Anyone else think its ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get basic support after having a baby? The whole system needs an overhaul tbh

Oh no, I feel your pain! I made the exact same mistake after my delivery. The good news is it's totally fixable, just annoying to deal with. Here's what worked for me: Call the PFL line first thing in the morning (8am sharp) - they're usually less busy then. Tell them you need to withdraw your claim due to filing error. They'll give you a confirmation number - write it down! Then immediately call the SDI line and explain the situation. The whole process took me about 3 weeks total, but I didn't lose any benefits. Just make sure you have all your medical documentation ready when you refile. Your doctor should have given you the right forms for disability, not family leave. Hang in there mama, you'll get through this! ❤️

It looks like you've gotten some good advice already. One additional tip: When you do get through to EDD, ask them if there's anything specific delaying your claim. Sometimes there's a simple issue that can be resolved immediately. Also, if your claim gets approved but you need funds urgently, you can request that they expedite the payment. They don't advertise this option, but if you explain your financial hardship (needing formula and diapers certainly qualifies), they can sometimes process the payment faster than the standard timeline. Baby bonding PFL should be more straightforward than disability claims, so hopefully once you reach someone, they can resolve it quickly. Good luck!

I went through this exact same nightmare with my PFL claim earlier this year! Here's what finally worked for me: I called at exactly 8:01am on a Tuesday and kept pressing 1-2-4 (the prompts for PFL claims) over and over without hanging up. If you get the "too busy" message, immediately redial and try again. It took me about 45 minutes of constant redialing, but I finally got in the queue. Also, try calling the SDI line at (800) 480-3287 instead of the main EDD number - sometimes they can help with PFL claims too and the wait times are shorter. One more thing - check if your employer submitted the proper forms (DE 2501 and DE 2500A). Sometimes the delay is because your HR department didn't send in the paperwork EDD needs. I had to bug my HR three times before they actually submitted everything correctly. Hang in there - I know how stressful this is when you're trying to bond with your baby and worrying about money! 💙

Just went through this exact transition 3 months ago! You can definitely apply tomorrow (Friday) after your disability ends, just make sure your PFL start date is Saturday. I made the mistake of waiting until Monday to apply and lost those weekend days - EDD doesn't backdate baby bonding benefits. Also, have your DE2501 claim number ready from your disability claim as it makes the application process much smoother. The online system will ask if you're transitioning from SDI to PFL, so select that option. Good luck with your remaining 5 weeks of bonding time!

I'm currently going through this transition too and called EDD yesterday to get clarity! The rep confirmed that you can apply on your last day of disability (Friday) OR the day after, as long as your PFL start date is the next business day. The key is NO GAP between your disability end date and PFL start date. What really helped me was having all my paperwork organized beforehand - your DE2501 number from disability, baby's birth certificate info, and your employer's info. The online system is pretty straightforward once you select "transitioning from SDI to PFL" option. Don't stress too much, you've got this! Those 5 weeks of bonding time will be so precious.

Hey OP, what was the reason for your PFL claim? I'm about to file one for bonding with my newborn and I'm scared after reading all these horror stories 😰

I'm so sorry you're going through this! I had a similar experience last year - waited 5 weeks for my PFL payments while caring for my mom after her surgery. What finally worked for me was contacting my state assemblyperson's office. They have caseworkers who specifically help with EDD issues. It took about a week after I contacted them, but they got my payments released. You can find your representative on the CA legislature website. Also, document everything - dates you called, case numbers, etc. It helps when you finally get someone on the phone. Hang in there! 💪

My wife just went through this whole process. Her PFL took about 9 days to process after her SDI ended. The EDD website never updated properly though - she got a payment before the website even showed her claim was approved. So don't trust the website 100%.

I'm also currently waiting for my PFL to process after my pregnancy disability ended! Reading through these responses is both reassuring and nerve-wracking at the same time. It sounds like there's such a wide range of processing times - from 3 days to over a month. I submitted my PFL application about a week ago and haven't heard anything yet. Like you, I'm worried about the income gap since my last SDI payment just came through. Has anyone found that calling EDD actually helps speed things up, or do you just get stuck in the phone queue forever? I'm trying to decide if it's worth the hassle at this point or if I should wait another week.