I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through this exact same situation! I had submitted my SDI application for stress/anxiety about 6 weeks ago and got it returned for a missing signature too. The frustration of dealing with bureaucracy while already stressed is just awful. I ended up using the "Convert paper application to online" feature that several people mentioned here, and it was honestly a lifesaver. The process was so much smoother than I expected - I had my application ID from the return letter, plugged it into the online system, and everything transferred over automatically. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to screenshot your confirmation page when you submit online AND save the confirmation email to a special folder. I'm naturally anxious about these things and having multiple copies of proof that I submitted really helped my peace of mind. My psychiatrist completed the electronic certification within 48 hours and said she much preferred it to paper forms. The whole thing processed in 9 days from when I submitted online vs what probably would have been weeks more with mail delays. Mary, you're absolutely doing the right thing seeking help for your anxiety. The system is frustrating but you have so many good options now thanks to everyone's advice. The dual approach sounds smart if it gives you peace of mind! Hang in there - you've got this! 💙

I'm new to this community and going through my first SDI application for anxiety/depression, so reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly valuable! Mary, your situation sounds so stressful but it looks like you've gotten amazing advice from this community. The "Convert paper application to online" feature that multiple people have mentioned sounds like it's exactly what you need - especially since it automatically handles the duplicate claim issue. I wanted to share something that might help with the anxiety around the process itself: I found that the EDD website has a detailed FAQ section specifically for mental health disability claims that helped me understand what to expect. It covers things like what documentation is needed and typical processing times, which really helped calm my nerves about whether I was doing everything correctly. Also, after reading all these success stories with doctors preferring the electronic certification system, I'm definitely planning to go the online route for my claim too. The email notifications at each step sound like they'd be so helpful for managing that "did it actually go through?" anxiety we all seem to have! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made this whole process feel so much less overwhelming knowing others have navigated it successfully. Mental health support shouldn't be this complicated, but at least we have each other to help figure it out! 💙

I've been on SDI for about 8 months and wanted to share my experience with deposit timing since this thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm with Citibank and my payments consistently hit at 3:12am the morning after showing "paid" on the EDD portal - it's been that exact time for the last 6 months, which still amazes me how precise these systems can be. What really helped me was calling Citi's customer service during my second payment when I was still figuring out the pattern. The rep explained that they process EDD deposits in their overnight government benefits batch, which runs between 2:30-4:00am. She also mentioned that I could check for pending ACH transactions by calling their automated system, which has been super helpful when I'm anxious about timing. One thing I learned that might help others - if your payment shows "paid" on EDD but doesn't hit within your usual timeframe, check if there were any system maintenance windows at your bank. I had one payment delayed by 6 hours because Citi was doing overnight system updates that pushed their ACH processing later than usual. They sent an email about it but it went to my spam folder! For anyone just starting their disability claim, the advice about tracking your first 4-5 payments is spot on. The pattern really does become incredibly reliable once it's established. And definitely set up those mobile alerts - mine is set for any deposit over $200 and it gives me such peace of mind getting that notification at 3:12am even when I'm sleeping!

I've been on SDI for about 10 months now with Bank of America and wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! My payments consistently hit at 4:47am the morning after showing "paid" - it's been that exact time for months now, which never ceases to amaze me. One thing I discovered that might help newcomers is that BofA has a feature in their mobile app called "Scheduled Transactions" where pending ACH deposits sometimes show up 12-24 hours before they actually post. It doesn't always work for EDD payments, but when it does show up there, it's been 100% accurate for me. I also wanted to mention something for people dealing with anxiety around these payments - I started using a simple phone reminder system where I set an alert for 5:00am on my expected deposit days. That way I'm not constantly checking throughout the previous day, and I wake up knowing the money should already be there. It's helped so much with the mental stress of waiting! For anyone just starting their claim, everything everyone has said about the first payment taking longer is absolutely true. My first payment took 2.5 days from "paid" status to hitting my account, but every single payment since has been that reliable 4:47am timing. The consistency really is incredible once your bank's system learns the pattern. Hang in there during those first few uncertain payments - it gets so much more predictable!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and currently going through the DE 2593 process myself. Reading through all these comments has been incredibly helpful and reassuring - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I've been putting off filling out this form for a few days because it seemed so overwhelming, but seeing all the practical advice here (especially about doing a practice run on paper first and being specific about limitations) has given me the confidence to tackle it. Quick question - for those who submitted online, did you run into any issues with file uploads if you needed to attach additional documentation? I have some medical records I might need to include and I'm wondering if I should scan them ahead of time or if there's a specific format they prefer. Thanks again for creating such a supportive space! 🙏

Hey Aisha! I'm also navigating the DE 2593 form right now and totally feel your pain about the headache-inducing process 😅 One thing that's really helped me is creating a checklist before I start - gathering all my medical records, previous claim info, and work search documentation in one place first. That way I'm not scrambling to find things while the system is potentially timing out on me! Also, I've found it super helpful to read each question twice before answering - some of them are worded in a confusing way and it's easy to misinterpret what they're actually asking for. The community advice here about being specific rather than vague has been a game-changer too. Hang in there - we're all figuring this out together! Feel free to ask if you get stuck on any particular sections 🤝

I went through this same process about 2 months ago and totally feel your stress! Here's what worked for me: Call the EDD SDI line (1-800-480-3287) right at 8am when they open. Have your claim number, SSN, and account info ready. When you get through, say exactly this: "I need the DE 2525XX form sent to my SDI online account inbox for my benefit extension." Don't let them offer alternatives like mail or email - be firm about needing it in your online inbox. Get a confirmation number and the rep's name if possible. Mine showed up in 3 business days. Also, make sure your online account contact info is current before calling. The whole thing was way less complicated than I expected once I got the right person. Hang in there - you'll get through this! 🙏

I just went through this exact situation a few weeks ago and completely understand the anxiety! Here's what finally worked for me after several failed attempts: Call 1-800-480-3287 at exactly 8:00 AM (set an alarm!) and have everything ready - your claim number, SSN, and make sure you're logged into your SDI online account while you're on the phone. When you get through, be super specific: "I need the DE 2525XX continuation form sent directly to my SDI online account message inbox for my benefit extension." I learned the hard way that some reps will try to mail it or send it elsewhere, so be polite but firm about the online inbox. Ask for a confirmation number and write down the rep's name and the date they said it would arrive (usually 2-5 business days). Mine showed up in exactly 3 business days. One last tip - if you don't get through on the first try, keep calling back immediately. Sometimes it takes 10-15 attempts but persistence pays off. You've got this! The whole process seems scarier than it actually is. 💪

I went through this same exact situation with my pregnancy disability last year! The confusion is totally understandable because that question is worded so poorly. You should definitely answer "No" to that question. What EDD is really asking is whether you'll receive any ongoing compensation from your employer WHILE you're actively on disability leave (like paid sick time, vacation pay, etc.). Your final paycheck is just regular wages for work you already completed before your disability started - it's not "pay while on disability." The key thing to remember is that EDD cares about WHEN the work was performed, not when the payment arrives. Since you worked those hours on 10/15 (before your disability start date of 10/17), that money was already earned. When you do your bi-weekly certifications and that final paycheck comes in November, there's a specific section to report "wages earned before disability but received during claim period." This is super common and won't affect your benefits at all. One tip that really helped me: keep your final pay stub that shows the work period dates. I had to provide this during a routine review, and having it ready made everything smooth. Also, don't forget about the 7-day waiting period - your benefits won't start until 10/24. You're being so smart by asking these questions upfront! The pregnancy brain fog is real, but you've got this. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you should definitely answer "No" to that question! I went through this exact same situation with my pregnancy disability claim a few months ago and was equally confused by the wording. The way I finally understood it was when someone explained that EDD is asking: "Will your employer be paying you for time that you're unable to work?" Since your final paycheck is for hours you already worked (on 10/15), the answer is clearly no. You're not being compensated for disability time - you're just receiving delayed payment for pre-disability work. What really helped me was thinking of it in terms of a timeline: - 10/15: You worked (earned money) - 10/17: Disability started (stopped earning new money) - 11/3: You'll receive payment for the 10/15 work The gap between earning and receiving doesn't change the fact that the money was earned before disability began. When you certify later and report that final paycheck, just make sure to note that it's for work performed before your disability start date. I did this and had zero issues with my claim. You're being so responsible by asking these questions first instead of guessing! The whole system is needlessly confusing, but you're handling it perfectly. Best of luck with your claim and congratulations on your pregnancy!