Stuck waiting for PFL benefits after transitioning from SDI - no payment after 3 weeks!

congrats on the baby! same thing happened 2 me in january. took like 4 weeks to get paid even tho they say it should be faster for transitions. just wait a few more days, they're always behind

There are a few things you should check to make sure your transition from SDI to PFL is processing correctly: 1. Verify in your SDI Online account that your DE 2501FP shows as "received" not just "submitted" 2. Make sure you completed the bonding certification questions when you submitted the form 3. Check if there are any outstanding items in your SDI Online inbox requiring action In my experience, the transition from disability to PFL for new mothers should be pretty smooth since you're already in their system. The standard processing time is 14 calendar days, but they've been running behind lately. If you're approaching week 4 with no updates, you should definitely call them.

I just went through this last month! One thing no one tells you - did you check if your doctor submitted the correct end date for your disability? If there's an overlap between when your disability ends and when your PFL claim starts, the system gets confused and puts you in limbo. That might be why you're not hearing anything back.

This happened to ME too! The EDD system is TERRIBLE for new mothers!!! I was on regular disability after giving birth and when I tried to switch to PFL they made me wait SIX WEEKS with no money at all! I called like 50 times and never got through. Then one day the payments just randomly started coming. They didn't even backpay me for the first week because they said I "didn't certify properly" which was a complete LIE! The whole system is designed to frustrate new mothers when we're at our most vulnerable and sleep deprived. It's CRIMINAL how they treat us!!

did u actually submit through SDI Online or did u just mail the form? cuz when i did mine i thought the online part was enough but then i found out u still have to answer the certification questions every 2 weeks even for pfl or they dont pay you.

I just went through this transition in March this year. What worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual EDD rep on the phone. I spent days trying to call myself with no luck, but with Claimyr I got through in about 20 minutes. The rep found that my PFL claim was stuck in processing because of some technical glitch on their end! Something about the system not properly linking my existing SDI claim to the new PFL claim even though I did everything right. They fixed it right away and my payments started the next week with backpay. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check their demo video: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive benefits.

Have you checked if your employer reported your wages correctly? I had a similar issue when transitioning from SDI to PFL with my second baby and it turned out my employer had reported different quarterly wages to EDD than what I had on my pay stubs. This caused a delay while EDD tried to reconcile the difference. Might be worth checking your wage statement in your SDI Online account against your actual pay records. Also, while waiting, make sure you're documenting everything - take screenshots of your submitted forms, note down dates of any phone calls, etc. This will help if you need to request retroactive payments later. The system is frustrating but most transition delays do eventually get resolved with full back pay.

One more thing to check: Did you select the correct "Claim Type" when you submitted your DE 2501FP? There are three options for new mothers: 1. Disability Insurance Claim Only (for pregnancy/birth recovery) 2. Paid Family Leave Claim Only (if you're just filing for bonding) 3. Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave Claims (for transitioning from one to the other) If you didn't select option #3, that could explain the delay. You'd need to call EDD to correct it.

Based on your situation and timeline, I would recommend calling EDD directly. While the standard processing time for PFL claims is 14 days, transitions from SDI sometimes require manual review, especially if there was any change in your personal information or employment status. When you call, specifically ask the representative to check for: 1. Any "stop payments" on your claim 2. Whether your PFL claim is properly linked to your previous SDI claim 3. If there are any identity verification issues pending 4. Whether your claim is in the "computation queue" (where they calculate your benefit amount) Make sure to call the specific PFL number (1-877-238-4373) rather than the general EDD number. Best times to call are Tuesday-Thursday right when they open at 8:00 AM or during lunch hours (12-1 PM) when call volume tends to be slightly lower. I completely understand how stressful this is while caring for a newborn. The good news is that once resolved, they will backpay all benefits owed from your PFL start date.

I went through this exact same situation last year! The key thing that helped me was realizing that EDD's system sometimes creates a "gap" between when your SDI ends and PFL begins, even when you do everything right. Here's what I learned: First, check your SDI Online account for any notices or messages - sometimes they send requests for additional documentation that are easy to miss. Second, if you're past the 3-week mark, definitely call using the tips others mentioned here. But also ask them specifically about your "benefit year" - sometimes new mothers get caught in a weird zone where the system thinks your benefit year ended with your disability claim. One thing that really helped me was having my delivery date, disability start/end dates, and PFL intended start date all written down before calling. The rep was able to see exactly where the disconnect was happening. Also, don't stress too much about the financial gap - once they process your claim, they'll backpay everything from your intended start date. I know it's scary when you're budgeting for a new baby, but you won't lose those benefits. Hang in there!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of caring for a newborn! I just went through something similar a few months ago. One thing that might help while you're waiting to call EDD - check if you received any mail from them that might have gotten lost in the shuffle. Sometimes they send important notices by mail even when you filed online, and with a new baby it's easy for mail to pile up unnoticed. Also, when you do call tomorrow, ask them to email you a confirmation of whatever they tell you or any actions they take on your account. I learned this the hard way when I had to call back multiple times and different reps gave me different information. Having that email trail saved me so much frustration later. The waiting is absolutely the worst part, but everyone here is right that you'll get your backpay once it's resolved. Try to hang in there - you're doing everything right, the system is just being difficult as usual!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Filed my DE 2501FP three weeks ago after my disability ended and haven't heard anything back. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea there were so many potential issues that could cause delays. One thing I wanted to add that helped me while waiting: I called my local Assembly member's office and they have a constituent services team that can sometimes help with EDD issues. They can't speed up the process, but they were able to confirm that my claim was "in the system" and being processed, which gave me some peace of mind during the waiting period. Also, if you're really struggling financially during the gap, some counties have emergency assistance programs for new parents. It's not much, but it might help cover groceries or utilities while you wait for EDD to get their act together. Hang in there - from everything I'm reading here, it sounds like most people do eventually get their benefits with full backpay, even if the wait is longer than it should be!