EDD SDI/PFL Nightmare: Claims Stuck, Payments Stopped, Can't Reach Anyone - Help!
Is anyone else feeling like the EDD is the DMV of maternity benefits? I'm having so many issues with my SDI/PFL claims and it's impossible to get through to anyone for help. It's so frustrating trying to get critical info while dealing with a newborn! I've been seeing all sorts of problems: - Claims getting approved but no payment coming through - Payments randomly stopping after a month - Submitted appeals going unanswered - Claims not being processed, missing paperwork - Update forms in the EDD inbox not working - Issues setting up online accounts with ID.ME It feels like the system is full of glitches and it's nearly impossible to get through on the phone. Who has time for this with a new baby? Has anyone found a way to actually get help or speak to a real person? I'm at my wit's end here!
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Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve EDD claim issues quickly, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p22YeGH56ZQ
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GalacticGuru
Omg yes! 🤦♀️ I've been dealing with this nightmare for months. It's like they purposely make it impossible to get help. I've called literally hundreds of times and never gotten through. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to.
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Freya Pedersen
•Same boat here. Its like they want us to give up and not get our money. So frustrating!
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Omar Fawaz
•Hundreds of times? Wow, I thought I was bad at 50+ calls. This system is beyond broken.
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GalacticGuru
•Yeah, it's insane. I've probably spent more time on hold than I have with my baby at this point 😭
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Chloe Anderson
I actually found a way to get through! There's this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls for you, waits on hold, and then connects you when a real person picks up. It costs $20 but honestly it was worth every penny to finally get some answers. Here's a video about how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ
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Diego Vargas
•Sounds too good to be true. Does it really work? How long did you have to wait?
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Chloe Anderson
•It really does! I was skeptical too but I was desperate. They called for about 2 hours before getting through, but I didn't have to sit there listening to hold music. When they connected me, I talked to an actual helpful person for like 30 minutes and got my issue resolved.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•$20 seems steep just to make a phone call. Shouldn't this be a free service?
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Chloe Anderson
•I get it, but considering how much time and frustration it saved me, it was totally worth it. Plus, think about how much you're potentially losing in benefits by not being able to get through.
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StarStrider
Has anyone had luck with the online system? I've been trying to upload documents for weeks and it keeps giving me errors. 😤
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Sean Doyle
•The online system is a joke. Half the time it's down for "maintenance" and when it does work, nothing seems to actually get processed.
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Zara Rashid
•Try clearing your cache and using a different browser. Sometimes that helps with the upload errors.
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Luca Romano
I work in IT and I'm convinced the EDD's system was programmed by monkeys. 🐒 It's like they're using technology from the 90s. No wonder nothing works properly!
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Nia Jackson
Here's what I've learned after dealing with EDD for months: 1. Document EVERYTHING. Keep copies of all forms, take screenshots of online submissions. 2. If you mail anything, use certified mail with return receipt. 3. Be persistent. Call every day if you have to. 4. Reach out to your local state representative. Sometimes they can help push things through. 5. Join Facebook groups for CA SDI/PFL support. Lots of good info there. 6. If all else fails, consider using a service like Claimyr to get through on the phone. Stay strong, mamas. We shouldn't have to fight this hard, but don't give up!
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Mateo Hernandez
•This is gold 💯 Wish I had known all this when I started my claim!
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CosmicCruiser
•Contacting my rep actually worked for me! Took a few weeks but they got things moving.
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Aisha Khan
Anyone else feel like they're gonna lose it if they hear that hold music one more time? 🎶😵💫
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Ethan Taylor
•omg yes! I hear it in my nightmares now 😂
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Yuki Ito
•Pro tip: use speakerphone and mute it. Check every 5 mins or so. Saves your sanity!
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Carmen Lopez
I'm about ready to drive to Sacramento and camp out at the EDD office until someone helps me. Who's with me? We can have a mom's protest! 👶🍼🪧
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Andre Dupont
•lol count me in! We can bring the babies and see how they like trying to work with that noise 😆
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QuantumQuasar
•Careful, they might just put you on hold IRL too 🤣
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Natalie Chen
This is so relatable! 😭 I'm going through the exact same thing - my PFL claim has been "pending" for 6 weeks now and I've called probably 200+ times. The automated system just hangs up on you half the time! What's really frustrating is that we NEED this money to care for our babies, but they make it nearly impossible to get. I've tried everything - calling at different times, using different phone numbers, even had my partner call. Nothing works. I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service @Chloe Anderson mentioned. At this point $20 seems like a bargain if it actually gets me through to a human being. This system is absolutely broken and it's hurting families when we're most vulnerable. Thanks for posting this - at least we know we're not alone in this nightmare! 💪
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Maya Lewis
•@Natalie Chen I m'so sorry you re'dealing with this too! 6 weeks pending is absolutely insane. I just joined this community after finding this post because I m'in a similar boat - my SDI claim has been under "review for" 3 weeks now and I m'getting desperate. The fact that the automated system literally hangs up on people is just cruel when we re'already stressed about finances and caring for newborns. I m'definitely going to try that Claimyr service too. $20 is nothing compared to the thousands we re'owed in benefits. It s'shameful that we have to pay a third party just to access services we ve'already paid into through our taxes! Has anyone tried reaching out to local news stations about this? Maybe if we get some media attention they ll'actually fix their broken system. We shouldn t'have to suffer like this during what should be a special time with our babies. 😤
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