Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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I'm currently going through this exact situation too! My disability got extended due to postpartum depression, but I had already filed my PFL claim to start next week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - especially knowing that this is actually pretty common. I tried calling EDD yesterday but couldn't get through after 2 hours of trying. Going to check out that Claimyr service that @Ava Garcia mentioned since so many people had success with it. It's really reassuring to know that EDD can adjust the dates as long as you catch it in time. Thanks @Fatima Al-Suwaidi for posting this and to everyone who shared their tips! It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in dealing with this confusing system while trying to recover and care for a newborn.
@Lauren Wood I m'so glad this thread is helping you too! I went through something very similar with postpartum anxiety extending my SDI. The whole situation is stressful enough without having to navigate EDD s'complicated system. Just wanted to add that when you do get through to them, make sure to ask for confirmation that your PFL start date has been pushed back AND that there won t'be any gap in your benefits. The rep I spoke with was really helpful once I finally connected, but it took using that Claimyr service to actually get through. Hang in there - it s'frustrating but definitely fixable! Also, don t'feel bad about the timing mix-up - I think most of us underestimate how long recovery actually takes, especially when mental health complications come into play.
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm 3 weeks postpartum and my doctor just extended my SDI for another week due to breastfeeding complications, but my PFL was already approved to start Monday. I've been stressing about this all weekend thinking I'd lose benefits or create some kind of overpayment issue. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially @Fatima Al-Suwaidi's successful resolution, has given me so much peace of mind. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service first thing Monday morning since it seems like multiple people had success with it. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops when we're already dealing with recovery and newborn care, but at least knowing it's fixable makes it less overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community is such a lifesaver for navigating California's confusing benefits system!
@Oscar Murphy I m'so glad this thread is helping you feel less stressed about the situation! Breastfeeding complications are definitely a valid reason for extending SDI, and you re'absolutely right that it s'ridiculous we have to navigate this bureaucracy while recovering. Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - when you call whether (through Claimyr or directly ,)have both your SDI claim number and your PFL claim number ready, plus the exact dates you need. The reps can process the change much faster when you have all the info organized. Also, if your doctor hasn t'already sent the updated medical certification to EDD, make sure they do that ASAP with your claim number on it. The whole process really is fixable once you get through to someone - the hardest part is just making that connection with EDD! You ve'got this!
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smh EDD needs to get there act together. how hard is it to have a working website in 2023?
For real tho. 💯 It's like they're stuck in 1995 or somethin
Hey OP, any luck with resetting your password? Keep us updated!
@Dylan Campbell That s'actually really good advice! I had a similar issue with another government site and it turned out my password manager extension was causing problems. Also @Emma Davis, if you re'still stuck, try typing the password manually instead of copy/pasting - sometimes there are hidden characters that mess things up.
@Emma Davis I went through this exact same nightmare a few weeks ago! What finally worked for me was doing the password reset on my phone using mobile data instead of WiFi, and making sure I was logged out of ALL other Google/browser accounts first. Something about having multiple sessions seemed to confuse their system. Also try incognito/private browsing mode - that cleared up the issue for me instantly. Hope this helps! 🙏
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Congrats on your baby boy! Mine just turned 1 and I miss those newborn days so much. Enjoy every minute!
Thank you! It's going by so fast already 💙
Just wanted to add - when you file your PFL claim online, make sure you have your baby's birth certificate or hospital discharge papers ready. They'll ask for documentation to prove the birth date and that you're the parent. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks consecutively, you can indicate that on the application, but if you want to take it intermittently (like a few weeks now and a few weeks later), you'll need to file separate claims for each period. The system doesn't handle intermittent leave as smoothly as continuous leave unfortunately.
Thanks for the detailed info! I have all his birth documents ready. One quick question - if I want to take maybe 6 weeks now and save 2 weeks for later in the year, do I need to specify that on this first application or can I just apply for the 6 weeks now and then file a separate claim later for the remaining 2 weeks?
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Had this exact same issue last month! The ID.me verification somehow changed my first name from "Michael" to "Micheal" (with an extra 'e'). I was freaking out because I thought it would mess up my whole claim. Here's what worked for me: 1. First, I tried fixing it through ID.me directly - didn't work, they said it had to be corrected on EDD's end 2. Used the EDD web portal to send a message (like StarSurfer mentioned) - included screenshots of my driver's license 3. Also called them using that early morning trick (call right at 8am when they open) 4. Got it resolved in about 10 business days The key is being persistent but polite. Don't let them brush you off! And definitely ask for that name discrepancy flag that Anastasia mentioned - wish I had known about that earlier. Good luck Oliver, you got this! 💪
This is super helpful, thank you so much! The screenshots idea is brilliant - I wouldn't have thought of that. Really appreciate you taking the time to break down your whole process step by step. Definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy too. Did you have any issues with payments while waiting for the fix, or did they keep processing normally?
This is such a frustrating but common issue! I went through something similar when my middle initial got dropped after ID.me verification. Here's what I learned from my experience: **Multiple approaches work best:** - Online message through EDD portal (fastest response time) - Phone call as backup (try calling right at 8am or use one of those callback services mentioned) - Keep all documentation handy (ID, screenshots, etc.) **Timeline expectations:** - Online messages usually get responses in 5-10 business days - Phone fixes can happen same day if you get the right rep - Don't panic if it takes up to 3 weeks total **Pro tip:** When messaging online, use "URGENT - Name Correction Needed" as your subject line. I noticed they prioritize those messages. The good news is this won't typically hold up your payments once you've reported it. They see these ID.me discrepancies all the time now. Stay on top of it and you'll be fine! @Oliver Becker - definitely try the online message route first with screenshots like StarStrider suggested. Much less stressful than sitting on hold for hours.
Oliver Schmidt
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I went through a similar situation with employment gaps and was worried about PFL eligibility too. The good news is that California's system is designed to help working parents, and your situation sounds like it should qualify. Since you worked from January-July 2024 at your original job, then had part-time work through December, you should definitely have enough earnings in your base period (which would be all of 2024 for an April 2025 claim). The fact that you're back with the same employer might actually work in your favor for job protection rights too. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - start gathering your documentation now! Keep all your pay stubs, employment letters, and any correspondence with your employer about your rehiring. Having everything organized will make the claims process much smoother when you're dealing with a newborn. Also, don't stress too much about the complex system - it seems overwhelming at first, but EDD has gotten better at processing maternity claims in recent years. You've got this!
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Axel Far
•Thank you so much! That's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through something similar. I'm definitely going to start organizing all my documentation now - that's such good advice. It's been really stressful worrying about whether I'd qualify, but everyone here has been so helpful in explaining how the system actually works. I feel much more confident now that I should be covered. Thanks for the encouragement!
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Vanessa Figueroa
Hey Aisha! Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I just went through the PFL process myself last year and wanted to share a few things that might help ease your mind: Your work situation actually sounds pretty solid for PFL eligibility. Since you worked full-time from January-July 2024, plus had part-time earnings through December, you should easily meet the $300 minimum earnings requirement for your base period. The system looks at ALL your covered employment, not just one specific job. A couple practical tips from my experience: - Download the SDI mobile app once you create your account - it's way easier to check claim status than the website - When your doctor certifies you for disability, ask for a copy of the form they submit. Sometimes there are delays and having your own copy helps if you need to follow up - Start tracking your expected due date and count backwards 4 weeks - that's typically when you can start your pregnancy disability claim The rehiring situation is actually great news for job protection! Since it's the same employer, your previous service time might count toward FMLA/CFRA eligibility thresholds. You've got this! The system can be confusing but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions. Feel free to ask if you have any other concerns!
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Yuki Tanaka
•This is such helpful practical advice, thank you Vanessa! I had no idea there was an SDI mobile app - that will definitely make things easier. And asking for a copy of the certification form is brilliant - I wouldn't have thought of that but it makes total sense in case there are any processing delays. I'm going to start counting backwards from my due date to figure out the timing. It's so reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this recently and that the process worked out well. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! 💕
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