UPDATE: I wanted to share what happened in case anyone else runs into this issue! I ended up using Claimyr to reach an EDD rep (thanks for that tip - totally worth it to not spend hours calling). The rep confirmed that I should NOT report the February payment since it was for work completed before my disability period began. I requested and received an email from my manager confirming the dates the work was performed (Jan 3-26) and that the payment was delayed solely due to our company's commission payment schedule. I'm keeping this documentation saved just in case there are any questions later. Thanks everyone for your help! Now I can focus on my baby instead of stressing about EDD issues. 😊

Congrats on your little one! 🎉 I'm so glad you got this resolved with EDD. Your situation is actually really helpful for others to see - it shows how important it is to get proper documentation and not just rely on what HR tells you (especially when they're being unhelpful). I'm currently 32 weeks and will likely have a similar commission situation when I go on leave next month. Thanks for sharing the specific steps you took and the Claimyr tip - I'm definitely bookmarking this post for reference! It's so reassuring to see someone actually get through to EDD and get a clear answer. Hope you're recovering well from your C-section and getting to enjoy those newborn snuggles! 💕

I swear, dealing with this system is aging me faster than my actual job did. Pretty soon I'll be eligible for retirement benefits instead of unemployment! 👴👵

Ugh, yes! I'm dealing with the exact same thing. My claim just vanished from the system after their "update" and now when I call, they act like I never even filed. It's beyond frustrating. I've been trying the callback feature but it just says "high call volume" and hangs up on me. Has anyone had luck with the online chat feature, or is that just as useless as the phone system? Starting to wonder if I should just camp out at the local office at this point... 😤

Thanks everyone for your responses! I just checked my portal and it actually updated today - it now says approved! Based on your experiences, I should hopefully have the payment within a few days. This is such a relief!

Congratulations on your approval! That's such great news. I'm currently waiting on my own baby bonding claim decision (submitted 2 weeks ago) and this thread has been so helpful. It's reassuring to see that most people get their online updates first, though clearly EDD's system can be unpredictable. The timeline info from everyone is really valuable - sounds like payments usually come pretty quickly after approval. Hope your payment comes through soon and you can enjoy your bonding time without the financial stress!

PSA: Don't forget to factor in taxes when budgeting for your leave. PFL benefits are taxable income!

Just wanted to add that if you're planning to take PFL intermittently (like a few days here and there), make sure to coordinate closely with your employer's HR department. They'll need to track your usage to ensure you don't exceed the 8-week limit within the 12-month period. Also, some employers have their own policies about how intermittent leave works, so it's worth checking your employee handbook too. Good luck with your application!

anyone else think its ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to? the system is broken af 😤

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! You definitely need to submit a new PFL application - they're completely separate systems. The tricky part is timing it right so you don't have a gap in benefits. I'd recommend calling to formally close your SDI claim first, then immediately submit your PFL application. Also make sure you have your doctor fill out the PFL medical certification form (it's different from the SDI one). The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for me once I submitted everything correctly. Hang in there - it's frustrating but definitely doable!