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Good news! After your disability extension ends, the transition to baby bonding PFL is usually much smoother. The processing time for PFL is typically 5-7 days once you submit the DE2501FP form. Also, don't forget that if you have any paid leave through your employer (vacation, PTO, etc.), you can coordinate that with your state benefits. Some employers even offer supplemental benefits that top-up your state payments to match your full salary. Worth checking your company's parental leave policy if you haven't already!
This is NOT always true. My PFL transition took over TWO WEEKS because they claimed they "needed to review my case" even though I'd already been approved for disability. There's no rhyme or reason to how they process these things - it's completely random who gets quick approval and who gets stuck in bureaucratic limbo.
I'm currently going through this exact same situation right now! My doctor submitted my extension paperwork 10 days ago and I'm still waiting to hear back from EDD. The anxiety is real - especially when you're already dealing with recovery and a newborn. One tip that helped me stay sane: I created a simple spreadsheet tracking all my dates (when I requested the form from my doctor, when they said they'd submit it, when I called to follow up, etc.). It's helped me stay organized instead of just sitting around wondering what's happening. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the Claimyr service earlier - I'm seriously considering trying it if I don't hear something by Friday. Has anyone else here actually used it? I'm desperate to talk to a real person at EDD but those hold times are absolutely brutal when you're caring for a baby. Really hoping both of us hear good news soon! This whole process is way more stressful than it needs to be during what's already such a challenging time.
Hey Dylan! I'm so glad I'm not the only one going through this right now - it definitely helps to know others understand the anxiety! The spreadsheet idea is brilliant, I'm definitely going to start doing that today. I've been feeling so scattered trying to keep track of everything in my head while sleep-deprived. I've been debating the Claimyr service too after @Oliver Weber mentioned it earlier. At this point I m'willing to try anything to avoid those insane hold times. Let me know if you end up using it and how it goes! Fingers crossed we both get our approvals soon. It s'wild that we have to stress about this stuff when we should be focusing on recovery and our babies. Sending you good vibes that Friday brings good news for both of us! 🤞
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to apply for PFL baby bonding this weekend (about 2 weeks before my disability ends). I'll double-check all the dates to make sure there's no overlap but also no gap. And I'll make sure to formally notify HR in writing about my plans. This has been so much more helpful than what I got from my company!
Just wanted to add my experience as another data point! I applied for PFL baby bonding exactly 10 days before my disability ended and it worked perfectly - no gap in payments at all. The key things that helped me were: 1) Making sure my disability end date matched what my doctor had certified, 2) Setting my PFL start date for the day immediately after disability ended, and 3) Having my baby's birth certificate ready to upload. The whole application took maybe 20 minutes online. Don't stress too much about the timing - the system really is designed to handle these transitions smoothly when you follow the basic steps everyone mentioned above!
This is so reassuring to hear! I'm a first-time mom and was really anxious about messing up the timing between benefits. Your 10-day timeline sounds perfect - gives enough processing time without risking overlap issues. Did you get any confirmation that your PFL was approved before your disability ended, or did you just have to trust the system would work? I'm planning to apply this weekend but still feeling nervous about the whole process!
I swear, dealing with EDD is like trying to nail jello to a wall. Anyone else feel like they're getting the runaround every time they call? 😤
Just to add to what others have said - EDD definitely doesn't call outside business hours. I learned this the hard way when I got a "callback" at 7 PM last month asking for my SSN and bank info. Turned out to be a scam! If you're expecting a call back, they'll only reach out during their normal operating hours (8 AM - 5 PM, Mon-Fri). Stay safe out there! 🛡️
I've been lurking here for a while dealing with my own EDD nightmare, and this thread is so relatable it hurts! 😭 The E324 error is the bane of my existence right now. I've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, incognito mode, you name it. What finally worked for me (temporarily) was using a different device entirely. Apparently my laptop was somehow "flagged" in their system? Makes no sense but that's EDD for you. Also, pro tip: screenshot EVERYTHING during your application process. Trust me on this one. The number of times I've had to prove I submitted something correctly... Good luck OP, we're all suffering together! 💪
Wow, your laptop being "flagged" is such a bizarre EDD thing! 🤦♀️ I never would have thought to try a different device. The screenshot tip is gold too - I learned that lesson the hard way when they claimed I never submitted certain documents. It's crazy that we have to treat applying for benefits like we're gathering evidence for court! Thanks for sharing your experience, it's oddly comforting to know we're all in this together.
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! The E324 error is so frustrating. I've been trying for three days straight and getting nowhere. Reading through all these comments is actually really helpful - I didn't know about trying different devices or the identity verification issues. I'm definitely going to try clearing my cache and using incognito mode first. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll have to brave the phone lines. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access benefits we've paid into. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips! 🙏
I'm so sorry you're going through this too! The E324 error really is the worst. I just joined this community after dealing with my own EDD headaches for weeks. One thing that helped me was double-checking that my browser wasn't auto-filling any forms with outdated info - sometimes those saved addresses or old phone numbers can trigger errors. Also, if you do end up calling, I found it helpful to have a notepad ready to write down everything they tell you, including case numbers or reference numbers they might give you. The whole system is so broken, but at least we have each other for support! Keep us posted on how it goes! 💪
CyberSiren
Congratulations on your upcoming arrival! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago and can confirm what others have said - you definitely need to file a separate PFL claim for baby bonding. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have all your documents ready ahead of time. The hospital will give you temporary paperwork showing the birth, but I found it helpful to also request a certified copy of the birth certificate as soon as possible since some people have had issues with temporary documents. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks of baby bonding leave, you can actually start your PFL claim to begin the day after your disability ends - there's no mandatory gap between the two benefits. Good luck with everything!
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Hazel Garcia
•Thanks for the tip about getting a certified copy of the birth certificate right away! I hadn't thought about potential issues with temporary documents. That's a great point about timing the PFL to start immediately after disability ends too - I was worried there might need to be some kind of waiting period. Six months ago is recent enough that your experience is super relevant. Did you find the online filing process pretty straightforward once you had all the documents ready?
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Charlee Coleman
•Yes, the online filing was actually much easier than I expected! Once I had the birth documentation ready, it took maybe 15-20 minutes to complete the whole PFL application through my existing SDI Online account. The system walks you through each step pretty clearly. Just make sure when you get to the claim type selection that you choose "Paid Family Leave" and then select "bonding with a new child" - don't accidentally pick "caring for a family member" like I almost did! The hardest part was honestly just figuring out the timing of when to file, which sounds like you've got sorted out now thanks to all the advice here.
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Aaron Lee
Just wanted to add one more helpful tip from my recent experience - when you file your PFL claim online, there's a section where you can choose your start date. Make sure to select the date that's immediately after your pregnancy disability ends (so if your disability ends on a Friday, start your PFL on the following Monday). I made the mistake of leaving a few days gap thinking I needed "recovery time" between the two benefits, but that just meant I lost those days of pay! EDD doesn't automatically connect the dates for you, so you have to be intentional about making them seamless. Also, keep copies of everything you submit - I screenshot each page of my online application just in case there were any issues later. The whole process took about 10 days from submission to first payment, which was faster than I expected. You've got this!
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Aria Khan
•This is such valuable advice about the seamless timing! I'm new to this whole process and was actually wondering about that exact scenario - whether there should be any gap between disability and PFL. Your tip about screenshotting each page is really smart too. I tend to be pretty anxious about these kinds of applications, so having that documentation for my own peace of mind would be helpful. Quick question - when you say it took 10 days from submission to first payment, was that 10 business days or 10 calendar days? Just trying to plan my finances accordingly since this is all new territory for me. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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