Okay, here's what I've learned after dealing with PFL for months: 1. Persistence is key. Keep calling, even if it feels hopeless. 2. Try different times of day. Sometimes mid-afternoon is less busy. 3. Have all your info ready before you call. Claim number, SSN, dates, etc. 4. Be polite to the agent when you finally get through. They're probably overwhelmed too. 5. If you're really desperate, consider using a paid service like the one mentioned above. 6. Check your online account regularly for updates. Sometimes they process things without telling you. 7. If all else fails, contact your local representative. They can sometimes intervene. Hope this helps someone. We're all in the same boat here. 🚣‍♀️

I've been dealing with this same nightmare for 2 months now. What finally worked for me was calling exactly at 8:00 AM sharp and immediately pressing 1-2-4 as fast as possible. Don't wait for the prompts to finish - just rapid fire those numbers. I also noticed Tuesdays and Wednesdays seem to have slightly better odds than Mondays/Fridays. Still took me 47 attempts over 3 weeks, but I finally got through! The key is to treat it like a part-time job - block out time every morning and just keep dialing. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to do this, but unfortunately that's the reality we're dealing with. Hang in there everyone! 💪

Hey OP, don't forget to write down the name and ID number of the agent you talk to. It's come in handy for me before when I needed to follow up.

I just went through this process a few weeks ago! Here's what worked for me: Call around 8:05 AM right after they open, have your ID and employment info handy, and definitely be patient - even with early calling I was on hold for about 45 minutes. The agent was actually really helpful once I got through. Also, if you're doing this for bonding with a new baby, make sure you have the birth certificate ready even if they don't ask for it right away. Good luck! 🍀

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning using the Claimyr service someone mentioned below. It actually worked! The agent found the issue immediately - my employer submitted verification with my return-to-work date listed as the day my disability ended instead of the end of my baby bonding period. The agent has escalated it to be corrected and said my claim should be processed within 7-10 days. Just posting this update in case it helps anyone else stuck in pending limbo. I'll update again when (if?) the money finally comes through.

This thread is so helpful! I'm a new mom going through the exact same thing - submitted my baby bonding PFL 3 weeks ago and it's been stuck in pending the whole time. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less crazy for being stressed about it. @Mateo Rodriguez really glad you finally got through and found the issue! I'm definitely going to check with my HR about the employer verification dates because that seems to be a common problem. Has anyone had success with the state legislature offices? I heard they sometimes have direct lines to EDD for constituent services when there are processing delays.

Finally got it resolved! We ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above, and it actually worked - got us through to a real person after trying for almost a week on our own. The agent said there was a mismatch between the baby's birthdate on the hospital records and what we entered (we put 03/12 instead of 3/12 - seriously, that was the issue). Fixed it on the spot and the claim was processed two days later. Thanks everyone for your help!!

So glad to hear you got it resolved! That date format issue is absolutely ridiculous - who would think that 03/12 vs 3/12 would cause a complete system rejection?? This whole thread has been super helpful though. I'm bookmarking that Claimyr service and the assembly member tip for future reference. It's crazy that we need all these workarounds just to access benefits we're legally entitled to, but at least there are solutions. Congrats on getting your baby bonding claim approved - enjoy that precious time with your little one! 🍼

Has anyone else noticed that the website is always 'under maintenance' when you try to log in late at night? It's like they don't want us to actually use the system. 🙄

I'm in the same boat - applied 4 weeks ago and still nothing but "pending" status. It's incredibly stressful when you're counting on these benefits to pay rent and buy groceries. I've tried calling dozens of times but can never get through. The automated system just hangs up on you after an hour on hold. Really considering the state rep suggestion from @Zara Khan - seems like that might be our best shot at getting actual human attention on these cases.