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!

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 🙏

The whole system is broken. I swear they make it complicated on purpose to discourage people from using their benefits. Stay strong, OP!

I'm going through something similar right now - my application has been stuck for 3 weeks. One thing that helped me get some movement was sending a certified letter to both HR and my manager outlining the timeline and requesting a status update in writing. They seem to respond faster when there's a paper trail. Also, if you're in California, you might want to check if you qualify for state disability insurance (SDI) as a backup while waiting for FMLA approval. Hang in there!

when i had baby bonding last year i got super confused about this too! the lady on the phone told me you get paid UP TO the end date, not necessarily ON the end date. so if your last certification period includes your end date, thats ur final payment. does that help?

I went through this exact situation with my PFL claim earlier this year! You should definitely get one more payment for those final two weeks (10/23-11/05). The key thing is to watch your UI Online account closely after 10/22 ends - that's when the final certification form should appear. In my case, it took about 3 days after the period ended for the form to show up in my account. Once I certified, the payment came through in about 2 business days. Since you're going back to work on 11/03, just make sure to report that accurately on your final certification so you only get paid for the days you're actually eligible. The EDD website really is confusing about this stuff - you're not alone in being unsure about the timing!