Has anyone had experience applying for PFL for mental health reasons? Like caring for a family member with depression?

I actually just started my PFL application last week! One thing I wish I had known earlier is to make copies of EVERYTHING before you submit. I had to resubmit some forms because they got lost in the system. Also, if you're doing this for bonding with a new baby, make sure you coordinate with any employer-provided maternity/paternity leave - sometimes they can run concurrently which is really helpful for maximizing your time off. The online portal isn't the most user-friendly, but it's definitely faster than mailing everything in. Feel free to reach out if you have specific questions as I navigate this process!

I'm in the same boat, OP. It's so stressful. Sending good vibes your way. We'll get through this somehow!

I went through something similar last year. Another option is to visit your local EDD office in person if you can - sometimes they can print documents on the spot that you can't get online or over the phone. Also, check if your employer's HR department can help expedite this process from their end, since they might have direct contacts at EDD. The whole system is frustrating but don't lose hope! Keep all your records and confirmation numbers from any interactions you have.

Similar experience here - my claim showed "processed" about 6 days ago but still waiting on payment. I called yesterday and finally got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep told me that even after processing, there can be a 5-10 business day delay for the actual payment to hit your account, depending on your payment method. She also mentioned that if you have direct deposit set up, double-check that your bank info is correct in your profile because sometimes payments get rejected by the bank and that causes additional delays. Hope this helps and that we both see our payments soon! 🤞

I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago! My claim showed "processed" for almost 3 weeks with no payment. Turns out there was an issue with my identity verification that wasn't clearly communicated anywhere in the system. What finally worked for me was submitting a contact form through the EDD website (under "Contact EDD" > "Ask EDD") explaining the situation. I got a response within 4 business days, and they were able to identify and fix the issue. Payment came through 2 days after that. It's frustrating that the system doesn't give clearer status updates, but don't give up! Also, make sure to keep checking your UI Online account daily - sometimes there are requests for additional documents that don't trigger email notifications. Good luck! 🍀

my brother went through something similar andhis company HR person had to talk to edd and explain the difference between there benefit and the state one. took like 3 weeks but he got his money eventually. red tape everywhere with these programs lol

This is such a frustrating situation but you're definitely not alone! I went through something very similar with my wife's maternity leave last year. The issue seems to be that EDD's system automatically flags any employer payment during leave as "wage continuation" even when it's clearly just a supplement. One thing that really helped us was having the employer submit a "Employer Wage Statement" form directly to EDD (I think it's form DE 8714). This form specifically clarifies whether they're providing continuation vs supplementation. Most HR departments don't know about this form but it exists specifically for these situations. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're documenting everything - dates of calls, reference numbers, names of anyone you speak with. If this drags on much longer, you might want to consider filing a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing since denying valid PFL claims can be discriminatory. The $1,300 is significant money especially with a new baby. Don't give up - these cases usually get resolved once the right person at EDD actually looks at the documentation properly. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Update on my repayment situation since people asked about payment plans: they set me up with a 24-month plan after I showed them my expenses and income. The minimum they would accept was $120/month for my case (I owed about $8,600). They were actually pretty reasonable about it when I explained my financial situation.

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I have my interview next week and I'm terrified. Like you, I had a newborn during the pandemic and was looking for remote work but everything was so uncertain. One thing I realized reading everyone's responses is that I need to really emphasize that I was actively job searching for suitable work (remote positions) rather than just sitting around doing nothing. I kept a spreadsheet of all my applications during that time, so hopefully that will help show I was genuinely trying to find work that worked with my situation. The hardest part is that back then, EDD was literally telling people in our situation to apply for benefits, and now they're second-guessing everything. It feels like they're punishing us for doing what we were told to do during an unprecedented crisis. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's scary but at least now I know what to expect and that there are options even if the worst happens.