Miguel, congratulations on your upcoming addition! I just went through this process when my son was born in February. Here's what I learned that might help: You absolutely cannot apply before birth - the system requires proof of the child's birth as part of the application. BUT here's what you CAN do now to make the process smoother later: 1. Set up your EDD SDI Online account today - seriously, do it now while you have mental bandwidth 2. Gather all your employment/wage info and save it somewhere easily accessible 3. Talk to your hospital about their birth certificate turnaround time - mine took 5 business days which felt like forever when you're eager to get benefits rolling When baby arrives, apply within the first week if possible. The 12-month deadline is real, but EDD processing times are unpredictable right now. Mine took 2.5 weeks to approve, which wasn't too bad compared to some horror stories I've heard. One thing I wish I'd known: you can actually start your leave before your claim is approved. You just won't get paid until it processes. So if you need to be home with baby immediately, don't feel like you have to wait for EDD's wheels to turn. Also bookmark the EDD customer service phone number now, just in case. The earlier in the day you call, the better your chances of getting through. Good luck!

Hey Miguel! Congrats on the upcoming baby! Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I went through this process - make sure you understand the difference between "intermittent" and "continuous" leave when you apply. You can take your 8 weeks of baby bonding leave all at once (continuous) OR you can break it up into smaller chunks (intermittent) over that 12-month period. For example, you could take 4 weeks right after birth, then save the other 4 weeks for later - maybe when your wife goes back to work, or around holidays, etc. The intermittent option is really flexible but you have to specify this when you apply. If you apply for continuous leave initially, it's harder to change it later. Just something to think about now while you're planning! Also echoing what others said about screenshots - I literally took photos with my phone of every screen during the application process. EDD's system crashed on me twice and having that documentation saved me hours of re-entering information. You've got this! The prep work you're doing now will definitely pay off later.

Congratulations on your new baby! I'm currently going through this same process and was equally confused by the EDD documentation. I can confirm what everyone else is saying - PFL payments for baby bonding are completely automatic once approved! No weekly certifications needed at all. I just received my third payment yesterday and haven't had to do anything except wait for the deposits to hit my account every two weeks. It's such a relief compared to unemployment where you're constantly worried about missing certification deadlines. The EDD website really should make this clearer - I spent way too much time stressing about potentially missing some requirement when the reality is beautifully simple. Just make sure your direct deposit info is current and keep your approval paperwork for your records. One thing I've noticed is that my payments come on the same day every two weeks, so you can start to anticipate when to expect them. Focus on enjoying these precious early weeks with your little one instead of worrying about EDD logistics - the system actually works automatically for once! 💕

Congratulations on your baby! I just went through this exact same experience a couple of months ago and had the same panic about certifications. Everyone here is absolutely right - PFL payments are completely automatic once you're approved! No weekly certifications needed like unemployment. I got my payments every two weeks for the full 8 weeks without having to do anything at all. It was such a huge weight off my shoulders during those early weeks when I could barely function from sleep deprivation. The EDD website really is awful at explaining this - I wish they would just put a big bold statement saying "NO CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR PFL" somewhere obvious! Just make sure your bank info is correct in your account and save all your paperwork. Trust me, this is one thing EDD actually made simple. Focus on enjoying those newborn cuddles instead of stressing about benefits - they'll come automatically! 💕

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been dealing with this nightmare too! I've been trying to reach EDD for my PFL claim for about 3 weeks now and it's absolutely maddening. Reading through all these comments makes me feel both better (I'm not alone!) and worse (this is clearly a systemic issue). I've tried the usual suspects - calling first thing in the morning, different times throughout the day, online portal, emails - you name it. The most frustrating part is that automated message telling you to use the website when the website doesn't actually help with specific claim issues! I'm seriously considering trying that Claimyr service that Emma mentioned, even though $20 feels steep. At this point, I've probably spent 20+ hours on hold or trying to get through, so maybe it's worth it? Has anyone else here actually used it successfully? Also going to give the fax method a shot - never thought I'd be hunting down a fax machine in 2024 but here we are! 📠 Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and tips. It really helps to know we're all fighting the same battle together. Will definitely update if I manage to breakthrough!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been trying to reach someone about my PFL claim for over a week with zero success. It's honestly mind-boggling how difficult they make it to get basic help. I've been reading through all the suggestions here and I'm planning to try the 8:01 AM sharp calling strategy tomorrow - seems like that's worked for a few people. Also considering the Claimyr service even though paying for something that should be free feels wrong. But at this point, my sanity is worth $20! Thanks for posting this Connor, it's weirdly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this bureaucratic maze. Will definitely share if I have any breakthrough moments! 🤞

I'm in a similar situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! Just filed my PFL claim last week and discovered I entered the wrong physician information. Reading through everyone's experiences here gives me so much hope that this is actually fixable. I'm planning to use the multi-pronged approach that seems to work best based on all your success stories: early morning calling (8 AM sharp), submitting the online contact form as backup, and if needed, sending a certified letter. The tip about asking specifically for a "claim specialist" instead of general customer service is golden - thank you @Liam Brown for that insight! One question for those who've successfully gotten corrections processed: did you notice any difference in wait times or success rates between different days of the week? I'm trying to optimize my calling strategy before I start the 8 AM marathon tomorrow morning. Thank you to everyone who shared their detailed experiences - this community is incredible for providing real, actionable advice! Will definitely update once I get through the process. Fingers crossed! 🤞

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my PFL claim two weeks ago and just realized I made an error with my employment dates. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there were so many different strategies to try! Based on everyone's experiences, I think I'm going to start with the 8 AM calling approach that @Giovanni Mancini @Morita Montoya and others have had success with, while also submitting the online "Contact Us" form that @Carmen Ortiz mentioned as a backup plan. The tip about asking specifically for a "claim specialist" from @Liam Brown seems crucial too. Has anyone had experience correcting employment date errors specifically? I'm wondering if that type of correction is more straightforward than some other issues. Really appreciate everyone sharing their detailed experiences here - it's making this whole stressful situation feel much more manageable knowing that corrections are actually possible with persistence! Will definitely update with my results. Thanks to this amazing community for all the practical advice! 🙏

I'm currently going through this exact same nightmare! My hyphenated name is 18 characters and I've been stuck with paper everything for my maternity leave. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope though. I'm definitely going to try calling at 8:05 AM sharp tomorrow with all my paperwork ready. Quick question for those who successfully got online access - were you able to upload documents through the online portal after getting access, or do you still have to mail everything? I have some medical forms I need to submit and I'm really hoping I won't have to keep dealing with the postal service delays!

Ugh, I feel your pain with the hyphenated name issue! I'm in the exact same boat - filed on paper because my 15-character hyphenated name was "too long" for their ancient system. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I called the disability line at 1-800-480-3287 right at 8:05 AM (thanks to everyone who suggested that timing!) and when I got through, I specifically asked for the DE1326C form that allows them to set up online access for paper filers. The rep was actually familiar with this form and was able to process it over the phone instead of mailing it to me. Within 48 hours I had online access and could see all my payment history. Still had to mail my PFL transition paperwork, but at least I can track everything online now instead of waiting for those slow paper notices. Definitely worth the early morning wake-up call!