Yes, absolutely contact your doctor's office ASAP to confirm they'll use your married name on their portion of the DE 2501. If your doctor submits with your maiden name and you submit with your married name, it could delay processing while EDD tries to match the two parts of your claim. Make sure all paperwork uses the same name!

Congratulations on your upcoming baby! I went through a similar name change situation with EDD about 6 months ago. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit (marriage certificate, DE 1101 form, etc.) because EDD sometimes loses documents in their system. I had to resubmit my marriage certificate twice! Also, if you run into any issues after filing, don't hesitate to contact your state assembly member's office - they have caseworkers who can help expedite EDD issues. My friend used this option when her payments were delayed and it got resolved much faster than going through regular EDD channels. Wishing you a smooth claim process and safe delivery!

Hey OP, any updates? Did you manage to get through or find your claim?

This exact thing happened to my sister a few months ago! Her claim completely disappeared from the portal like it never existed. She was panicking because she needed that money for her newborn's medical expenses. After about 2 weeks of calling daily (literally setting timers to call every 15 minutes), she finally got through to someone who told her it was a "system migration issue" and her claim was still being processed, just not visible online. It magically reappeared a week later with backpay included. Hang in there - the claim is probably still in the system somewhere, just hidden due to their terrible website glitches. Keep calling and don't give up! 💪

Hang in there, OP! The PFL process can be a real headache, but it's worth it in the end. Just keep at it and don't let the bureaucracy get you down. 💪

I went through something similar last month! Don't stress too much - they usually call back if it's something urgent. In the meantime, definitely check your online account like others mentioned. Also, if you have the reference number from when you submitted, you can try calling the PFL line directly (1-877-238-4373) and reference that number. They might be able to tell you what the call was about without you having to wait for them to call back. Good luck! 🍀

Just my 2 cents, but I'd try to wrap up those interviews ASAP! I planned to work until 38 weeks but ended up with surprise preeclampsia at 36w3d and had to go on leave immediately. You never know what might happen, so don't cut it too close with important interviews. Good luck with the job hunt and the baby!!

I'm in a similar situation right now at 34 weeks! Been laid off for 2 months and actively job searching while on UI. My OB told me the same thing - you can definitely wait until 37-38 weeks to start SDI as long as your doctor agrees to certify that as your disability start date. The key is just being honest about your work availability. If you can still work and are actively interviewing, you're fine to stay on UI. Once you feel like the pregnancy is limiting your ability to work (whether that's 36, 37, or 38 weeks), that's when you transition to SDI. Just make sure there's no overlap in your claims! I'm planning to finish my current interview processes too before making the switch. We've got this! 💪

One thing no one has mentioned - if your wife's employer offers a leave of absence beyond what's legally required, that might be worth exploring too. Some companies have unpaid personal leave policies that could extend her time off without severing employment. It wouldn't provide income, but it would keep her job waiting longer while you both figure things out. Worth checking her employee handbook or with HR.

I'm a newer member here but wanted to share what I learned when researching this for my own situation. One option that might help bridge the gap is if your wife can demonstrate that returning to work would create a "substantial and unreasonable" hardship. While childcare costs alone typically don't qualify, there might be other factors you could document - like if the commute combined with childcare logistics creates genuine safety concerns, or if her employer has made any changes to her position/schedule that weren't there before her leave. Also, has she considered looking into whether her employer participates in any dependent care assistance programs? Some larger employers offer backup childcare or subsidies that could make returning more feasible financially. Even if she ultimately decides not to return, having explored these options might strengthen any future UI claim by showing she made good faith efforts to make it work. Just a thought - this whole system is definitely not set up well for new parents! 😔