I just went through this exact transition 6 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me! First, definitely start your LTD paperwork immediately - the 30-day processing gap is pretty standard but you can minimize delays by having everything ready. One thing that really helped me during the gap period was contacting 211 (just dial 2-1-1) - they connected me with local emergency assistance programs I had no idea existed. My county had a one-time rental assistance program specifically for people transitioning between disability benefits. Also, talk to your bank about hardship programs - many will defer loan payments or waive fees if you explain your situation with documentation. I was able to get my car payment deferred for two months which gave me breathing room. The stress is real but you're asking the right questions early, which puts you way ahead of where I was. You've got this!

I'm currently on week 48 of SDI and just starting to research this transition myself - this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about the strict 52-week limit or that LTD was through my employer rather than EDD. Reading everyone's experiences is both terrifying and reassuring at the same time. One question I have - for those who successfully transitioned to LTD, did your weekly benefit amount change significantly? I'm currently getting about $1,200/week on SDI and trying to budget for what to expect. Also, has anyone had experience with appealing an LTD denial? My condition is chronic fatigue syndrome which I know can be harder to "prove" than more visible disabilities. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories - it's making me feel less alone in this process and helping me prepare better than I would have otherwise!

I'm really glad I found this thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed for SDI two weeks ago after my shoulder surgery and still waiting for approval. Reading everyone's experiences here has been super helpful. One thing I wanted to add that my physical therapist mentioned - if you're doing any kind of physical therapy during your recovery, make sure your doctor includes that in their medical certification. Apparently EDD sometimes questions claims if people are "well enough" for PT but still claiming disability, so having your doctor specifically note that PT is part of your recovery plan can prevent unnecessary delays. Also, for what it's worth, I've been checking my claim status online every few days using the SDI Online portal. It's not super detailed but at least shows if your claim is "pending" vs "under review" vs "approved." Gives me something to check while I'm anxiously waiting! Hope your back heals up quickly Javier - sounds like you've got a solid plan now thanks to all the great advice in this thread!

Just wanted to add my experience from last month - I had spinal fusion surgery and went through this exact same process. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed timeline of everything: - Date I stopped working - Surgery date - Date I filed SDI claim - Date doctor submitted medical certification - All communication with EDD This was super helpful when I had to call EDD to check on my claim status. Having all the dates ready made the conversation much smoother and the rep was able to quickly see where things stood. Also, don't forget that you can certify for benefits every two weeks once you're approved - mark those dates on your calendar! Missing a certification deadline can cause payment delays even after you're approved. One last thing - if your back surgery recovery takes longer than initially expected (which is pretty common), your doctor can submit additional medical certifications to extend your SDI. I ended up needing an extra 3 weeks beyond my original certification and the extension process was actually pretty straightforward. Recovery from back surgery is tough enough without the financial stress. Sounds like you've got a great plan now - file tonight, use some sick pay for immediate needs, and stay on top of your doctor's office. You'll get through this!

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! Reading through Keisha's journey from discovering the unexpected $800 deduction to getting it resolved really shows how important it is to have access to knowledgeable people who understand EDD's complex systems. What strikes me most is how the automatic offset system seems to operate without clear communication to the affected person. The idea that someone dealing with pregnancy disability could suddenly lose a significant portion of their benefits without advance notice is really concerning, especially when they're already managing reduced income and planning for upcoming expenses. The technical advice from Oliver about "conditional offset waivers" and the proper terminology to use when calling EDD has been incredibly helpful. It's frustrating that you need to know these specific legal terms to get fair treatment, but at least this community provides that insider knowledge that would be nearly impossible to figure out on your own. I'm also taking note of all the advice about documentation and calling directly rather than relying solely on online systems. The fact that EDD's different departments don't communicate well with each other is something I would never have known without reading these experiences. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge here - this thread is going to serve as an excellent resource for anyone facing similar overpayment collection issues. It's communities like this that help people navigate these complicated government systems successfully!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through as someone completely new to dealing with EDD! I had no idea that they could automatically deduct from disability payments for old unemployment overpayments - that seems like such a critical piece of information that should be clearly communicated upfront. What really stands out to me is how Keisha's experience shows the importance of this community. Without the specific advice about "conditional offset waivers" and the proper phone numbers to call, she might have continued paying double for months without knowing she had the right to stop it. That $800 deduction during pregnancy would have been devastating for most budgets! I'm taking notes on all the practical advice shared here - calling the Collections Division directly instead of general EDD numbers, using specific terminology like "conditional offset waiver," getting confirmation numbers, and documenting everything. It's concerning that EDD's internal systems don't communicate properly, but at least knowing that helps you prepare. The recommendation about Claimyr also seems really valuable for actually getting through to someone who can help. The regular EDD phone system sounds like a nightmare from what I'm reading. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge, especially Oliver for the detailed technical explanations. This thread is going to help so many people avoid the stress and confusion that Keisha initially went through!

I had my IME for back problems about 3 months ago and I know exactly how you're feeling! The anticipation was honestly worse than the actual exam. Here's what helped me get through it: Bring a support person if you can - they can advocate for you if needed and help you remember details afterward. Also, don't feel pressured to do anything that causes severe pain. When the doctor asked me to bend or twist, I went only to my comfort level and said "this is as far as I can go without significant pain increase" and they respected that. The doctor spent a lot of time just talking - asking about my daily routine, what positions are most painful, how I sleep, etc. The physical part was maybe 15-20 minutes total. They watched me walk, sit, stand, and did some gentle pressing on my back to check for tender spots. One thing I wish I'd known - take your regular pain meds beforehand! Don't try to show up in extra pain to "prove" your condition. They want to see your functional level with proper treatment, not at your absolute worst. Write down your main concerns beforehand because it's easy to forget things when you're nervous. You've got this! The fact that you have clear MRI findings showing herniated disc and nerve compression is in your favor.

I went through an IME for my chronic back pain last year and completely understand your anxiety! Here are a few things that helped me prepare: **Before the appointment:** - Make a detailed list of your daily limitations (how long you can sit/stand, what activities cause flare-ups, etc.) - Bring copies of recent MRIs and doctor's notes - Wear comfortable, loose clothing - Take your pain medication as scheduled - don't skip it **During the exam:** - Be completely honest about your pain levels - Don't push yourself beyond your limits - if bending forward causes severe pain, only go as far as you can tolerate - Ask for breaks if you need them - The doctor will likely ask about daily activities, work limitations, and do basic range of motion tests **Important:** You can bring a support person with you! Having someone there as a witness can be really helpful. The exam itself was much less intimidating than I expected. The doctor was professional and didn't try to "catch me faking" - they just wanted to verify that my functional limitations matched my medical records. My benefits continued without any issues. Remember, these doctors see real back injuries all the time. Your MRI results showing herniated disc and nerve compression are objective evidence that will work in your favor. Try to get some rest before Tuesday and don't let the anxiety make your pain worse. You've got this!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - just had knee surgery and my doctor also only does paper forms. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to follow the advice about making copies and getting tracking. One question though - when you're filling out Part A, did you have any issues with the employment history section? My employer uses a temp agency for payroll so I'm not sure if I should put down the temp agency or my actual workplace. Anyone dealt with this before?

Just want to add one more tip from my recent experience - if you're dealing with a back surgery like OP mentioned, make sure your doctor includes specific functional limitations in Part B (like "cannot lift more than 10 lbs" or "cannot sit for more than 30 minutes"). I initially got a vague medical certification that just said "post-surgical recovery" and EDD requested additional documentation. My doctor had to submit a more detailed form explaining exactly what I couldn't do work-wise. This delayed my claim by about 10 days, so definitely discuss this with your doctor upfront to avoid the back-and-forth!