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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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. 💪

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! 💪

I'm going through something very similar right now - also dealing with chronic vestibular migraines and an employer who's already pushing back on accommodations before I've even formally requested them. The information everyone has shared here is incredibly valuable. One thing I learned from my disability attorney (yes, I ended up needing one) is that the timing of your documentation is crucial. Make sure your doctor's accommodation letter is very specific about what you CAN do with accommodations, not just what you can't do without them. EDD looks at your "residual functional capacity" - basically what work you're still capable of performing. Also, if your employer does terminate you, file for unemployment immediately even if you think you might not qualify. Don't let them discourage you from applying. The worst they can do is deny you, and then you can appeal with better documentation. I've seen too many people talk themselves out of benefits they were actually entitled to. One more tip - start keeping a symptom diary now if you aren't already. Document how your condition affects your work capacity day by day. This can be incredibly helpful evidence if you need it for unemployment appeals, SSDI applications, or even potential legal action against your employer. The transition from SDI to other benefits is genuinely confusing and the system doesn't make it easy, but you have more options than it might seem right now.

As someone who's been through a similar transition from SDI to unemployment, I want to emphasize that the key is having crystal clear documentation about your work capabilities WITH accommodations. When I was dealing with my chronic condition, my biggest mistake initially was focusing too much on what I couldn't do rather than clearly stating what I COULD do with proper support. A few practical tips that helped me: 1. Ask your doctor to write two separate letters - one for your employer detailing specific accommodations needed, and another for potential EDD use that clearly states you are "able to work with reasonable accommodations in an appropriate environment." 2. If your employer does terminate you, when you file for UI, emphasize that you're "able and available for work that can accommodate your medical condition." Don't say you're unable to work - say you're unable to work in environments that don't provide necessary accommodations. 3. Start researching remote work opportunities or companies known for being accommodation-friendly in your field. Having a list ready shows EDD you're serious about finding suitable employment. The system is definitely frustrating, but people do successfully navigate from SDI to unemployment when they're terminated due to accommodation issues. The key is positioning it as "I can work, just not under those specific conditions" rather than "I can't work." Best of luck - you're asking all the right questions!