I went through almost the exact same situation last year! My wife had SDI for a shoulder injury, went back to work for about 5 weeks, then had to go back out when the injury flared up again. We were so confused about what to do, but it turned out to be pretty straightforward once we figured out it was a recurrence claim. One thing I'd add to what others have said - make sure to submit the DE 2501 Recurrence form as soon as possible after she stopped working again. We waited a couple weeks thinking we had more time, but then realized there's that 49-day deadline someone mentioned. Also, when we called EDD to check on the status, they told us that recurrence claims usually process faster than new claims since there's less verification needed. Our payments resumed within about 10 days of submitting the form. Hope your wife gets the treatment she needs for her back - herniated discs are no joke!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My husband has been on SDI for a knee injury since February, tried going back to work for about 3 weeks in May, but had to stop again when his physical therapist said he wasn't ready. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - I had no idea about the recurrence claim option vs filing a new claim. One question for those who've been through this - did you have to notify EDD immediately when your spouse returned to work for that brief period? We reported it through the online portal when he went back, but I'm wondering if there's additional paperwork we need to do now that he's off work again. Also, has anyone had issues with their employer trying to challenge the recurrence claim? Our HR is being difficult and acting like he's just trying to avoid work, which is frustrating when he clearly needs more time to heal. Thanks everyone for all the detailed advice - this community is a lifesaver when the official EDD resources are so confusing!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had an SDI claim last year for a chronic condition that ended in November 2024, and now I'm having another flare-up. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to file a new claim online using my existing account. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - if you're dealing with a chronic condition that tends to recur, it might be worth asking your doctor to document the ongoing nature of your condition in your medical records. My doctor mentioned that having a clear medical history of recurring episodes can sometimes help with future claims processing. Also, for anyone hesitant about filing "too early" - I called EDD's automated line and they confirmed that filing up to 7 days before you actually stop working is totally fine and often recommended. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's made me feel much more confident about navigating this process again!

Based on everyone's experiences here, it's clear you'll need to file a completely new claim - no reactivation option exists unfortunately. Since your claim ended in October 2024 and you're still within the 90-day window, you should qualify to skip the waiting period which is great! I'd recommend filing online using your existing SDI account (don't create a new one), and make sure your doctor specifically notes this as a "recurrence" or "continuation" of your previous back injury on the medical certification. File as soon as possible - even a few days before you stop working is fine and actually recommended. Keep your old claim number handy when filling out the application since they'll ask about previous claims. The process should be smoother the second time around since you know what to expect and there's already medical history on file. Good luck with your claim!

Reading through this thread as someone who just started the SDI process has been both incredibly helpful and pretty concerning! I submitted my claim last week after a work injury and it's currently showing as "received" but not yet "pending" - should I be worried about that status, or is that normal in the first week? The employer contact information issue that @Ella Lewis experienced is something I never would have thought to double-check. My company went through a merger earlier this year and I'm now realizing their address and HR contacts might have changed. I'm going to call them tomorrow to verify they have the current info on file. It's really frustrating that we have to become experts on EDD's broken system just to access benefits we've paid into, especially when dealing with medical issues. But I'm grateful for communities like this where people share real experiences and practical solutions. The tips about checking both online systems, calling at 8 AM, and even contacting assembly members are invaluable. Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories - it's clear that persistence and proactive follow-up are essential when dealing with EDD, unfortunately.

This thread is such a goldmine of information! I'm about to file my first SDI claim next week for a scheduled surgery and I'm already feeling anxious about the process after reading everyone's experiences. The fact that claims can get stuck for weeks due to something as simple as an outdated employer address is really concerning. I'm definitely going to implement all the preventive measures mentioned here: - Verify my employer's current contact information with HR before filing - Take screenshots of everything with timestamps - Check both SDI Online AND BPO accounts regularly - Keep detailed records of all submissions and communications - Be prepared to call at 8 AM if my claim gets stuck The assembly member constituent services tip is brilliant - I had no idea that was an option for EDD issues. It's sad that we need these workarounds, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing real-world solutions. @Ella Lewis - I'm really glad you got your issue resolved! Your persistence in calling at 8 AM and getting to the bottom of the employer address problem probably saved you weeks more of waiting. Hopefully your payment comes through quickly now. It's frustrating that the EDD system is so broken that we need to become experts just to access our own benefits, but threads like this make the process much less intimidating. Thank you all for sharing your experiences!

I'm currently going through this same situation! Had my baby 2 weeks ago and submitted the birth info through the online portal 3 days ago. The financial stress is so real when you have bills due and payments just suddenly stop. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like 5-7 business days is pretty typical for processing right now. I've started calling my utility companies and credit card companies to explain the EDD delay, and most have been surprisingly understanding about extending due dates. One thing I learned from my sister who went through this last year - she said to keep checking both your SDI online account AND your bank account, because sometimes the payment shows up before the online portal updates. Also, she recommended taking screenshots of everything you submit in the future, which I wish I had thought of! The whole system really seems designed to stress out new parents at the worst possible time, but it's comforting to know this is just a routine processing delay and not an actual problem with our claims. Hang in there everyone - sounds like we should all hopefully see movement early next week! 💕

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress right after having your baby! I went through the exact same thing in January 2025. The payment stoppage after delivery is completely routine - EDD needs to verify your delivery info to determine if you're continuing on disability or transitioning to paid family leave. Since you submitted through the online portal this morning, you should expect to see movement in about 5-7 business days based on current processing times. The good news is they will backpay you for any missed payments, so you won't lose any money - it's just the cash flow timing that's stressful. A few tips that helped me: 1) Call your utility companies now to explain the EDD processing delay - most have policies for this exact situation, 2) Double-check with your OB's office that they submitted your updated medical certification with the correct delivery date/method, 3) Keep checking both your SDI online account AND your bank account, as sometimes the payment appears before the portal updates. This whole process is so poorly designed for new parents, but you're doing everything right. The payment will come through! Congratulations on your little one! 💕

To answer your specific question: No, your SDI benefits won't automatically continue until November 2025. The benefit period is either until you reach the maximum benefit amount OR 52 weeks, whichever comes first. Based on your weekly benefit amount of $1,300, your benefits will last approximately 20 weeks (about 5 months) if you continue certifying and remain disabled according to your doctor. If your recovery extends beyond that period, you should talk to your doctor about whether you might qualify for SSDI. The documentation from your SDI claim can be helpful for an SSDI application, but they're separate programs with different eligibility requirements. SSDI is generally for longer-term disabilities.

I'm in a similar situation with a work injury and just wanted to add - make sure you're also documenting everything for potential workers' compensation if your back injury was work-related! Even if you're getting SDI now, you might be entitled to additional benefits through workers' comp that could help bridge the gap when your SDI runs out. The timing can be tricky since workers' comp and SDI sometimes overlap, but it's worth exploring. Also, if you haven't already, consider asking your doctor about vocational rehabilitation services - sometimes they can help with modified work arrangements that might allow you to return to some income before you're 100% recovered.