EDD sent PFL overpayment notice after combining both claims - should I appeal or repay?

The same exact thing happened to me last year!!! EDD is so freakin confusing with how they handle these split PFL claims. I ended up appealing the overpayment and explained the whole situation on the appeal form - that I DID use all the time, just not when they initially paid me. It took almost 2 months but they eventually dropped the overpayment notice without me having to repay. Make sure you have documentation for both periods she was actually out of work though!!!

This is a common misunderstanding with PFL benefits. When EDD issued the full 8 weeks of payment during the first claim, they were assuming those 8 weeks would be taken consecutively. PFL claims are typically processed with the expectation that all leave will be taken during the claim period indicated on your application. You have two options here: 1. Pay the overpayment and submit a new claim for the 5-week period she actually took off later. Make sure to specify the exact dates she was out of work. 2. Appeal the overpayment notice by explaining that while the initial payment was for 8 weeks, your wife did utilize all 8 weeks of her eligible PFL benefits - just not in the timeframe that was initially claimed. Based on my experience, option #2 is your better path. The appeal form should include a detailed explanation of the situation, along with documentation proving she was actually off work during both periods.

omg i literally just got off the phone with EDD about something like this last week. took me FOREVER to reach someone. have u tried calling them? good luck lol their wait times are insane

I think you should definitely appeal! My cousin works in HR and she says this happens all the time with PFL claims that get split up. The key thing is you need to prove your wife actually took that second period of leave. Get a letter from her employer confirming the dates she was out for both periods. That should be enough to win the appeal.

I've seen this issue a lot with split PFL claims. The problem is that when EDD paid you for all 8 weeks during that first claim, they were paying based on the expectation that your wife would be taking 8 consecutive weeks starting from that initial claim date. When taking PFL in non-consecutive periods, you need to file separate claims for each period, with specific start and end dates for each one. The system isn't really designed to handle "I might take more leave later" scenarios very elegantly. Your best approach is to file an appeal and clearly explain: 1. The initial claim was intended for only 3 weeks 2. EDD paid 8 weeks in error 3. Your wife did take the additional 5 weeks later (provide specific dates) 4. You were unaware the payment structure would create this problem Include any documentation you have of both leave periods - employer verification is best, but pay stubs showing reduced hours, medical appointments during that time, or anything else that verifies she was on leave. If you need help reaching EDD to discuss this, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They can get you connected to an EDD representative usually within 5-20 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. It helped me resolve a similar issue with my disability claim.

The EDD system is BROKEN!! This happened to me twice with disability claims. They approve and pay you, then months later decide they made a mistake and demand money back. It's absolutely ridiculous. And good luck trying to get anyone on the phone to explain the situation. I spent 3 weeks calling every day before I could talk to a human being. The whole system is designed to make you give up.

to add to my earlier comment i just remebered - make sure you check the deadline for appealing!!! I think its only like 30 days from when u get the notice. don't miss that or you'll have to repay for sure!

Just to follow up - I looked into this further and wanted to clarify something important: For PFL claims, employer documentation is extremely helpful for your appeal. You should request a simple letter from her HR department stating: 1. The exact dates of both leave periods 2. Confirmation that these were approved leaves 3. That these leaves were for the same qualifying event (care of your new child) This documentation will significantly strengthen your appeal case. Also, when you submit your appeal, be very clear that you're not disputing that you received the money - you're disputing that it's an overpayment, since the full 8 weeks of benefits were used, just in a different timeframe than initially anticipated.

wait i'm confused... if they paid u for 8 weeks and ur wife only took 3 weeks at first, why didn't u report that or return the extra money? sounds like u just kept the money knowing it was too much? not trying to be rude just don't understand

hey did you try using the claimyr thing that other person mentioned? i just used it and got through to edd in like 15 mins! they explained my whole situation. way better than waiting on hold all day

I'm dealing with a very similar PFL situation right now! My advice would be to definitely appeal rather than just repay. I made the mistake of repaying an overpayment last year thinking it would be easier, but then when I filed my new claim for the actual leave period, EDD denied it saying I had already used my benefits for that time period. It was a nightmare to untangle and took months to resolve. The appeal process might take longer, but it protects your right to those benefits since you actually did use them. Make sure you have clear documentation of both leave periods - even if it's just calendars showing when she was home with the baby, photos with timestamps, anything that proves she was actually on leave during those 5 weeks later in the year. Also, when you write your appeal statement, be very clear that this wasn't fraud or intentional - EDD's system processed the claim incorrectly and you're simply asking them to recognize that the full 8 weeks were legitimately used for their intended purpose.

I went through almost the exact same thing with my PFL claim last year! EDD's system really struggles with non-consecutive leave periods. Here's what worked for me: I appealed the overpayment and included a detailed timeline showing: - Original claim dates and what I intended to use (3 weeks initially) - Documentation that I actually DID take the full 8 weeks total, just split up - A simple statement from my employer confirming both leave periods The key thing that helped my case was being very clear in my appeal letter that I wasn't disputing receiving the money - I was disputing that it was an "overpayment" since I legitimately used all 8 weeks of benefits I was entitled to. It took about 6 weeks to get resolved, but they ended up dropping the overpayment completely. Don't just repay it if you actually took the leave - you earned those benefits! Just make sure you file the appeal before the deadline (usually 30 days from the notice date). Good luck! The system is confusing but appeals do work when you have the documentation to back up your case.

I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar PFL situation right now! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. I just wanted to add that when I spoke with an EDD representative last week (finally got through after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned), they told me that split PFL claims are actually more common than people think, especially for new parents who want to stagger their leave. The rep I spoke with emphasized that the key to a successful appeal is being very clear that you DID use all the benefits you received - just not in the timeframe EDD initially expected. She said they see this type of appeal regularly and most get approved when there's proper documentation. One thing she mentioned that I haven't seen in the comments yet: if you have any text messages or emails between you and your wife discussing the leave plans (like "mom is leaving next month so I'll take my remaining weeks then"), include those as supporting evidence too. It shows this was always your intention, not something you decided after receiving the overpayment notice. Really hoping your appeal goes smoothly! This whole process is so stressful but it sounds like you have a strong case.