Hey OP, just curious - how far in advance are you trying to change your return date? I had to do this once and they told me there was a minimum notice period required.

I went through this exact situation last month! The key is to call early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) and have your employer documentation ready. When I called, I explained that my employer had a scheduling conflict and I needed to extend my leave by a few days. The rep was actually pretty understanding once I had all my paperwork in order. Make sure you get a confirmation number for any changes they make - I learned that the hard way! Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to says they can't help - sometimes asking to speak to a supervisor works better. The whole process took about 20 minutes once I got through. You got this! 💪

Just a heads up, make sure you check with your employer about their policies too. Some companies have rules about how you can split up your leave. Don't want you to run into any issues at work while dealing with EDD!

I went through this exact situation last year! You definitely can take your remaining 2 weeks, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure you're still within that 12-month window from your baby's birth. Second, when you file your new claim online (which I highly recommend over calling), you'll need to explain why you're splitting your leave - work demands, childcare arrangements, whatever your reason is. The online system actually asks for this info now. One thing that caught me off guard was that they treated it like a completely new claim, so I had to wait for the usual processing time again. But it went through without any issues. Also, definitely give your employer as much notice as possible - some HR departments get confused when leave is split up. Good luck! 🍀

ugh, the EDD (assuming youre in CA) is such a clown show 🤡 I've been waiting on a claim for months. solidarity, friend

I went through something similar last year! The key thing is to be really specific when you call - don't just say "I didn't get paid." Tell them exactly: "I was on approved FMLA leave from 2/10-2/16, submitted my PFL claim properly, but received zero payment for those dates." Also ask them to check if your claim was processed at all or if it got stuck somewhere in the system. Sometimes they'll say it was "under review" and never actually got processed. If the first person can't help, politely ask to speak with someone who handles PFL claim discrepancies specifically. You got this! 💪

Hey OP, just wondering - have you tried creating a new account with a different email? Sometimes that works if your old account has been inactive for a while.

I went through this exact same situation last year! What finally worked for me was using the ID.me verification process. Go to the EDD website and look for the "Verify Identity" option - it should let you verify who you are using your phone and ID, then you can update your email address associated with the account. It took about 30 minutes to complete the verification, but once I did that, I was able to reset my password and change my email to one I could actually access. Way easier than waiting on hold for hours or mailing documents. Hope this helps!

This is such a relief to read! I'm 8 months pregnant and my partner has been stressing about the PFL application process after hearing horror stories. Bookmarking this thread - the Trusted Referee number and paper form backup plan are game changers. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions! It's crazy that we have to crowdsource these workarounds when the system should just work properly in the first place.

Wow, what a journey! I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved. As a new parent myself (my daughter is 6 months old now), I know how stressful it is to deal with bureaucratic nightmares when you're already sleep-deprived and financially stretched. The fact that we have to jump through so many hoops and rely on community knowledge-sharing just to access basic benefits is absolutely maddening. For anyone else dealing with ID.me issues, I'd also recommend documenting EVERYTHING - screenshots, call logs, reference numbers, etc. I learned this the hard way when dealing with my own PFL claim. Having that paper trail saved me when there were discrepancies later in the process. Also, don't forget that the PFL clock starts ticking from when you first become eligible, not when you finally get through the system. So even if there are delays in processing, you should still receive retroactive payments for the full period you're entitled to. Congratulations on your new daughter, Ravi! Hope you get to enjoy some quality bonding time with her once all this administrative chaos is behind you.