How do I contact California SDI?

March 13, 2017 7:38 PM

I am approved for SDI. I got better. Now SDI isn't paying me for part of the time and doesn't give a reason. How can I talk to a person about this?

I started medical leave on 2/1, and recovered until 3/6. I filed for SDI using the website on 2/8, and it was approved. I was paid 2/8-2/20 in one check.

On 3/6, I had to fill out a Continuation of Benefits form, and I reported that I recovered on 3/5 and returned to work 3/6. This is well within the limits my doctor said, the SDI site said I was cleared until 3/20.

SDI then paid me for the period 2/21-2/21. But the period 2/22-3/4? No mention. Nuthin.

It's been almost a week since they approved the one-day period, and still no mention of the remaining time. My claim isn't closed, but I'm confused why they're doing what they're doing.

Their phone system appears entirely automated; they say the line is staffed during business hours, but I cannot find any key combination that gets an operator.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get an operator for SDI? Alternatively, does anyone know why they would have done what they did?

posted by Pacrand to Law & Government (2 answers total)

It's entirely possible they have a pay period that ends on Tuesdays. That is, they approve payments in batches on (let's say) Wednesday for all claims submitted from two Wednesdays back to the Tuesday the day before. Then they won't approve another batch of payments for another two weeks. So they did your 2/21 claim, and now you have to wait for them to process the next batch. It doesn't sound like the interim period has been so long that you'd have to assume that something was wrong, especially if the claim is listed as still pending.

It's like a paycheck, you know? In most U.S. jobs, you submit your time on (say) Friday, but you're not getting paid for the Thursday immediately before until the next pay period.
posted by praemunire at 10:05 AM on March 14, 2017

Have you tried mushing buttons all at once? I've found that many automated phone trees respond to that by putting you through to an operator.

I also like the theory above re: timing of the checks.
posted by purple_bird at 9:22 AM on March 15, 2017