I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just went through a name change after marriage and the EDD system is so confusing. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of every attempt to contact them - dates, times, reference numbers if you get any. Also, I found out from a friend who works in benefits that you can sometimes get faster service by calling right when they open at 8am or during lunch hours when call volume might be lower. The Claimyr service mentioned above sounds promising too. Make sure to document everything in case you need to file an appeal later. The stress of dealing with this while pregnant is awful - sending you good vibes that you get it resolved quickly!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The key thing that finally worked for me was being super persistent with the phone calls AND having all my documents ready before I called. Here's what I learned: 1) Call EDD at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - you'll get through faster, 2) Have your marriage certificate, old and new IDs, and SSN ready before you dial, 3) When you get through, specifically ask for the "name change department" - don't let them transfer you around, 4) Get a confirmation number for your name change request and write it down! The whole process took about 3 weeks once I got through to the right person. For your PFL claim, definitely use both names on all forms like "Anastasia [Maiden Name] Popov" until it's fully updated in their system. Also, give your employer's HR a heads up about the name situation so they're not surprised when processing your leave paperwork. Don't give up - you've got this mama! 💪

Thanks for all your helpful responses! It sounds like the current benefit is definitely 8 weeks for PFL baby bonding. I guess my coworker either confused the terminology or was talking about her total leave with PDL combined. Does anyone know if the 8 weeks of PFL has to be taken immediately after PDL/SDI ends? Or can I take a few weeks of unpaid leave in between?

Just wanted to add that I'm currently going through this process and can confirm it's still 8 weeks for 2025. I applied in February and got approved for 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding. One thing that helped me was calling the EDD customer service line early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) - much shorter wait times than later in the day. Also, make sure you have your doctor's certification ready before you apply because that can slow things down if it's not complete. The whole system is confusing but once you get through it, the benefits are really helpful for new parents!

I'm going through something similar right now! Filed my PFL claim for baby bonding on January 14th and still showing "pending" status. It's so stressful when you're counting on that income, especially with all the new baby expenses. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually making me feel a bit better - sounds like the delays are unfortunately normal right now but most people do eventually get their payments with full backpay. @Natasha Petrova thanks for the insider info about the system updates causing bottlenecks. Really helps to understand what's actually happening behind the scenes instead of just wondering if I did something wrong with my application! I think I'm going to try calling them next week if I don't see any movement. The Claimyr suggestion sounds promising too if I can't get through the regular way.

I'm in week 4 of waiting for my PFL baby bonding claim (filed Jan 3rd) and this thread has been so helpful! It's frustrating that the "10 business days" on their website is basically meaningless, but at least now I know I'm not alone. The explanation about the system update in December really puts things in perspective. My biggest concern is that my wife's pregnancy disability payments stopped right on schedule when she returned to work, so we have zero income coming in right now. We thought the transition would be seamless but clearly that was naive! Has anyone had success getting their claim expedited due to financial hardship? I saw @Emma Davis mentioned explaining the financial situation to the agent helped speed things up. Might be worth a shot when I call this week.

I'm in the same boat. Been waiting 12 weeks for them to fix a "system error". The whole thing is a clown show 🤡

I went through something similar last year! Turned out my claim got flagged for "suspicious activity" even though everything was legitimate. What finally worked for me was submitting a written request for escalation through their online portal AND faxing the same request to their appeals department. Having it in writing seemed to get more attention than just calling. Also, if you haven't already, check if there's a "pending issues" section in your account - sometimes there are hidden requirements you need to complete that aren't obvious. Keep fighting for what you're owed!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - it's absolutely infuriating that new parents have to go through this stress when they should be focusing on their babies. I'm a new mom too and had a similar experience with EDD delays, though not quite as severe as yours. What helped me was actually contacting my state assembly member's office (you can find yours at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov). They have constituent services that can intervene with EDD on your behalf. I sent them an email explaining my situation with my claim number and timeline, and within 3 business days an EDD supervisor called me directly and resolved the issue. My payments started flowing within a week after that. It's ridiculous that we have to escalate to elected officials to get basic benefits we've paid into, but sometimes that's what it takes to cut through the bureaucratic mess. Also, document everything - dates you called, reference numbers, what you were told - it helps when you're explaining the situation to your assembly member's office.

I'm going through the exact same thing and it's absolutely maddening! Filed my pregnancy disability claim 3 months ago, had my baby 5 weeks ago, and still haven't received a single payment. What makes it worse is that I can see in my online account that they've been "processing" my claim for over 2 months now with zero updates or communication about what's causing the delay. I've burned through all my savings and we're now relying on credit cards just to buy groceries and baby supplies. The stress is overwhelming when you're already dealing with postpartum recovery and a newborn. Reading through these comments, it sounds like contacting your assembly member might be the way to go - I'm definitely going to try that next. It's absolutely criminal that a system designed to support families during one of the most vulnerable times in our lives is this broken. Hang in there everyone, and thank you for sharing your experiences - at least we know we're not alone in this nightmare!