Has anyone tried faxing in a correction request? I heard that sometimes works faster than calling.

For anyone still struggling to get through, I recommend calling at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - that's when I had the most luck. Also, if you're put on hold, don't hang up! I waited 2.5 hours once but finally got through. Keep a book or something nearby to pass the time. The key is persistence - it's frustrating but totally worth it when you finally connect with someone who can help fix your application.

Same thing happened to me last year! The waiting is the worst part. Here's what worked for me: I called right at 8am when they opened (be ready to dial exactly at 8:00), had my SSN and confirmation number ready, and was super polite to whoever answered. Also check your online portal daily - sometimes the status updates there before they send any notifications. Don't give up! The money will come through eventually, just takes way longer than it should 😤

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - filed 3 weeks ago and still radio silence! It's so stressful when you're counting on that money. From reading all these responses, it sounds like the early morning calling strategy is key. I'm definitely going to try the 8am sharp approach tomorrow. Also thinking about reaching out to my assemblymember's office like Aisha suggested - that's brilliant advice I never would have thought of! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess 😅

This entire discussion perfectly captures the impossible position EDD puts new parents in - you're already stressed about money on reduced benefits, but trying to supplement that income could cost you thousands in repayments. As someone who's about to start my own parental leave journey, I'm honestly shocked at how punitive the system is. The fact that Santiago lost $2300 and others faced similar penalties for what seems like reasonable financial decisions is really eye-opening. Maria, thank you for sharing your experience with Claimyr - it's ridiculous that we need to pay a third party just to get clear answers from our own government agency, but your success getting through in 15 minutes versus days of failed attempts shows it might be necessary. The consistent message here seems to be: when in doubt, get official written guidance from EDD before making ANY work decisions while on leave. It's better to struggle financially in the short term than face massive repayments later. This thread should be required reading for anyone applying for PFL!

This entire thread has been such a wake-up call! I'm currently 8 months pregnant and work as a nurse at a hospital plus do private duty nursing on weekends. I was planning to keep doing some private shifts during my bonding leave since it's "technically different" from my hospital job, but reading about Santiago's $2300 repayment and all the appeal failures has completely changed my mind. It's so messed up that EDD reduces our income but then punishes us for trying to make ends meet! Maria, thank you for calling EDD and sharing what they told you - it probably saved me from making the same mistake. The fact that you had to use Claimyr to get through is telling about how broken this system is, but I'm definitely going to try that service when I apply for benefits. I'd rather pay a small fee upfront than risk thousands in repayments later. It's heartbreaking that new parents have to choose between bonding time and financial stability, but at least this community is helping us navigate these impossible decisions together!

Adding my voice to this incredibly helpful thread! I'm currently trying to adjust my PFL end date and this conversation has been a lifesaver. The disability services line tip at 1-800-480-3287 is pure gold - I had no idea there was an alternative to the main EDD nightmare line. I've been documenting everything in a spreadsheet too (love that someone else is doing this!), and after two weeks of failed attempts at the regular number, I'm definitely trying the 8:02 AM strategy tomorrow. The assembly member escalation route is brilliant backup - never occurred to me that elected officials could actually help cut through the red tape. One question for those who've been successful: when you finally got through and made changes, did you get any kind of written confirmation that your benefits would continue without interruption? I'm worried about gaps in payment while the system updates. Thanks everyone for sharing real solutions instead of just venting - this is exactly the kind of community support we need when dealing with bureaucratic chaos! 💪

This whole thread is exactly what I needed to read right now! I've been trying to adjust my PFL dates for over two weeks and was starting to lose hope. The disability services line at 1-800-480-3287 is news to me - I can't believe there's been an alternative to that main EDD black hole this whole time! I'm definitely going to try the 8:02 AM strategy tomorrow with all my documentation ready. The assembly member backup plan is genius too - never thought about escalating through elected officials. One thing I'm curious about: has anyone had success with the online portal recently, or is calling still the most reliable way to get actual results? I submitted a request online about 5 days ago but haven't heard anything back yet. Really appreciate everyone sharing what actually worked instead of just complaining. This community support makes dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare so much more manageable! 🙏

I went through this exact situation with my son last year! I was so confused about which date to put and almost made the mistake of putting my actual return date. Thankfully my sister warned me after she got hit with an overpayment notice for doing exactly that. I ended up putting the day after my baby's birthday (when PFL eligibility ends) even though I took an additional 2 weeks of unpaid leave. EDD stopped payments correctly on the right date and I had zero issues. My employer wasn't confused at all since they already had my leave paperwork separate from the EDD stuff. The way I think about it now is that EDD certification is just telling them "stop paying me benefits on this date" - it has nothing to do with when you're actually sitting back at your desk. Put February 16th and save yourself the headache!

I'm a new mom who just finished my PFL baby bonding leave last month and faced this exact same dilemma! I was so stressed about which date to put because I also had additional unpaid leave arranged after my baby's first birthday. I ended up calling EDD (after waiting on hold for 2 hours!) and the representative was very clear: put the day after your baby's birthday, which in your case would be February 16th. She explained that the certification is asking when your PFL benefit eligibility ends, not when you're physically returning to work. I put the day after my daughter's birthday even though I didn't actually return until 3 weeks later, and everything processed perfectly. No overpayment issues, no confusion with HR. The rep also mentioned that this is one of the most common mistakes they see - people putting their actual return date instead of when benefits end, which creates overpayment situations that take months to resolve. Definitely go with February 16th! Your employer won't be confused because they already have your LOA paperwork separate from anything EDD-related. Good luck with your transition back to work!