Anyone else feel like the whole system is designed to make us give up? It's like they're playing 4D chess and we're playing checkers 🙃

I'm going through the PFL process right now and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the horror stories! 😅 But reading through everyone's experiences here is actually super helpful. Quick question - for those who got approved eventually, what was the one thing you wish you'd known before starting the application? Trying to avoid the common pitfalls if possible!

Just to give you a timeline expectation - my pregnancy disability claim took exactly 14 days to process from submission to first payment. The first payment included retroactive benefits from my disability start date. Make sure you're checking your SDI Online account regularly, as that's where they'll post messages if they need additional information. Also verify your payment preference (EDD debit card or direct deposit) is set up correctly to avoid payment delays. For what it's worth, the longest part of the whole process was getting my doctor to submit their portion of the claim!

Hey Keisha! I went through something very similar when I had my daughter last year. I switched jobs about 4 months before going on maternity leave and was so worried I'd messed something up on the paperwork. Here's what actually happened: EDD pulled wage records from BOTH my old job (where I made more money) AND my new job to calculate my benefits. The employer you list on the DE 2501 is really just for them to verify your current employment status and last day worked - it doesn't determine which wages they use for your benefit amount. Your benefit calculation will be based on your highest earning quarter during the base period, which sounds like it would include your previous employer's wages since they paid you more. That's actually good news for your benefit amount! The one thing I'd recommend is making sure all your wage information is accurate in their system. You can check this by creating an account on the EDD website and looking at your wage history. If anything looks off, you can submit corrections, but honestly most of the time their records are complete. Try not to stress too much (easier said than done, I know!). Focus on preparing for baby and let EDD do their thing. Congratulations on your upcoming arrival! 💕

Hey OP, just a heads up - when you do get through, make sure to ask about any potential overpayments or penalties for reinstating. I got blindsided by that and it was NOT fun.

I went through this exact same process about 3 months ago! For the direct deposit update, I was able to do it through the online portal - just log into your UI Online account and look for "Profile" or "Payment Information." Much faster than calling. As for reinstatement, definitely call early morning like others said, but also have your work search log ready just in case they ask. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me once I got everything submitted. Hang in there! 💪

my sister works at edd (not in benefits tho) and she says their systems r super backed up right now. lots of ppl having baby during pandemic so theyre still catching up. might just need more time unfortunately

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Filed my PFL claim in January for bonding leave and it's been stuck in "pending" status for over 2 months. My employer also had a payroll mix-up where they initially coded my leave as sick time instead of family leave. From reading through all these responses, it sounds like the assembly member route might be the best bet. I'm definitely going to try that along with the certified mail approach. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits we've paid into! @Grant - have you tried documenting everything in a timeline format? Sometimes having all the dates, reference numbers, and actions taken in one clear document helps when you finally do get through to someone. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're keeping records of all the financial hardship this delay is causing - that might help expedite things. Keep us posted on what works! There are clearly a lot of us dealing with EDD issues right now.

Has anyone tried reaching out to their local assembly member's office for help? I've heard they can sometimes intervene and speed things up with EDD.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! My return-to-work date was off by almost 3 weeks, which would have cut my benefits short. Here's what worked for me: I called first thing Monday morning at exactly 8am (they open at 8) and got through after about 45 minutes of redialing. The key is persistence! When I finally got a rep, I had all my documentation ready - my termination letter, any correspondence from my employer, etc. They were able to correct it during the call and I got an updated notice in the mail within a week. The rep told me that incorrect dates are pretty common due to employer reporting errors or system glitches. Don't stress too much about it affecting your benefits as long as you get it fixed quickly. They can adjust any payments retroactively once the correct date is in the system. Good luck! 🤞