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How to end SDI and start PFL? Need advice on transitioning

Hey everyone, I'm trying to switch from disability to Paid Family Leave (PFL). Has anyone gone through this process before? I need to end my disability claim first, but I'm not sure about the exact steps. Any advice on how to make this transition smoothly? What should I say to the agent when I call?

Nia Harris

I went through this last year. You definitely need to close out your disability claim before starting PFL. When you call, tell them you want to end your disability claim to transition to PFL. They'll probably ask for some details about your current situation and why you're switching. Make sure you have all your paperwork ready ā€“ they might ask for doctor's notes or other documentation. Good luck!

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GalacticGuardian

Thanks for the info! Do you remember how long it took for the whole process? I'm worried about a gap between payments.

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22d

Nia Harris

In my case, it took about 2 weeks from ending disability to getting my first PFL payment. But I've heard it can vary. Def ask the agent about this when you call!

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20d

Mateo Gonzalez

2 weeks? You got lucky! It took me over a month šŸ˜­ The system is so backed up rn

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Aisha Ali

ugh, good luck dealing with EDD. I swear they make everything 10x more complicated than it needs to be šŸ™„

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Ethan Moore

fr fr šŸ’Æ I spent 3 hours on hold last time I called them. Total clown show šŸ¤”

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21d

Yuki Nakamura

Have you guys tried calling right when they open? I usually have better luck getting through then.

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StarSurfer

Quick tip: make sure you time this right. Your disability claim needs to be closed before you can apply for PFL, but you don't want too big of a gap. Maybe aim to close disability on a Friday and apply for PFL the following Monday?

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Carmen Reyes

Hey, I found a way to actually get someone on the phone without waiting forever. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ

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Andre Moreau

Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit? Has anyone else tried it?

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17d

Carmen Reyes

Yeah, it's legit. I was skeptical at first too, but it saved me hours of hold time. Worth every penny imo.

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Zoe Christodoulou

20 bucks to skip the hold time? Sign me up! šŸ™Œ

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Jamal Thompson

Make sure you have a good reason for switching to PFL. They might ask why you're ending disability. In my experience, they wantd to know if my medical condition had improved or if there were other circumstances.

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GalacticGuardian

That's good to know. I'm switching because I need to care for a family member. Do you think that's a valid reason?

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Jamal Thompson

Absolutely! That's exactly what PFL is for. Just make sure you have any necessary documentation about your family member's condition.

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Mei Chen

Pro tip: Keep a record of EVERYTHING. Every call, every letter, every form you submit. The EDD system is a mess and you might need to prove what you've done later.

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CosmicCadet

This šŸ‘† Learned this the hard way. Now I have a whole folder just for EDD stuff.

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Liam O'Connor

Has anyone else noticed that the online system is always "under maintenance" when you need it most? šŸ™„ Maybe try calling instead of using the website for this.

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Amara Adeyemi

I transitioned from disability to PFL last month. Here's what I learned: ā€¢ Call early in the morning, right when they open. Less wait time. ā€¢ Have your claim number ready. ā€¢ Be clear about why you're ending disability and starting PFL. ā€¢ Ask about any forms you need to submit for PFL. ā€¢ Inquire about the timeline and if there will be any gap in payments. ā€¢ Get the name of the representative you speak with. ā€¢ Follow up with an email summarizing your call (if possible) for your records. Hope this helps! The process can be frustrating, but stay persistent.

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GalacticGuardian

This is super helpful, thank you so much! I'll definitely follow these steps.

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Giovanni Gallo

Wow, great advice! Wish I had this when I went through the process. šŸ‘šŸ‘šŸ‘

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11d