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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! 🛡️
man, i feel for you. been there, done that, got the t-shirt. EDD's website is like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded while riding a unicycle. just keep at it and eventually you'll stumble your way through 🤡
I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! The error codes can be super cryptic. A few things that helped me: 1. Try using incognito/private browsing mode - sometimes cached data causes issues 2. Make sure you're not copying and pasting any information (type it manually) 3. If you're getting a specific error code, try googling "EDD [error code number]" - sometimes you can find unofficial explanations 4. Don't refresh the page if it's loading, even if it seems slow Also, if you haven't already, make sure you have all your documents ready as PDFs before starting. The system times out pretty quickly and you don't want to lose progress hunting for paperwork. Hope this helps! The system is definitely frustrating but you'll get through it 🙏
Angelica Smith
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - caring for my mom after her hip replacement surgery. From what I've learned through this whole process, you're absolutely doing the right thing by using multiple submission methods. I faxed mine first, then uploaded it online the next day just to be safe. One thing that might help ease your anxiety - I noticed on the EDD website that they actually recommend using the online upload system now because it creates an automatic confirmation in your account. You should be able to see a record of your uploaded documents in your UI Online portal under "Form Submissions" or something similar. Also, keep in mind that even though you got your benefit calculation notice quickly, the actual approval process can still take 1-2 weeks after they receive the medical certification. But since you've covered all your bases with both fax and upload, I'd say you're in good shape! Just stay on top of those bi-weekly certifications when they become available.
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Justin Trejo
•Thanks for sharing your experience! I hope your mom's recovery is going well. That's a great tip about checking the "Form Submissions" section - I didn't even know that existed. I'll log into my account right now to see if I can find confirmation of my upload there. It would definitely help with the peace of mind while waiting for everything to process. How long did it take for your first payment to come through after you submitted everything?
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KylieRose
I went through this exact same process last year when I was on PFL to care for my elderly father after his stroke. You're definitely overthinking this - having both faxed AND uploaded the DE2647DF form puts you in a really good position. From my experience, EDD actually prefers the electronic submissions (fax and online upload) over physical mail because it's faster for them to process. The fact that you've already received your benefit calculation notice is encouraging, even though as others have mentioned, it's not directly tied to the medical form processing. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you have your fax confirmation receipt saved somewhere safe. I had to reference mine twice when dealing with EDD reps. Also, if you do decide to call them for confirmation, try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open - that's when I had the most luck getting through. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, especially when you're depending on that income. But based on what you've described, it sounds like you've done everything right. Just focus on completing your certifications when they become available and try not to stress too much about the form submission - you've covered all the bases!
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