you're legally entitled to. File first, sort out the company coordination afterward. You've got enough to worry about with your health - don't let bureaucratic confusion add to your stress! Wishing you a smooth recovery! 🙂

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! My doctor just put me on 4-week disability and my HR department told me I "have to use all sick time before SDI will approve my claim" - which based on everything I'm reading here sounds completely wrong. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening about how SDI actually works versus what employers think it does. I had no idea that these were separate systems that could run concurrently rather than sequentially. My company made it sound like there was some kind of official requirement to exhaust PTO first, but it's clear now that's just their internal policy preference, not a legal requirement. I'm definitely going to file my SDI claim today after reading all these experiences. The strategy of using PTO during the 7-day waiting period and then supplementing SDI payments afterward makes so much financial sense. Why did my HR person not explain any of this properly? Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this community has been more helpful than my actual employer! Going to get that application submitted and then have a much more informed conversation with HR about their actual policies versus my legal rights.

I just went through this process a few months ago and completely understand your anxiety! Unfortunately, you really do have to wait for that first letter with your claim number before you can access anything through SDI Online. The system can't match your account to a claim that hasn't been assigned a number yet. In my experience, it took about 14 business days to get that initial letter (not counting weekends). Since you're at day 10, you're getting close! Once you do get the claim number, registering for SDI Online is pretty straightforward - just make sure all your personal info matches exactly what you put on your DE 2501 form. Given that you're on bed rest due to complications, your claim might need a bit of extra review since it's starting before the standard 4-week window, but that doesn't necessarily mean delays if your doctor documented everything clearly. Try to hang in there - I know the financial stress is overwhelming, especially when you're dealing with pregnancy complications. The process does work, it's just painfully slow!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just mailed my pregnancy disability claim 6 days ago and have been checking my mailbox obsessively every day. Reading all these responses is both reassuring and frustrating - it sounds like we really are stuck waiting for that initial letter with the claim number before we can do anything online. The financial anxiety is so real when you're already dealing with pregnancy complications and unable to work. I'm also on modified bed rest due to complications that started earlier than the typical 4-week window before delivery. Really hoping my OB was detailed enough on the medical certification forms because it sounds like that can make or break the processing time. Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines - it helps to know that 10-14 business days seems to be the norm for getting that first letter. The waiting is torture but at least now I have realistic expectations instead of checking the mail hoping for something that wasn't going to come yet anyway!

I've been struggling with the exact same issue for over a month now! Reading through all these strategies has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the early morning calling tactics or the assemblymember contact option. What really stands out to me is how many people have found success with the 7:50-8:00 AM window combined with persistent redialing. I'm definitely going to try the multi-pronged approach tomorrow: calling at 7:52 AM, sending a documented email to [email protected], and reaching out to my local representative's office. The tier 2 specialist tip is gold - I never knew to ask for that when the first person can't help. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need a whole battle plan just to access benefits we're entitled to, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real strategies that actually work. For anyone feeling defeated by this process - these success stories prove that persistence really does pay off eventually. We shouldn't have to fight this hard, but at least we're not fighting alone! 💪

I've been dealing with this exact same frustration for weeks! The system is absolutely broken and it's infuriating that we have to become professional phone warriors just to access benefits we're legally entitled to. After reading through all these incredible strategies, I'm going to try the ultra-early calling approach (7:50 AM) combined with the constant redial method and simultaneous email documentation. The tier 2 specialist tip is something I never knew about - definitely asking for that if I can ever get through to someone. What really strikes me is how this community has essentially crowd-sourced a survival guide for navigating government bureaucracy. It's both heartbreaking that we need this and inspiring how everyone is supporting each other through such a broken system. One question for those who've had success - when documenting your call attempts for the email, what specific details have you found most helpful to include? I want to make sure I'm as strategic as possible with this approach. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and keeping each other motivated. Knowing I'm not alone in this nightmare makes it a little more bearable! 💪