After reading through all the comments, it sounds like what the person at your wife's work was referring to is the California Training Benefits (CTB) program through unemployment insurance, NOT an extension of PFL. To clarify the process for that (which is NOT designed as a parental leave extension): 1. Your wife would need to separate from her employer after PFL ends 2. She would apply for regular Unemployment Insurance 3. She would need to enroll in an approved training program 4. She would apply for the CTB program specifically This is NOT a seamless extension of benefits and has different eligibility requirements and benefit calculations. It also requires job separation, which means losing employer health insurance and other benefits. I'd strongly suggest speaking with an EDD representative directly before making any decisions based on this information.

I'm a new parent myself and went through this same confusion a few months ago. The unfortunate reality is that there's no legitimate 6-month PFL extension program in California. The 8 weeks of paid family leave for baby bonding is the maximum the state provides. However, here are some actual options that might help your situation: 1. Check if your wife's employer offers any supplemental parental leave benefits beyond what the state provides 2. Look into whether she has any accrued vacation/sick time that could extend her paid time off 3. Ask HR about a gradual return-to-work schedule or temporary part-time arrangement 4. See if your employer offers dependent care assistance or flexible spending accounts for childcare costs The California Training Benefits program others mentioned is real, but it's not designed for this purpose and would require your wife to quit her job first - which could create bigger financial problems given the loss of health insurance and other benefits. I'd recommend calling EDD directly to confirm there aren't any pilot programs or special circumstances that apply to your situation, but don't get your hopes up for a 6-month extension. Focus on practical solutions with her current employer instead.

Not to freak you out, but my friend's application got lost in the system somehow. She had to resubmit after waiting for like 2 months. Make sure you follow up if you don't hear anything soon!

I'm going through the same thing right now! My application has been pending for 6 weeks and I'm getting really stressed about it. I tried calling the main number but kept getting disconnected after being on hold for hours. Has anyone had luck with contacting them through their website's messaging system? I'm wondering if that might be faster than trying to call. Also, @b83406405c6c have you checked if your employer submitted their portion yet? Sometimes that's what holds things up.

Oof, been there done that. Got the t-shirt and everything. Hang in there OP, it'll get sorted eventually. Just gotta play the waiting game 🕰️

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Made a similar date mistake on my PFL application about 3 weeks ago. What I've learned so far: don't stress too much about it - these kinds of errors are apparently pretty common and fixable. I finally got through to someone last week (took literally 47 attempts over 3 days) and they said they see this all the time. They can correct it on their end, but you do need to speak to an actual person. The online messaging system is basically useless for this kind of issue. Keep trying to call, especially right at 8am when they open. Also, have your employment verification documents ready when you do get through - they'll likely ask for proof of your actual last work date. Good luck! 🍀

When I was on PFL last month my neighbor told me we dont have to certify anymore but that was WRONG! Thank god I checked my online account and saw the certify button or I would have missed out on money we needed badly. So yes definitely certify every 2 weeks!

I'm a new mom who just went through this process a few months ago! Yes, you absolutely need to certify every two weeks for PFL - it's not automatic at all. The good news is that the PFL certification is much easier than SDI - you basically just confirm you're still bonding with your baby and haven't returned to work. My advice: Log into your EDD account the day your certification opens (usually every other Sunday) and do it right away. Don't wait! I made the mistake of putting it off once and almost forgot completely. Also, bookmark the EDD login page on your phone so you can easily access it during those middle-of-the-night feeding sessions when you might remember "oh shoot, I need to certify tomorrow!" The payments usually hit your account 2-3 business days after you certify, so you can plan your budget around that timeline. Congrats on your upcoming baby bonding time - it goes by so fast, but those payments really help make it possible to focus on your little one instead of worrying about money!

Sending positive vibes your way, OP! This process is tough, but remember why you're doing it. That quality time with your family is priceless. ❤️

I just went through this process about 3 months ago! It took me exactly 12 days to hear back from EDD after I submitted my bonding claim paperwork. The key thing that helped me was calling their automated line every few days to check the status - you can do this without waiting on hold. Also, make sure you have your SDI number handy when you call. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, but try to stay positive! In my case, everything went smoothly once they processed it. Hope this helps ease your anxiety a bit! 🤞