Adding to what everyone else has said - I'm a newcomer here but went through this exact situation with my PFL claim last month! One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline of all my important dates (baby's birth date, when I started leave, when I filed the claim, etc.) before calling EDD. The rep was able to quickly identify that my issue was similar to @Ethan Moore's - I had filed too early. But having all those dates ready made the call go much smoother and faster. Also, if you end up needing to appeal, don't be intimidated by the process. The hearing officers are actually pretty understanding, especially for baby bonding cases. They deal with these timing mix-ups all the time. One last tip: if you're breastfeeding, you might also qualify for disability benefits during the initial recovery period, which is separate from the bonding leave. Worth asking about if you haven't already! Hope this helps and congrats on your little one! 🎉

Hey James! I just went through a similar situation with my baby bonding claim a couple months ago - totally understand the frustration! 😤 One thing I learned is that you can actually request an expedited copy of your DE 2514 notice by calling the SDI customer service line directly and asking them to email it to you instead of waiting for mail. They can usually send it within 24-48 hours if you explain that you're trying to meet appeal deadlines. Also, while you're gathering info, make sure to check if your employer submitted all the required forms on their end (like the DE 2501). Sometimes disqualifications happen because of missing employer documentation that you have no control over, but it's still your responsibility to follow up on. The appeal process isn't as scary as it seems - I ended up winning mine because it turned out EDD had incorrect information about my employment dates. Just make sure you file within that 30-day window even if you don't have all the details yet! Hang in there and don't let the bureaucracy get you down. You deserve those benefits for bonding with your little one! 👶💙

Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! I'm feeling much more confident now that I'll likely get the higher 2025 rate for my baby bonding portion. I'll make sure to submit my PFL claim as soon as my SDI ends in January. Keeping my fingers crossed everything transitions smoothly!

Just wanted to add my experience from last year - I had a similar situation where my SDI ended in early January 2024 and PFL started right after. They were definitely treated as separate claims with different claim numbers. The transition was pretty smooth once I submitted the DE2508 form, though it did take about 2-3 weeks to get my first PFL payment. Make sure you have all your documents ready (birth certificate, etc.) before your SDI ends so you can file immediately. Good luck with your new baby!

I went through this exact situation 8 months ago! Had complications after delivery and needed extended disability before transitioning to PFL. The consensus here is absolutely correct - DO NOT file for PFL until your disability extension is fully processed and approved. I made the mistake of filing PFL early thinking it would help avoid gaps, but it immediately terminated my disability claim and I had to fight for weeks to get it reinstated. The system treats PFL filing as an automatic signal that you're ready to transition from medical leave to bonding leave. Wait for your doctor's office to submit the extension paperwork, then file PFL after that period ends. Your benefits will be backdated so you won't lose any money, just might have to wait a bit longer for payments. Trust me, the patience is worth avoiding the nightmare of having to fix a premature PFL filing!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - 4 weeks postpartum with complications that need extended disability. Reading everyone's experiences here is so helpful! I was leaning toward filing PFL early to avoid gaps but now I'm definitely going to wait. One question though - if my doctor's office is being slow with the extension paperwork and my current disability period ends before they submit it, will there be a gap in payments? Or does EDD have some kind of grace period for medical extensions? Really don't want to end up with no income while waiting for doctors to get their act together!

I'm a single mom who went through this exact situation two years ago! The EDD name change delay is so stressful when you're already dealing with pregnancy anxiety. Here's what I learned: even though the online portal took forever to update (mine took 16 business days!), my benefits weren't delayed at all. The most important thing is that you went in person - that creates an official record in their system that overrides the portal display issues. When I filed my pregnancy disability claim, I wrote "Name change in progress - confirmation #[your number]" at the top of my DE2501 form and attached a copy of my marriage certificate. The EDD processor was able to see the pending change in their internal system and processed everything normally. Also, make sure when you transition to the baby bonding portion later that you reference the same confirmation number on your DE2508 form. You're being so proactive handling this now instead of waiting - that's exactly the right approach! The bureaucracy is frustrating but you've got all the right pieces in place.

I'm a new member here and just wanted to say how reassuring this thread is! I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant and was planning to update my name with EDD after getting married next month, but reading about everyone's experiences has me thinking I should do it sooner rather than later. It sounds like the key takeaways are: go in person (not over the phone), keep detailed records including confirmation numbers, list both names on all forms, and don't panic if the online portal takes weeks to update since the internal system works faster. The advice about writing "Name change in progress - confirmation #[number]" on forms and attaching marriage certificates seems really practical. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so helpful to learn from people who've actually been through this process rather than just guessing what might happen!

This might sound crazy, but have you tried faxing them? I know it's 2023, but some of these government offices still operate like it's 1995. Worth a shot if you're desperate!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been calling for 3 weeks straight with no luck. The system is completely broken. I've tried calling at different times, using the online portal, even tried that redial trick someone mentioned. Nothing works. It's insane that we pay into this system and then can't access it when we actually need it. Has anyone had any success with emailing specific departments or supervisors? I'm willing to try anything at this point!