Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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My cousins' daughter moved to Florida after maternity leave and tried to get unemployment but got denied because they said she wasnt available for CA work. Maybe it depends on who reviews your claim? The system is so inconsistant!!!
The key is how you explain your situation. If you say you're unavailable for CA work because you prefer to work elsewhere, that's a denial. But if you explain you had to move due to spouse's employment (good cause), AND you're available for work in your new location, that should be approved. If denied, appeal immediately and cite the relevant EDD policy about spousal relocation as good cause.
As someone who recently went through a similar transition, I wanted to share some additional perspective. When I moved from California to Texas after my maternity leave, I was initially nervous about the unemployment process, but it worked out smoothly once I understood the steps. A few things that helped me: - Document EVERYTHING about your husband's job offer and your move - dates, salary info, start date, etc. EDD may request this later - Start researching childcare options in NC now so you can honestly say you're "able and available" for work when you certify - Consider reaching out to NC school districts before you move - many are hiring for fall and some might be willing to do virtual interviews The interstate unemployment system is actually designed for situations like yours. California wants to help people who leave for legitimate reasons (like spousal relocation), not penalize them. Just be completely honest in your application about why you're leaving and where you'll be looking for work. Good luck with the move! Having a newborn during a cross-country relocation is stressful enough without worrying about benefits.
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when i had my baby in 2024 it took like 3 weeks so 6 weeks seems way too long honestly
That's what I was thinking! Everyone I know got their baby bonding approved much faster.
Update?? Were you able to get through to EDD?? I'm stressed out for you!!
I finally got through yesterday! Turns out they needed verification from my employer about my leave status, but the request was sent to an old HR email address we don't use anymore. The agent resent the request to the correct email and said once they hear back, my claim should be processed within 48 hours. And yes, they'll backpay from my original filing date!
That's such a relief! I'm so glad you finally got through and figured out what the hold-up was. It's crazy that they sent the employer verification to the wrong email and didn't bother to follow up when they didn't hear back. The EDD system really needs better communication protocols. Hope you get your backpay soon!
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omg yes its sooo confusing why cant they just make it one process???? i had my baby in Decemebr and the whole thing was a nightmare. i ended up just taking unpaid leave from work cause i couldnt figure out the stupid PFL application and needed to focus on my baby. if you can get it figured out youre doing better than me lol
I'm sorry you had that experience. For anyone else reading this thread who's feeling overwhelmed: if you're struggling with the application, consider asking a family member for help or see if your employer's HR department can provide guidance. You shouldn't have to miss out on benefits you're entitled to just because the system is confusing.
Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - make sure you understand the timing difference between when you CAN apply versus when your benefits actually START. You can submit your PFL application up to 10 days before your SDI ends, but your baby bonding benefits won't actually begin until the day after your disability leave officially ends. So if your SDI ends on a Friday, your PFL would start the following Monday. This helped me plan better when I went through this process last year. Also, don't stress too much about the exact timing - anywhere between 7-10 days before seems to work fine based on what I've seen here!
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After reading through all the comments, let me summarize the consensus on transitioning from pregnancy disability to baby bonding PFL: 1. Apply 10-14 days before your disability ends 2. Make sure your doctor has certified your final disability date 3. Check that your baby's documentation is submitted 4. Keep copies of everything you submit 5. If your claim gets stuck, be prepared to contact EDD This is the process that should create a seamless transition between benefits without any gaps in payment.
Thank you so much for this clear summary! I feel much more confident about what to do now. I'll definitely be ignoring HR's advice and following these steps instead. I really appreciate everyone's help!
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My disability ends in 3 weeks and I was also told by HR to wait until after it ends to apply for PFL. Reading all these responses is such a relief - I was so worried about having a gap in payments with a newborn. One thing I wanted to add that helped me: I called my doctor's office to confirm they had submitted my final disability paperwork, and they actually hadn't! The nurse said they usually wait until closer to the end date, but I asked them to submit it early so there wouldn't be any delays. Might be worth double-checking with your OB too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating these confusing processes!
Leila Haddad
Just a heads up, they recently changed some of the eligibility requirements. Make sure you check the latest info on the EDD website!
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Zara Perez
Thanks for starting this thread Paolo! I'm in a similar situation and this is already super helpful. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your Social Security number, employment info, and details about why you need the leave ready when you fill out the form. Also, if you're caring for a family member, you'll need their info too. The EDD website has a pretty good checklist of required documents - definitely worth checking out before you start the application process.
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