UPDATE: My payment just came through this morning! It took 8 business days total from submission. Thank you everyone for the reassurance and advice - I was definitely overthinking this. For anyone else transitioning from disability to PFL, just be prepared for this processing gap and budget accordingly if you can!

I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Filed my PFL baby bonding claim on March 24th after my pregnancy disability ended on the 23rd. Still showing pending with no payment date. It's such a relief to see I'm not alone in this - I was starting to worry something was wrong with my claim. Reading everyone's experiences here is really helpful. Sounds like 8-10 business days is pretty normal, so I'm trying to stay patient even though bills are piling up. Thanks for posting this - sometimes you just need to know other people are going through the same stress!

idk if this helps but I had a similar issue and it turned out they had my dates wrong in the system. might be worth double-checking that when you talk to someone

I went through this exact same thing last year! Turns out they had processed my claim as "intermittent leave" instead of "continuous leave" which is why I was only getting paid for individual days. When I finally got through to someone, they had to reprocess the entire claim under the correct leave type. It took about 2 weeks to get the back pay, but I did get everything I was owed. Definitely ask them to verify what type of leave they have you listed under - that might be the issue!

Hey OP, just a heads up - make sure you keep all your documentation, even after you get the denial letter. I had a similar issue and ended up needing to reference old docs months later. Better safe than sorry!

I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago. My claim vanished from the system right after I exhausted my benefits and I was panicking because I needed that denial letter for my new job. Here's what worked for me: I sent a written request through their Contact EDD form on their website specifically asking for a "Notice of Determination" or denial letter. I included my SSN, claim dates, and explained that my claim disappeared from the online portal. It took about 2-3 weeks but they mailed it to me. Way less stressful than trying to get through on the phone! Also document everything - screenshot your online account showing no active claim before it completely disappears.

Just want to clarify something important that people mix up all the time - there's NO waiting period for PFL baby bonding. The 7-day waiting period is only for disability claims (SDI), which is what birth mothers typically use for recovery after childbirth. For dads taking baby bonding leave, you apply on the first day of your leave, and if approved, you get paid for the entire period beginning with that first day. No unpaid waiting week like with disability claims!

Hey there! Congrats on your new daughter! 🎉 I just went through this exact same process a few months ago when my son was born. The timing confusion is totally normal - EDD's website is not super clear about it. Here's what I learned: You absolutely CANNOT apply before your actual leave starts in May. I made the mistake of trying to apply early "just to get ahead of things" and it got automatically rejected, which actually delayed everything by a week when I had to reapply. My timeline was: Applied on my first day of leave → Got approval email 10 days later → First payment hit my account 3 days after that. So about 2 weeks total from application to money. Pro tip: Create your EDD online account NOW and get familiar with the interface. When you do apply in May, have your daughter's birth certificate ready to upload immediately. And definitely bug your HR department to get the employer form (DE2508) filled out quickly - that's usually the biggest bottleneck. You've got this! The waiting is the hardest part but it's worth it to have that bonding time with your little one.

Thank you all SO much for the helpful information! To summarize what I've learned: 1. I need to apply for UI with military spouse provision, not PFL 2. I can't apply until after my last day of work 3. I need my husband's PCS orders, our marriage certificate, and a letter from my employer 4. I must be available and actively looking for work in our new location 5. I need to keep detailed records of my job search efforts 6. Be prepared for a phone interview and answer when unknown numbers call 7. Make copies of all documents before they get packed This is exactly the guidance I needed. You've all been so helpful! Now I can plan our budget and timeline more accurately.

One more thing to add - when you're documenting your job search activities for the bi-weekly certifications, keep a simple spreadsheet with company names, positions applied for, dates, and method of contact. EDD can request to see these records at any time, and having them organized will save you major headaches if they audit your claim. Also, LinkedIn job applications count as valid job search activities, so don't forget to include those! The military spouse provision is really helpful, but they still expect you to be genuinely looking for work in your new state.