Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Anyone else notice how the EDD website is always "under maintenance" when you need it most? 🙄 It's like they're trying to make this as difficult as possible.
I heard they're updating the system. Hopefully it'll be better soon... but I'm not holding my breath lol
They really need to improve their digital infrastructure. It's ridiculous how often it's down.
Hey Diego, I totally understand your frustration! I went through the same thing last year and it was incredibly stressful. Here's what I learned from my experience: 1. Log into your EDD online portal first - sometimes there are status updates or requests for additional info that they don't always mail out right away 2. When calling, try early morning (8-9am) or late afternoon (3-4pm) - I had better luck during those times 3. Have your Social Security number, claim number, and any reference numbers from previous correspondence ready 4. If you do get through, ask specifically what's causing the delay and get a timeline in writing if possible Also, don't forget to keep certifying for benefits even while waiting - missing a certification can really mess things up. The whole process is frustrating but hang in there! Most delays are administrative and do get resolved eventually. Sending positive vibes your way! 🙏
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I've heard rumors that they're updating the entire system soon. Might be why things are extra glitchy lately. Hang in there!
Source? I haven't seen anything official about this.
Just something I heard from a friend who works in gov't. Could be wrong tho, so don't quote me on it!
I've been dealing with similar login issues for weeks now! What finally worked for me was using an incognito/private browsing window and making sure JavaScript was enabled. Also, if you're using any ad blockers or privacy extensions, try disabling them temporarily - they sometimes interfere with the site's functionality. The EDD website is notoriously finicky with certain browser settings. Good luck getting it sorted out!
Thanks for sharing this! I'm definitely going to try the incognito window trick - never thought of that. The ad blocker thing makes sense too since I have a few extensions running. It's crazy how picky these government sites are with browser settings. Appreciate the detailed suggestions!
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Pro tip: if you need to call, try using a landline if possible. For some reason, I've had better luck getting through that way. Also, Tuesdays and Wednesdays seem to be less busy. Good luck!
Your numbers definitely look normal! I had a similar breakdown when I was on SDI last year. One thing that helped me was keeping track of my certification dates - make sure you're submitting those on time every two weeks or your payments can get delayed. Also, if you're having trouble reaching the right department, try calling the SDI line specifically at 1-800-480-3287. It's different from the regular unemployment line and usually has shorter wait times. Hope this helps!
Thanks for that specific phone number! I've been calling the general EDD line which explains why I kept getting transferred around. The certification reminder is really helpful too - I almost missed my last one. Did you have any issues with delays when you were on SDI?
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To answer your follow-up question - yes, both parents can take bonding leave simultaneously! Each eligible parent gets their own 8 weeks of PFL bonding benefits, and you can overlap if you choose to. There's no requirement to take them sequentially. Many families choose to have some overlap in the beginning when having an extra set of hands is most helpful, and then stagger the remaining time to extend the total period a parent is home with the baby. Just remember that you both need to file separate claims. Your wife would transition from her pregnancy disability (if she takes that) to her bonding time, while you would transition from caregiving to your bonding time.
That's perfect! I think we'll definitely overlap for the first few weeks and then stagger the rest. This community has been so helpful - I feel much more confident about navigating the process now. Thank you all!
Just wanted to add one more tip from my experience - make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit to EDD. I had to resubmit my wife's medical certification twice because they claimed they never received it the first time. Also, if you're planning to breastfeed/pump, you might want to look into whether your employer has lactation accommodation requirements under CA law - it's separate from PFL but good to know about for when you return to work. The whole process can feel overwhelming but you've got this! Congratulations on your upcoming addition to the family! 💕
Thank you for the tip about keeping copies of everything! I've been reading horror stories about lost paperwork, so I'll definitely make sure to document everything thoroughly. And great point about lactation accommodations - I hadn't thought that far ahead yet but it's definitely something to research before I go back to work. This whole thread has been incredibly reassuring. It's so nice to hear from people who've actually been through this process successfully!
Jamal Brown
Quick question for those who've been through this before - do they backpay from the date you submitted the claim, or only from when they approve it?
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•They should backpay from your claim date, not approval date. At least that's how it worked for me last year.
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Jamal Brown
•Oh thank god. That's a relief. Thanks for the info!
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Harold Oh
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - submitted my PFL claim 5 weeks ago and it's still showing "pending" with no updates. I've been checking the portal daily but nothing changes. The financial stress is real! From what I'm reading here, it sounds like persistence with calling is key, even though it's a nightmare to get through. @Toot-n-Mighty your suggestion about contacting a state representative is interesting - I hadn't thought of that. Has anyone actually tried that route and seen results? Also wondering if there are specific times of day that work better for calling? Like early morning or late afternoon when they might be less busy?
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