Quick update on your question about which pays more - to be super clear, both SDI (disability) and PFL (baby bonding) use the exact same calculation: - If you earn less than 1/3 of the state average quarterly wage, you get 70% of your wages - If you earn more than 1/3 of the state average quarterly wage, you get 60% of your wages So there is absolutely no financial benefit to staying on disability versus moving to PFL. The priority should be making sure there's no gap between the two benefits, which unfortunately requires speaking with an EDD representative.

I went through this exact same nightmare 6 months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: Call EDD at 8am SHARP when they open (1-800-480-3287). Don't hang up even if you get the busy message - keep hitting redial. I literally called 47 times one morning before getting through. When you do reach someone, have both your SDI claim number and your PFL claim number ready. Tell them you need to "coordinate the transition between disability and family leave claims" - use those exact words because it triggers them to look at both claims together. The rep will be able to see that your disability should have ended and your PFL should have started, and they can manually process the transition. Mine was fixed within 24 hours after that call. Also, definitely ask them to backdate your PFL start date so there's no gap in payments. And yes, both pay the exact same amount - I was getting $1,180/week on both disability and baby bonding. Hang in there! The system is broken but once you get a human on the phone, they can actually fix it pretty quickly.

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD using Claimyr (thanks for that tip)! The agent confirmed my account had a "card issuance error" that prevented Money Network from creating my account properly. They've fixed it on their end and Money Network is overnight shipping me a card that should arrive tomorrow. For anyone else with this issue: the agent said this is happening to lots of people, especially if you had a BofA card from a previous claim. Apparently the system sometimes doesn't flag your account to create a new Money Network card. Thanks everyone for the help! What a stressful experience.

So glad you got this resolved! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my PFL payment shows as "issued" but I never received a Money Network card either. This thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm going to try the Claimyr service since calling EDD directly has been impossible. It's frustrating that this seems to be such a widespread issue with the switch from BofA to Money Network. EDD really needs to fix their communication about this change and make sure the card issuance process actually works properly!

That's great news! I'm so glad it worked out and came in on schedule. It's such a relief when the system actually works like it's supposed to, isn't it? Enjoy your baby bonding time! 💜

So happy to hear your payment came through on schedule! This thread has been super helpful - I'm currently 7 months pregnant and planning to take both disability and PFL after my baby arrives. It's reassuring to know that the transition can be smooth and that PFL includes weekends. I'm definitely bookmarking this conversation for when I need to make the switch from disability to baby bonding. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

To add some additional clarity on your specific situation: 1. Since your baby is 3.5 months old, your husband has approximately 8.5 more months to take his baby bonding leave (within the 12-month window) 2. He can take his 8 weeks consecutively or intermittently (broken up into smaller periods) as long as it's completed within the 12-month window 3. His claim form (DE2508) should include: - Copy of child's birth certificate or hospital discharge papers - His employment information - His requested leave start date (1/27/2025) 4. He should file approximately 7-10 days before his leave begins (so around January 17-20) 5. Make sure he understands the bi-weekly certification process once his claim is approved The fact that you're planning the transition from your leave to his leave is actually ideal and exactly how the system is designed to work!

Just wanted to add my experience as another data point! My partner and I did exactly what you're planning - I took my full maternity/bonding leave first, then he took his 8 weeks right after mine ended. The transition was seamless and it gave our baby continuous parental care for almost 4 months total. One thing that really helped us was creating a simple checklist for his application: - DE2508 form completed - Birth certificate copy attached - Employer contact info ready - Bank account info for direct deposit - Filing date marked on calendar (1-2 weeks before leave starts) The whole "41 day" thing definitely confused me too at first! But as others have explained, it's about when to file relative to when benefits start, not when to take leave relative to birth. You're totally fine timing-wise. Good luck with the application process!

I'm telling you, the whole system is rigged. They make it impossible to get your money on purpose. Wake up sheeple! 👀

I went through this exact same thing last month! The online portal can be really glitchy about showing deposit dates. What worked for me was logging out completely, clearing my browser cache, and then logging back in. Sometimes it's just a display issue on their end. Also, double-check that your direct deposit info is correct in your profile - I had a friend whose payment was delayed because they had an old bank account number on file. If it's been more than 2 weeks since you filed and still nothing shows up, definitely try the phone route even though it's a pain. Hang in there!