Has anyone tried appealing instead of cancelling? I've heard sometimes that can be faster, but idk if it applies in this situation 🤔

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just wanted to add - when you call to cancel your PFL claim, ask them to send you written confirmation via email or mail. I learned this from a coworker who had issues proving they cancelled their claim later on. Also, if you have any upcoming medical appointments related to your disability, mention those dates when you call - it might help expedite the process. The whole thing is such a headache but we gotta navigate it! 💪

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning! The rep said my application is processing normally but their system is backlogged. She said it could take up to 21 DAYS total for the transition from disability to PFL baby bonding. She also mentioned they're processing in the order received, and my payments will be retroactive to when my disability ended. So I guess I just keep waiting... 🙄 Thanks everyone for the advice and commiseration!

So glad you got through and got some clarity! The 21-day timeline is ridiculous but at least you know what to expect now. For anyone else reading this - definitely keep all your documentation and confirmation numbers during this transition period. I went through something similar last year and the retroactive payments did come through eventually, but the waiting period with no income is absolutely brutal. EDD really needs to fix this gap in coverage between disability and PFL - there's no reason families should have to go weeks without support during such an important time. Hang in there! 💪

I'm currently pregnant with my second and went through this process 3 years ago. One thing I wish someone had told me - if you're planning to breastfeed, factor that into your timing decisions too! I ended up needing to pump at work when I returned, and having those extra weeks at home in the beginning made establishing breastfeeding so much easier. Also, don't underestimate how you'll feel physically those last few weeks - even with a healthy pregnancy, I was SO ready to stop working by 38 weeks. The sleep deprivation alone was killing me! Just something to consider when you're talking timing with your doctor.

Just wanted to add another perspective on the waiting period - I used short-term disability through my employer to cover that first unpaid week, which was a lifesaver! Not everyone has this option, but if your company offers supplemental disability insurance, it might cover the EDD waiting period. Also, regarding the transition to PFL baby bonding - I found it helpful to create a simple timeline/checklist with all the key dates and forms I'd need. Something like: Week 36 - file PDL claim, Week 6 postpartum - get doctor clearance and apply for PFL, etc. Having it all written down made the whole process feel less overwhelming during those sleep-deprived newborn days!

This is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm currently dealing with a similar nightmare - my PFL claim has been stuck in pending for 5 weeks now and I'm about to lose my mind. I've called EDD so many times I have their hold music memorized, and every rep just gives me the same "it's being processed" runaround. I honestly never thought about contacting my Assembly member's office - like others have said, I figured they only dealt with big political stuff, not helping individual people navigate bureaucracy. But reading all these success stories in the comments is really encouraging! One question though - when you contacted your Assembly member's office, did you mention that you'd already tried calling EDD multiple times? I'm worried they might just tell me to keep trying the regular channels first. Also, did they ask for any specific information beyond what was in the casework form? Thanks for taking the time to share this - you might have just saved my sanity (and my bank account)!

This is amazing advice! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my PFL claim has been pending for 7 weeks and I was starting to think I'd never see those benefits. I had absolutely no idea that Assembly members' offices could help with individual EDD cases like this. I've been calling EDD almost daily and getting nowhere - either can't get through at all or get told the same "it's processing" line with no timeline. It's so stressful when you're already dealing with having a new baby and need that income! I'm definitely going to look up my Assembly member today and submit a casework request. Did they give you any updates along the way or did you just wake up one day to find it was suddenly resolved? Also, did you have to provide your SSN or other sensitive info on the initial form, or was it pretty basic information? Thank you SO much for sharing this - you've given me the first real hope I've had in weeks that this might actually get resolved! 🙏

Ive been waiting 6 months for my claim to be aproved. Consider yourself lucky 🙃

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My payment was authorized about 10 days ago and still nothing. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and frustrating - glad to know I'm not alone but sorry we're all going through this. I think I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning like @Mei Liu suggested, and if that doesn't work maybe look into that calling service @Liam O'Donnell mentioned. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares!