Just to follow up on what everyone has said - the law is clear that for the same disability (postpartum depression), you have ONE benefit period regardless of how many doctors treat you during that time. Starting a new claim would actually be improper since you're continuing treatment for the same condition. If your doctor still refuses after you provide the DE 2525XX form, ask to speak with the office manager or medical records department, as they often have more experience with disability paperwork. As a last resort, you can have EDD contact your doctor's office directly to explain the process.

I went through something similar with my anxiety/depression claim a few months ago. My psychiatrist moved practices and the new office initially told me the same thing - that they couldn't extend a claim started elsewhere. What worked for me was printing out the EDD FAQ page that specifically addresses this situation. There's a section that says "Any licensed physician can complete disability forms for your claim, regardless of who started it." I brought that page along with the DE 2525XX form to my appointment. The medical assistant actually thanked me because she said they get these situations all the time but weren't sure of the correct procedure. Now they know for future patients! Sometimes it's just a matter of the office staff not being familiar with EDD rules rather than the doctor being difficult. Hang in there with your PPD recovery - the stress of dealing with paperwork definitely doesn't help, but you've got this! 💙

Just checking back - did your payment show up on your Money Network card yet? Most first payments appear within 48 hours, so hopefully you've received your funds by now.

So glad to hear your money finally came through! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - my SDI payment showed as issued yesterday but still nothing on my Money Network card. Reading through all these comments is really reassuring that this is just how the system works. It's crazy that EDD doesn't make this clearer when you first get approved - they should definitely tell people about the 1-3 day delay for first payments. Would have saved me a lot of stress! Thanks for updating us on the outcome.

I'm in the same boat, been trying to upload my form for days. This whole system needs an overhaul.

I had this exact same issue a few months ago! The upload feature is really poorly designed. What finally worked for me was accessing it through the mobile app instead of the website. For some reason, the upload button showed up there when it wouldn't appear on desktop. If you don't have the app, you can also try accessing the mobile version of the site through your phone's browser. Also, make sure your form is saved as a PDF - I think they're picky about file formats. Hope this helps!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my PFL claim about 5 weeks ago and it's been stuck on "pending" ever since. The phone system is absolutely ridiculous - I've probably spent 20+ hours on hold just to get disconnected. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like contacting my assembly member might be the way to go. Has anyone had luck with specific assembly offices being more responsive than others? Also really considering that Claimyr service that @Sofia Peña mentioned, even though $20 feels steep just to talk to someone who should be accessible for free 😤 Thanks for starting this thread - at least we know we're not alone in this nightmare!

Same boat here! Filed my PFL claim about 4 weeks ago and it's been a total nightmare. The "pending" status is driving me crazy and I've basically given up on the phone system after getting hung up on multiple times. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and tips here. The assembly member suggestion keeps coming up so I'm definitely going to try that route. @Giovanni Martello thanks for those detailed steps - having a game plan helps a lot! Also seeing mixed reactions about Claimyr but honestly at this point I might just bite the bullet and pay the $20 if it actually works. This whole situation is so frustrating when you're already dealing with family stuff and need the financial support. Will report back if I have any success with the assembly member route. Hang in there everyone! 💪

Just wanted to add since you mentioned twins - make sure your doctor indicates this clearly in the medical certification. Multiple births often qualify for longer pregnancy disability periods both before and after delivery. The standard is usually 4 weeks before delivery and 6-8 weeks after for recovery (longer for C-section), but with twins and high-risk status, your doctor might certify you for longer periods which EDD will typically approve. Also, when you transition to PFL later, you'll be eligible for the full 8 weeks of bonding time regardless of your SDI duration.

I'm in a similar situation - expecting my first baby and just getting started with understanding all the EDD requirements. This thread has been super helpful! One question I have after reading through everything - when you file early (like the 49 days before), do you still need to submit proof of your last day of work, or can that be updated later? I'm trying to get all my paperwork organized now but my exact last day might shift slightly depending on how I'm feeling. Congratulations on the twins - that's so exciting!