FAQs – State Disability Insurance (SDI) Online

• What is State Disability Insurance (SDI) Online?
• Why has the EDD implemented this new system?
• What are the benefits of SDI Online?
• How will the electronic submission work?
• How will the customer and physician portions of the filing be matched up?
• Are customers still able to file a paper form?
• Will electronically-transmitted information be kept confidential?
• How do customers access SDI Online?
• I am having difficulties accessing SDI Online. What do I do?
• Will there be customer support after implementation?
• Is there a phone number to call for more information?
• I have a receipt number for submitting my Disability Insurance claim, what do I do now?
• What if my doctor is not using SDI Online yet?
• What if I do not use SDI Online to file my claim?
• When will I receive my payment for SDI if I just filed online?
• What will happen if I submit or mail a non-Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits, DE 2501 form?
• Can I submit or mail a copy of the new Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits, DE 2501 form?
• Which forms were redesigned into the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) format?

• How often do I need to certify for SDI?
• Will I receive messages from SDI Online?
• What is the E313 error message?

What is State Disability Insurance (SDI) Online?
SDI Online is a secure electronic communications and information processing system. This service seeks to improve on our delivery of Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits by allowing the option of electronic submission of SDI claims and other claim information by claimants, physicians/practitioners, employers, and voluntary plan administrators while following the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations and guidelines.

Why has the EDD implemented this new system?
Many of the SDI processes have remained unchanged since 1946. Those processes revolved around paper-based data collection, requiring manual and often duplicative data entry. Claimants, physicians/practitioners, and employers would spend time filling out paper forms and then sometimes resubmit the same data because the original form was not correctly completed or lost in the mail. This system is being implemented to promote efficiency and reduce costs while following the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations and guidelines.

What are the benefits of SDI Online?

• Improved access to services.
• Reduction in claim processing time.
• Access to claim status and payment history online.
• Secure transmission of personal information.
• Improved detection and management of fraud and abuse.
• Immediate confirmation of claim filed.
• Reduction in paperwork overhead.
• Sustainable business practice.

How will the electronic submission work?
All SDI Online users must complete a one-time registration to establish an online account. To register, go to the SDI Online page and select SDI Online Registration. Once the registration is complete, the user may log in and complete their claim by visiting the SDI Online Login page. Once the claim is filed, claimants will receive a receipt number to provide to their treating physician/practitioner. Physicians/practitioners, physician/practitioner representatives, and employers will also receive receipt numbers for confirmation of certifications or forms filed online. After the account is established, customers can log in to SDI Online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for access to most services.

Customers may obtain additional information by visiting the SDI Online page.

How will the customer and physician portions of the filing be matched up?
The claimant will receive a receipt number to be provided to the physicians/practitioners, if the receipt number is not provided, the system will use the following information to match the claim:

• Claimant's Social Security number
• Claimant’s last name
• Claimant’s date of birth
• EDD Customer Account Number

Are customers still able to file a paper form?
Yes. The option to file a paper form will remain available using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) forms. These forms use special ink which allows data to be scanned, captured, and uploaded into SDI Online for processing. Claims may be filed online or by ordering new forms. Order new supplies on the Online Forms and Publications page. Orders may take two to four weeks for delivery.

Will the electronically-transmitted information be kept confidential?
Yes. SDI Online implements Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant electronic communications through direct electronic interface and Web-based intelligent forms. The data is encrypted in transit and stored to ensure confidentiality.

How do customers access SDI Online?
SDI Online is available on the EDD website on the Overview – State Disability Insurance page.

I am having difficulties accessing SDI Online. What do I do?

If you are having trouble accessing the SDI Online system, please follow the instructions below:

1. Close all Web browsers on your computer.
2. Clear out ALL cookies and Web browser cache data for each web browser on your computer. Depending on what version and browser you are using, the instructions may vary. Below are links to instructions provided by different browser vendors.
• Internet Explorer Instructions
• Google Chrome Instructions
3. Verify that the time on your computer is set for the correct time zone, day of the week, as well as the correct hour and minute. For instructions on how to synchronize your computer via the Internet, visit the NIST Internet Time Service website.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Attempt to log back in to SDI Online.

Will there be customer support after implementation?
Yes. Now that the system is available for public use, the EDD has trained experts available to answer calls and address customer concerns. Visit the SDI Online page for information regarding tip sheets and online tutorials.

Is there a phone number to call for more information?
Yes. Customers may contact an SDI representative by calling the phone numbers below:

Disability Insurance
1-800-480-3287 (English)
1-866-658-8846 (Spanish)
1-866-352-7675 (California State Government Employees only)
1-800-563-2441 (TTY)

Paid Family Leave
1-877-238-4373 (English)
1-877-379-3819 (Spanish)
1-877-945-4747 (California State Government Employees only)
1-800-445-1312 (TTY)

Customers may also obtain information from the EDD website on the Overview – State Disability Insurance page.

I have a receipt number for submitting my Disability Insurance claim, what do I do now?
The receipt number means you have successfully submitted your claim form online. You should make a note of your receipt number for future reference. Most claims are processed within 14 days of receipt of properly completed forms. You may log in to your account to check the status of your claim at any time.

What if my doctor is not using SDI Online yet?
If your doctor is not using SDI Online, you must provide him/her your receipt number. Your doctor will submit a paper form with your receipt number to the EDD. The paper form is designed with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to be matched to your SDI Online account.

Claims may be filed online or by ordering new forms. The two OCR forms, Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits, DE 2501 and the Claim for Paid Family Leave Benefits, DE 2501F, must be ordered through the Online Forms and Publications page. Orders may take two to four weeks for delivery.

What if I do not use SDI Online to file my claim?
The option to file a paper form will remain available using the new Optical Character Recognition (OCR) form. The paper form is designed with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to be matched to your SDI Online account.

Claims may be filed online or by ordering new forms. The two OCR forms, Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits, DE 2501 and the Claim for Paid Family Leave Benefits, DE 2501F, must be ordered through the Online Forms and Publications page. Orders may take two to four weeks for delivery.

When will I receive payment for SDI if I just filed online?
There is a seven-day, non-payable waiting period for both Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits. Benefits start on the eighth day. Most benefits are issued within two weeks after a properly completed claim is received.

What will happen if I submit or mail a non-Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits, DE 2501 form?
If you submit a non-OCR DE 2501, the EDD will return the non-OCR form and include the new OCR DE 2501 with a letter instructing you to complete and return the new version of the form or file a claim using SDI Online. No other version of this form is acceptable.

Can I submit or mail a copy of the new Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits, DE 2501 form?
No. This form cannot be copied or reproduced; only the original version of this form is acceptable. You can order the new form online at the Online Forms and Publications page. Orders of 25 or less may take one week for delivery, and orders of 25 or more may take up to four weeks for delivery. Forms are also available at EDD offices and from most medical offices and employers.

Which forms were redesigned into the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) format?
The following five forms were redesigned into the OCR format. Forms submitted to the department must be in the new OCR format in order to expedite forms processing into the SDI Online system:

• Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits, DE 2501 (including a Spanish version)
• Claim for Continued Disability Benefits, DE 2500A (including a Spanish version)
• Notice to Employer of State Disability Claim Filed, DE 2503
• Request for Delivery Information, DE 2513 (including a Spanish version)
• Physician/Practitioner’s Supplementary Certificate, DE 2525XX

How often do I need to certify for SDI?
Benefit recipients with claims of 10 weeks or more are put into an automatic payment cycle so a payment is issued every two weeks. Recipients with claims of less than 10 weeks, who are in active payment status, will need to complete a continued claim certification approximately every two weeks in order to receive continued claim payments.

Will I receive messages from SDI Online?
Any specific communications from the EDD regarding your claim will be sent electronically to your SDI Online account or via paper mail, whichever method you chose upon registration. If e-mail was chosen, some communications may still be sent through the U.S. Postal Service if a required form is not available online.

What is the E313 error message?
If you received the E313 error message, please check all entered information for accuracy (“true” full name and correct date of birth) and complete all required fields marked with a red asterisk. If you continue to receive the E313 error message, in order to apply for benefits, you must complete and submit a hardcopy Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits, DE 2501 via mail. The Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits, DE 2501, is available at all EDD offices and most medical providers and employers.