Friendly reminder to take care of yourselves while dealing with this stress, folks. Don't let EDD drama consume your life. Remember to breathe, stay hydrated, and maybe scream into a pillow once in a while. We're all in this together! 💪

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!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I was in almost the exact same situation! I had a pregnancy disability claim approved in October and was worried because I couldn't find my old EDD card from 2020. You'll definitely get a new card - Bank of America automatically sends one for each new claim period. Mine arrived about 8 days after my first payment was processed. The card came with a sticker showing the last 4 digits so you know it's the new one. One tip: I actually called Bank of America's EDD line (1-866-692-9374) proactively to report my old card as lost, just to make sure there wouldn't be any confusion. The rep was really helpful and confirmed that the new card would be completely separate from the old one. Good luck with your pregnancy and don't stress too much about the payment logistics - it sounds like you're being proactive by filing early!

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! I had lost my EDD card from a previous claim in 2019 and was panicking about my pregnancy disability payments. You'll definitely get a brand new card - Bank of America automatically issues a fresh EDD debit card for every new claim period, even if you had one before. Mine took about 10 days to arrive after my first payment was processed. One thing that really helped me was logging into my SDI Online account and triple-checking that my mailing address was 100% correct, including apartment numbers, spelling, etc. I also took the advice from another member here and called Bank of America's EDD customer service (1-866-692-9374) to proactively report my old lost card. The rep was super helpful and put a note on my account. Honestly, after reading all the experiences here, I'm thinking direct deposit might be the way to go for future claims - seems more reliable than waiting for physical cards. But for your current situation, you should be totally fine with the debit card option you selected. The system is designed to handle lost/old cards from previous claims. Best of luck with your pregnancy and don't stress too much about the payment logistics - you're being really proactive by filing early!

I actually just switched from checks to the debit card about 2 weeks ago and wanted to share my experience! Like others mentioned, calling right at 8 AM is definitely the way to go - I got through in about 12 minutes on a Tuesday morning. The EDD rep was really helpful and processed the change immediately. She explained that I'd get a confirmation letter in the mail within a few days (which I did), and then the debit card would arrive separately in 7-10 business days. Mine came in exactly 8 days. The activation process through the Bank of America EDD website was super simple - just entered the card info and set up my PIN. What I really love about the card is that I can check my balance anytime through the BofA app and set up instant notifications when payments are deposited. Plus the free transfers to my regular bank account are a game changer! The whole switch was totally worth the brief phone call. Good luck with yours!

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact same switch about 4 months ago! I was nervous about calling EDD because of all the horror stories about wait times, but I followed the advice here about calling right at 8 AM and got through in about 25 minutes. The representative was actually really friendly and knowledgeable - she walked me through the whole process and even explained that once I got the debit card, I could set up automatic transfers to my bank account so I wouldn't have to remember to move the money each time. The card arrived in 9 business days and activation was a breeze. One thing I wish I'd known beforehand is that you can actually call Bank of America directly at the number on the back of the EDD card if you have any issues with activation or transfers - you don't have to go back through EDD for card-related problems. The convenience of instant access to funds versus waiting for checks to arrive and then clear has been amazing, especially when you're already dealing with the stress of being out of work due to disability. Definitely recommend making the switch!

I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. The anticipation was honestly worse than the actual exam. Here are some practical tips: **Before the exam:** - Request your complete medical file from your psychiatrist/therapist to bring with you - Write down how your symptoms specifically impact your job duties (can't handle customer complaints due to anxiety, panic attacks triggered by deadlines, etc.) - List all medications and recent changes - they care a lot about side effects affecting work ability - Get a letter from your doctor explaining your prognosis and expected recovery timeline **During the exam:** - Be honest about both good and bad days - they expect mental health to fluctuate - Focus on functionality, not just feelings ("I can't concentrate for more than 15 minutes" vs "I feel sad") - Mention if you're having medication adjustments that are making things temporarily worse **For payment delays:** This is super common! When you call EDD, ask specifically if there are any "pending issues" or "verification flags" on your account. Sometimes they have internal holds they don't tell you about. The whole process took about 40 minutes for me, and I was approved for another 8 weeks. Mental health claims do get approved when properly documented - don't let the horror stories scare you too much. You're dealing with a legitimate medical condition and deserve support while you recover.

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress - dealing with an EDD medical exam while already struggling with mental health issues is so overwhelming. I went through a similar situation about a year ago for my depression/anxiety claim. Here's what I learned from my experience: **For the exam preparation:** - Document specific work-related limitations (like if phone calls trigger panic attacks, or if you can't concentrate during meetings) - Bring a timeline of your treatment and any medication changes - Ask your psychiatrist to write a detailed letter explaining why you can't perform your specific job duties yet **During the exam:** - Be completely honest about your symptoms and how they affect daily functioning - Don't try to appear "sicker" but definitely don't minimize your struggles either - The doctor asked me about my daily routine, sleep patterns, and ability to handle workplace stress **For the payment delays:** This is unfortunately super common! When you finally get through to EDD, specifically ask if there are any account flags or pending verification issues. Sometimes there's a hidden hold causing the delays that they don't communicate clearly. My exam lasted about 35 minutes and I was approved for another 10 weeks. Remember that you have legitimate medical documentation and you deserve support while you recover. Mental health conditions are real medical conditions that can absolutely prevent someone from working. Try to focus on getting through one day at a time, and know that many people in this community are rooting for you!

Ive been in your shoes and it SUCKS. heres what worked for me: 1. Call right when they open 2. Have all your docs ready 3. Be super nice to the rep (even tho you wanna scream) 4. Ask for a supervisor if the first person cant help 5. Follow up EVERY WEEK until its resolved Stay strong, you got this! 💪

I went through something similar when I was self-employed as a freelance graphic designer. The key is documentation! Here's what saved me: 1. **Tax documents**: Get copies of your Schedule C from your tax returns - this shows your business income/expenses 2. **1099s**: Collect all 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC forms from clients 3. **Bank statements**: Print statements showing deposits from real estate commissions 4. **Business records**: Any invoices, contracts, or commission statements you have 5. **Quarterly tax payments**: If you made estimated tax payments, include those records The appeal process is worth it - don't let them dismiss your case! When you submit your appeal, include a cover letter explaining that as a real estate agent, your income is commission-based and fluctuates. Attach everything above as proof of your actual earnings. Also, make sure you're applying based on your highest earning quarter in the base period (usually 12-18 months before your claim). Good luck! 🤞