This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - my partner took 3 weeks of PFL bonding when our baby was born in September, and we're planning to split the remaining 5 weeks between Thanksgiving and spring. Reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to follow the advice about calling at 8:01 AM with that specific phrase "continued claim certification for existing baby bonding PFL claim" and keeping detailed notes. One question I haven't seen addressed - for those who successfully did multiple segments, did you ever run into issues if there were holidays or weekends during your planned leave periods? I'm wondering if that affects the processing time or payment schedule at all. Also, has anyone tried using the online portal for continued claims, or is calling always the better option? Thanks again everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical info you can't find on the EDD website!

I'm currently preparing for a similar situation with my wife's PFL baby bonding leave! Our baby is due in January and we're already planning to split her 8 weeks - 4 weeks initially and then 2 weeks in spring and 2 weeks in summer. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly valuable! I'm taking notes on the key strategies: calling at 8:01 AM, using the phrase "continued claim certification for existing baby bonding PFL claim," keeping detailed notes with rep names, and calling 2-3 weeks before each segment. One thing I'm curious about - for those who had success with multiple segments, did you find it helpful to mention all the planned future segments during your first call, or is it better to just focus on the immediate next segment each time you call? I want to be as prepared as possible since we're planning this split approach from the beginning rather than deciding to split after the first segment is already used.

I just went through this exact same situation! Yes, you definitely need your SSN on every single page of the DE2501F form - even Parts C, D, and E that don't apply to bonding claims. I made the mistake of leaving it off a couple pages thinking they weren't relevant and had to resubmit everything. For the hospital verification letter and other attachments, I wrote my SSN in the top right corner in small print. The EDD representative I finally got through to said they need it for their scanning and filing system. It's tedious but saves you weeks of delays. Also, make copies of everything before sending! Good luck with your bonding leave - such an exciting time! 🍼

I'm going through this same process right now and honestly, the SSN requirement is such a headache! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's super helpful to know I'm not the only one confused by this. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like the safest approach is definitely to put your SSN on every single page, even if it feels redundant. I'd rather be overly cautious than deal with delays or having to resubmit everything. @QuantumQuest and @GalaxyGazer, your detailed explanations are gold! Question for those who've been through this - did you write your SSN by hand on the hospital documents, or did you add it digitally before printing? I want to make sure I'm doing this the most professional way possible.

I'm so sorry for your loss with your mom - that must make this time even more overwhelming. I went through something similar with my husband's leave when our daughter was born last year. Since you've confirmed he has RUIA deductions, definitely go through the Railroad Retirement Board. One thing that helped us was calling RRB directly at 1-877-772-5772 - they were actually much easier to reach than EDD and way more helpful. The railroad system has different rules but the benefits can be comparable depending on his specific situation. Also, some railroad companies have additional family leave policies beyond what RUIA provides, so definitely check with HR about any supplemental benefits. The timing will be different than California PFL, but the good news is you'll likely get clearer answers once you're dealing with the right system. Railroad workers deal with this all the time, so RRB should be able to walk you through everything step by step. Good luck with everything!

I'm a railroad worker myself (BNSF) and went through this exact situation two years ago when my son was born. Since your husband has RUIA deductions, he'll definitely need to go through the Railroad Retirement Board, not California EDD. The good news is that RRB is generally much more responsive than state agencies. For railroad workers under RUIA, you get sickness benefits that can be used for family bonding, but the process and timing are different. He'll need to apply after the baby is born and will need documentation like the birth certificate. The benefit amount is based on his railroad earnings, and there's typically a 4-day waiting period. One important thing - make sure he coordinates with his railroad's crew management or HR about the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as well. Railroad FMLA works a bit differently than regular FMLA, and he might be eligible for unpaid protected leave beyond what RUIA covers. Some railroads also have their own supplemental family leave policies. The RRB customer service line (877-772-5772) is your best bet for getting accurate information specific to his situation. They can walk you through the whole process and timeline. Hang in there - it's confusing at first but once you get connected with the right people it gets much clearer!

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.

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!

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!

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.