I'm going through this exact nightmare right now! Been calling for 8 days straight for my SDI claim and getting absolutely nowhere. This thread has been more helpful than hours of searching the EDD website - thank you everyone for sharing actual strategies that work! I'm definitely going to try the 8:03am timing tomorrow (avoiding the 8:00 rush), enter my SSN first in the automated system, and use that 1-1-7 menu sequence. Also planning to verify with my doctor that they submitted all the correct paperwork and check with my employer about their portion. It's honestly insane that we have to become phone system experts just to access benefits we've paid into, but at least this community is helping each other figure it out. I'll report back if these strategies actually get me through - fingers crossed!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation for my disability claim! I've been calling for over a week with zero success. This thread has been absolutely incredible - way more useful than any official EDD resource. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to try calling at 8:03am (not 8:00), enter my SSN first in the automated system, use the 1-1-7 menu sequence, and have all my documentation ready including employer info. It's crazy that we have to decode this system like it's a secret puzzle just to access benefits we've already paid for! Sophie's tip about the system updates causing backlogs really explains a lot about why things seem worse than usual right now. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this community is doing what the EDD should be doing by actually helping people navigate their broken system. I'll definitely report back if these strategies work!

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. One thing that really helped me was requesting a "financial hardship consideration" when I called the collections division. If you can show that intercepting your tax refund would cause significant financial hardship (like if you're counting on that refund for essential expenses), they sometimes have more flexibility in working with you. Also, make sure you get everything in writing! When they agree to remove you from TOP, ask them to send you a confirmation letter or email. I learned this the hard way - they told me over the phone I was removed but it took another month because there was no documentation of the request. One more tip: if you're expecting a large refund this year, consider adjusting your withholdings for next year so you don't give the government an interest-free loan. That way even if something goes wrong with the TOP removal, you won't have as much at risk. The whole process is frustrating but it IS possible to get resolved if you stay persistent and document everything.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! EDD has been redirecting my disability payments to an old UI overpayment debt, and I'm really worried about them taking my tax refund too. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the Treasury Offset Program or that there was a specific collections number to call. I've been making payments for about 8 months now, so hopefully that's enough to show good faith. One thing I'm still unclear on though - when you call the collections division at 1-800-676-5737, do you need to have any specific documentation ready besides your payment history? Like do they want bank statements showing the payments, or is their internal record sufficient? Also, has anyone had experience with how long the whole process takes from start to finish? I'm hoping to get this resolved before tax season really kicks into gear. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been more helpful than any EDD representative I've spoken with so far!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my perspective as someone who works in workers' compensation and disability law. I see cases like yours regularly, and I want to reinforce what everyone has said - your SDI benefits are completely protected regardless of your employment status. What I find particularly encouraging about your situation is that you have a clear timeline from your doctor (recovery by October) rather than an indefinite leave. This actually strengthens your position significantly if you decide to pursue the employment law angle. Courts and agencies tend to view accommodations more favorably when there's a definite end date rather than an open-ended request. One additional thing to consider: if your employer is terminating you specifically because of the length of your disability leave, this could potentially violate the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) even beyond FMLA protections. FEHA has broader coverage and different requirements than federal law. Also, when you do speak with EDD, ask them to note in your file that your employment ended due to your employer's inability to accommodate your medical leave. This documentation could be valuable later if any questions arise about your claim. You're handling this situation remarkably well by being proactive about every aspect. Keep focusing on your recovery - the legal and financial pieces will fall into place with the good foundation you're building.

Hi Samuel! I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar just 6 months ago. I was on SDI for a work-related wrist injury and got terminated while still recovering. I was absolutely terrified about losing my benefits, but everyone here is giving you 100% accurate information - your SDI will definitely continue! What really helped me was understanding that SDI is like insurance YOU paid for through your paychecks, not something your employer controls. Even after termination, my benefits continued seamlessly until my doctor cleared me to return to work. A few practical tips that helped me: Keep a dedicated folder (both physical and digital) with all your medical records, EDD correspondence, and termination paperwork. Set phone reminders for important deadlines. And definitely report the employment change through your SDI Online account ASAP - it's straightforward and won't affect your benefits. The health insurance piece was actually trickier for me than the SDI part, so definitely prioritize looking into Covered California options quickly. You're being so smart by getting legal consultation and staying organized. Focus on your healing - that back injury recovery is no joke and stress definitely doesn't help! This community has been amazing with advice, and you're going to get through this just fine.

This thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm also navigating SDI for the first time and was really confused about the payment timing. Reading everyone's experiences with the bi-weekly schedule gives me so much clarity - I was worried I'd have to wait a month between payments like some other benefits programs. The distinction between the different certification requirements is especially helpful. I was stressed thinking I'd need to certify every two weeks like unemployment, but it sounds like it really depends on how your doctor filled out the initial paperwork. I'm going to double-check my SDI Online account to see what my situation is. Also want to echo what others said about direct deposit - definitely set this up if you haven't already! And thanks for the reminder about keeping records for taxes. As if dealing with a health issue isn't stressful enough, but at least now I know to be prepared for the 1099-G next year.

This thread has been so helpful for understanding the SDI payment schedule! I'm currently in my second week of disability leave and was really anxious about when to expect my payments. It's reassuring to hear that most people receive their payments every two weeks consistently once the first one arrives. I wanted to ask - has anyone experienced delays around holidays? My next expected payment would fall right around Christmas/New Year's, and I'm wondering if EDD processes payments differently during holiday weeks. I don't want to panic if there's a slight delay due to bank holidays or reduced EDD staffing. Also, thank you to everyone who mentioned the text notification feature and keeping detailed records for taxes - I had no idea about either of those things and they'll definitely help me stay organized throughout my claim period!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been on SDI for 8 weeks and just got the recertification notice. Reading through all these comments is both helpful and terrifying - sounds like this delay is pretty normal but the stress is real when you're counting on that payment. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, especially @CosmicCruiser for the update that it worked out! Going to make sure my doctor's office has the right fax number on file before they send anything.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - been on SDI for 6 weeks after a workplace injury and just dreading when I hit that 10-week mark after reading all this! It's ridiculous that EDD makes this process so stressful when people are already dealing with health issues. @CosmicCruiser glad everything worked out for you in the end! For anyone else going through this, it might be worth calling your doctor's office proactively to make sure they know to expect something from EDD and have all their contact info updated. The fax number mixup seems to be a common problem that just adds unnecessary delays to an already slow process.