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I'm facing this exact same issue right now! My first name is 16 characters and I was really stressing about potentially delaying my claim over this. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's so reassuring to see that this is actually a super common problem and that EDD is used to handling it. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to use the first 12 characters of my name in the field, write my full legal name clearly in the margins with an arrow, and include a detailed note in the additional comments section. I'm also planning to call after I submit to have them add a note to my file like some people suggested. It's honestly frustrating that these forms haven't been updated to handle longer names, especially since America is such a diverse country with people from all different backgrounds. But this community is amazing for sharing actual solutions that work! Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - you've all helped me feel so much more confident about handling this. 🙏
I just went through this same exact situation last month! My first name is 14 characters and I was having the same stress about it. I ended up doing exactly what you're planning - used the first 12 characters in the field, wrote my full legal name in the margins with an arrow, and added a detailed explanation in the additional comments section. When I called a few days after submitting (great idea btw!), the rep told me they see this issue constantly and said my documentation was perfect. My claim went through without any delays or complications. It's really reassuring to see how this community comes together to help each other navigate these bureaucratic challenges. Your approach sounds spot-on and I'm confident it'll work out smoothly for you! 💪
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My first name is 14 characters and I've been sitting here for the past two hours trying to figure out what to do. This whole thread has been such a lifesaver - I had no idea this was such a common problem! Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like the consistent approach that works is: use an abbreviation or the first 12 characters in the field, write your full legal name clearly in the margins with an arrow pointing to the field, and add a detailed explanation in the additional comments section. Some people also mentioned calling after submitting to have a note added to their file, which seems like a smart extra step. It's honestly mind-boggling that in 2024 we still have government forms that can't accommodate the full diversity of people's names, but I'm so grateful for this community where we actually help each other find real solutions instead of just venting about the problems. Thank you to everyone who shared their successful experiences - you've turned what felt like a major roadblock into something totally manageable! 🙏
I'm so glad you found this thread! I just joined this community because I'm dealing with the exact same situation - my first name is 15 characters and I was honestly starting to panic about messing up my SDI application. It's incredible how many of us are facing this same challenge! Reading through everyone's success stories has been such a huge relief. The approach you outlined is exactly what I'm planning to do too - it seems like the tried and true method that consistently works for people. It's really frustrating that we have to come up with workarounds for something as basic as our legal names fitting on official forms, but this community is amazing for sharing actual solutions that work in practice. Thanks for adding your experience to this helpful discussion - it's comforting to know there are others going through this right now! 😊
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I'm currently 8 months pregnant and this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about the DE 2525XX form or that doctors need to submit supplementary certificates for extensions. My OB never mentioned any of this during our birth plan discussions. I'm definitely going to bring this up at my next appointment so we're prepared. It sounds like the EDD system is pretty confusing to navigate, especially when you're dealing with postpartum recovery. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info that you just don't get from the official EDD website!
You're so smart to ask about this ahead of time! I wish I had known to have this conversation with my doctor before delivery. Definitely ask your OB's office if they're familiar with EDD forms and the DE 2525XX specifically. Some practices have staff who handle these all the time, others might need you to walk them through it. Also ask if they prefer fax or mail for submitting to EDD - my doctor's office said fax is faster and they get confirmation it went through. Having this conversation now will save you so much stress later when you're sleep-deprived with a newborn!
I'm going through this exact situation right now! Had my C-section 2 weeks ago and my doctor also extended me beyond the standard recovery period. I was getting so confused by that "continued claim certification" message too - I kept looking everywhere in my SDI Online account for where to submit something. Reading through everyone's responses here, it sounds like I need to have my doctor submit the DE 2525XX form instead of me doing anything online. This is such a relief to know I'm not missing some obvious button somewhere! Going to call my OB's office first thing Monday morning. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when EDD's own instructions are so unclear!
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Wow, this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually facing a similar situation where I'll need to transition from SDI to PFL in the next few weeks, and reading everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease. The checklist approach that Yara shared is genius - I'm definitely going to adapt that for my own transition. One thing I'm curious about that I didn't see mentioned: does anyone know if there are any restrictions on working part-time while on PFL for caregiving? With SDI, I know you generally can't work at all, but I'm wondering if PFL has different rules since you're providing care rather than recovering from your own disability. My employer mentioned I might be able to do some remote work on days when my mom doesn't need as much hands-on care, but I want to make sure I don't jeopardize my PFL benefits. Has anyone dealt with this situation or know the rules around partial work while on PFL caregiving? Thanks again to everyone for sharing such detailed and practical advice!
Great question about working while on PFL caregiving! The rules are actually quite different from SDI. With PFL caregiving, you can work part-time or intermittently as long as you're still providing the necessary care to your family member. However, any wages you earn will reduce your PFL benefits on a dollar-for-dollar basis after the first $25 per day. So if your normal PFL benefit is $200/day and you earn $100 working remotely, you'd receive $175 in PFL benefits that day ($200 - $100 + $25 allowance). The key is that you must still be actively providing care and your work can't interfere with your caregiving responsibilities. Make sure to report any work and wages when you do your bi-weekly certifications - EDD is pretty strict about this, and unreported work can cause major issues with your claim. It might be worth calling that specialized EDD transition line that Oliver mentioned to get specific guidance about your situation with remote work!
This has been such an incredibly informative thread! As someone new to navigating California's disability and family leave systems, I'm amazed by how generous everyone has been with sharing their real-world experiences and practical tips. The advice about timing the PFL application 5-7 days before SDI ends, being proactive with doctor communications, and keeping detailed records really stands out. I'm not currently in this situation, but I'm saving this thread because you never know when life might throw you a curveball. It's also reassuring to see that despite some of the horror stories we hear about EDD, most transitions do go smoothly when you follow the proper process and stay on top of the paperwork. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of community knowledge-sharing is invaluable for people navigating these complex systems during already stressful times. Wishing Zoe and her father, as well as everyone else dealing with similar situations, all the best with their recoveries and transitions!
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@Naila Gordon, I just went through this same process a couple months ago and it's totally doable! Here's what saved me a lot of stress: First, get that "Continuation of Disability" form from the EDD website right away and bring it directly to your doctor - don't wait for them to figure out what form they need. When you meet with your doctor, be really specific about how your condition affects your daily life and work ability. I actually wrote down all my symptoms and limitations beforehand so nothing got missed. Submit everything through your online EDD account under "Manage Claim" - it's way faster than mailing even if the system can be a bit glitchy. Super important: keep doing your bi-weekly certifications while waiting for the extension to be processed! I almost stopped doing them thinking I should wait, but that would have been a huge mistake. The whole thing took about 2-3 weeks to process for me. Since you filed in March, you should still have time on your claim, but definitely start this process NOW - don't wait until your current benefits are about to expire. The system is frustrating but it works if you stay on top of it. You've got this! Feel free to ask if you need help navigating any of the online stuff! 💪
@Fatima Al-Suwaidi This is such helpful advice! I m'new to this community and dealing with my first disability extension situation, so all these detailed responses have been incredibly reassuring. Your tip about writing down symptoms and limitations beforehand is something I keep seeing mentioned and it makes perfect sense - when you re'in pain or stressed it s'so easy to forget important details during the appointment. I m'definitely going to start keeping track of everything this week. Quick question: when you submitted online, did you get any kind of confirmation that it went through successfully? I m'always worried about important documents getting lost in the system! Also, did EDD contact you at all during those 2-3 weeks, or did you just wait until you heard back? Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience - knowing that people actually make it through this process successfully gives me a lot of hope! 🙏
@Naila Gordon, I just went through this exact situation about 4 months ago and completely understand the stress! Here's what worked for me: Download the "Continuation of Disability" form from the EDD website immediately and take it directly to your doctor - don't assume they know which form to use. When meeting with your doctor, be extremely detailed about your symptoms and how they impact your daily activities and work capacity. I brought a written list of my functional limitations which really helped my doctor provide thorough documentation. Submit everything online through your EDD account under "Manage Claim" - it's much faster than mail despite occasional glitches. CRUCIAL: Continue certifying every two weeks while your extension is processing! I almost made the mistake of stopping certifications while waiting. The entire process took about 2-3 weeks for me once submitted. Since you filed in March, you should have plenty of time remaining on your claim period, but start this process immediately - don't wait until your current benefits are about to expire! Give yourself at least 2-3 weeks buffer time. Also, if you need to call EDD, try exactly at 8am when they open for shortest wait times. The system is frustrating but absolutely works with persistence and organization. You've got this! Happy to help if you need guidance finding forms or navigating the online portal! 💪
Vince Eh
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! 💪
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Hazel Garcia
•This whole thread has been such an eye-opener! I'm new to navigating the SDI system and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the hoops we have to jump through. The 7:52 AM strategy plus the multi-pronged approach sounds like solid advice - it's amazing how this community has basically created a survival guide for dealing with a broken system. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and try these strategies. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and keeping each other motivated. It's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this struggle! 🙏
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Nia Williams
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! 💪
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