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Just wanted to share my recent experience with this exact issue! I dealt with the same problem about a month ago where my return-to-work date was showing 3 weeks earlier than it actually was. I was so stressed because I thought it would mess up my entire claim. Following the advice that's been shared here (especially the step-by-step from @Aisha Hussain), I contacted my employer first and it turned out they had submitted incorrect paperwork to EDD. My HR department was actually really helpful once I explained the situation - they sent a corrected form directly to EDD within 2 days. The whole thing got resolved in about 2 weeks without me having to deal with the phone nightmare at all! One thing I'd add is to ask your employer for a copy of whatever correction they submit, just so you have it for your records. Also, keep checking your online account because the change showed up there before I got any official notification. This community has been such a lifesaver for navigating all the EDD chaos. Don't lose hope - there are definitely ways to get this fixed! š
This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so much for sharing your success story - it's such a relief to know that this can actually be resolved without having to battle the phone system. Your point about asking for a copy of the correction paperwork is really smart, I wouldn't have thought of that but it makes total sense to have everything documented. And thanks for the heads up about checking the online account regularly since the change might show up before any official notification. It's so reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this exact situation and came out the other side successfully! This whole thread has been incredible - I feel like I actually have a solid plan now instead of just panicking about the mistake. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience! š
Just stumbled across this thread and wow, what a goldmine of information! I'm actually dealing with a very similar situation right now - my EDD claim is showing that I returned to work 2 months ago when I'm actually still unemployed and actively job searching. It's been causing me so much anxiety because I wasn't sure if this would affect my ongoing benefits or create issues down the line. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been incredibly reassuring. I'm definitely going to start with the employer route first since that seems to be the most successful approach based on what everyone's shared. If that doesn't work, I love having all these backup options like the online contact form, the assembly member office idea, and even the calling strategies. This community is absolutely amazing - it's so helpful to know that other people have navigated this exact problem successfully. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice! š
Welcome to the EDD struggle bus! š I'm pretty new to dealing with all this stuff too, but this thread has been such an eye-opener. Your situation sounds even more stressful than some of the others since you're still actively unemployed - I can imagine how nerve-wracking it must be to see that wrong return date on your claim! The fact that everyone here has found ways to get through this mess gives me hope though. I'm bookmarking this whole conversation because honestly, the collective wisdom here is better than any official EDD guidance I've seen. Good luck with the employer route - fingers crossed it's as straightforward for you as it was for some of the others! This community really is a lifesaver for navigating government bureaucracy nightmares.
I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now and honestly, this entire thread feels like finding a support group I never knew I needed! Filed my PFL claim about 5 weeks ago and it's like it just vanished - no updates, no notifications, nothing. The anxiety is real when you're counting on that support for family care. After reading through everyone's strategies, I'm putting together my battle plan: ⢠Starting the detailed spreadsheet tracking system TODAY ⢠Setting my alarm for 7:55 AM to start calling right at 8:00 AM ⢠Sending that email to pfl@edd.ca.gov with the specific subject format Mei suggested ⢠Gathering all my original documentation and confirmation numbers It's absolutely wild that we need to become project managers and detectives just to track down benefits we've already earned and paid into. But seeing how many people here have eventually gotten through gives me real hope. The assemblyperson option is definitely going in my back pocket for if things don't improve in the next couple weeks. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and actual actionable advice - this community is proving to be more helpful than the actual EDD system! I'll update with my progress and hopefully add to the success stories soon. We've all got this! šŖ
I'm right there with you - it's like we're all living the same frustrating nightmare! I just filed my claim 3 weeks ago and it's already disappeared without a trace. Reading through everyone's strategies here has been such a game-changer though. Your battle plan looks exactly like what I'm putting together too - that 8 AM calling strategy and specific email format seem to be the real MVPs here. It's honestly ridiculous that we need a whole military operation just to get basic information about our own claims, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing what actually works. The spreadsheet idea is brilliant for staying organized through this chaos. Definitely keeping that assemblyperson option in my toolkit too! Thanks for sharing your plan - it helps to know we're all tackling this together with the same approach. Here's hoping we all get some good news soon! š¤
I'm dealing with this exact same situation and reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! My PFL claim has been missing for about 4 weeks now and the stress is overwhelming, especially when you're relying on that support for family care needs. I'm taking notes from everyone's successful strategies here and creating my own action plan: - Starting that detailed tracking spreadsheet immediately (brilliant idea!) - Calling right at 8:00 AM sharp using the "Morning Power Hour" approach - Emailing pfl@edd.ca.gov with that specific subject line format that actually gets responses - Keeping all my documentation organized and ready The fact that so many people here have eventually broken through the system gives me real hope. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to become full-time case managers for our own benefits, but if that's what it takes, I'm ready to fight for what I'm owed. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and practical solutions - this thread is more helpful than anything I've found on the official EDD website. It's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this bureaucratic maze and that persistence really does pay off. I'll definitely update with my progress!
Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble after checking online, you can also try the EDD mobile app - sometimes it loads faster than the website, especially during peak hours. I've noticed that payment dates usually show up 1-2 days before the money actually hits your account, so don't panic if you see a date but don't get paid immediately. Also, if your claim shows "pending" for more than a few weeks, that's when I'd definitely try calling or reaching out to your assembly member like others mentioned. The system is definitely frustrating but most people do eventually get their payments sorted out!
Great point about the mobile app! I didn't even know EDD had one. And yeah, that delay between seeing the payment date and actually getting the money is nerve-wracking - good to know that's normal. Thanks for the heads up about the "pending" timeline too. This whole thread has been so helpful for someone like me who's new to navigating all this EDD stuff!
Hey Isabella! I went through this exact same thing a few months ago and I totally feel your stress. Here's what helped me figure out my payment timeline: If you log into your EDD account, look for a section called "Claim Status" or "Payment Information" - it should show you if your payments are "Issued," "Pending," or if there are any holds on your account. One thing that really helped me was setting up text notifications through the EDD portal. They'll send you updates when your payment status changes, which saved me from obsessively checking the website every hour (guilty as charged lol). Also, if you're on Paid Family Leave specifically, payments usually come on the same day of the week that you first got approved, but it can take 2-3 business days to actually show up in your bank account after EDD says it's "issued." Don't lose hope - I know the waiting is absolutely brutal, but most people do get their payments eventually. The system is just super backed up. Keep checking your account and definitely try some of the other suggestions people posted here. You got this! šŖ
This is such great advice, thank you! I had no idea about the text notifications - I'm definitely going to set those up right away. The part about payments coming on the same day of the week is really helpful too, I'll keep track of that pattern. It's reassuring to hear from someone who's been through the same thing and came out the other side. The waiting really is brutal but knowing it worked out for you gives me hope! š
Diego, I totally understand your confusion! I went through the exact same thing when I had my son last year. The 6-week SDI for vaginal delivery definitely caught me off guard too - I think a lot of us expect 8 weeks because that's what we hear about for total disability leave. Everyone here has given you really solid advice about filing for PFL. I just wanted to add that when you do file, make sure to check if your employer offers any additional paid leave that might run concurrently with your PFL benefits. Some companies have their own parental leave policies that can supplement what you get from the state. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks of PFL bonding time, start thinking now about whether you want to take it all consecutively or if you might want to take some of it intermittently later (like a few days here and there). You have up to 12 months from your baby's birth to use all your PFL bonding time, which gives you some flexibility. The most important thing right now is getting that PFL application submitted soon so you don't have any gaps in payments. You're being really smart by planning ahead - it shows you're going to handle this transition just fine!
Thank you Jasmine! That's a really good point about checking with my employer for additional leave benefits - I honestly hadn't thought about that at all. I'm also really intrigued by what you mentioned about being able to take the PFL bonding time intermittently over 12 months. I was assuming it all had to be taken consecutively right after SDI ends. Could you explain a bit more about how that works? Like, could I take 6 weeks now and then save 2 weeks for later if my baby gets sick or something? That flexibility sounds amazing if it's really an option!
Yes, you absolutely can split up your PFL bonding time! You don't have to take all 8 weeks consecutively. You can take it in separate blocks as long as you use it all within 12 months of your baby's birth. So you could take 6 weeks right after SDI ends, go back to work for a few months, then take the remaining 2 weeks later if needed. Just keep in mind that each time you start a new PFL claim period, there's a 1-week waiting period before benefits kick in (unless you've already served it). I saved 3 weeks of mine and used them when my daughter had surgery at 8 months old - it was such a lifesaver!
Diego, I'm so glad you asked this question because I was in the exact same boat just a few months ago! The panic is so real when you see that 6-week end date instead of the 8 weeks you were expecting. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice about the transition from SDI to PFL. I just wanted to add my experience with the timing - I filed my PFL application about 10 days before my SDI ended and it was processed seamlessly. The key is having all your documents ready to go. One thing that really helped me was setting up a simple folder (physical or digital) with all my maternity leave paperwork - SDI notices, baby's hospital records, employer info, etc. It made filling out the PFL application so much less stressful when I wasn't scrambling to find everything while dealing with a newborn. Also, don't stress too much about EDD not responding to your portal message yet - 3 days is actually pretty normal for them, especially this time of year. Your situation is very routine and you're handling it exactly right by being proactive and asking questions. You've got this! The transition might seem confusing now, but once you file that PFL claim, you'll have a total of 14 weeks of benefits (6 SDI + 8 PFL) which is really good coverage. Just remember to file soon to avoid any payment gaps!
Keisha, thank you so much for sharing your experience! The folder idea is genius - I'm definitely going to set that up today. I've been keeping all my paperwork scattered in different places and it's been causing me extra stress when I need to reference something quickly. It's also really reassuring to hear that 3 days is normal for EDD response times - I was starting to worry that my message got lost in the system. Everyone in this thread has been so helpful and I feel so much more confident about this whole process now. I'm going to file my PFL application this weekend and hopefully have a smooth transition just like you did!
Kolton Murphy
I'm in the exact same situation - approved 2 weeks ago but still no payment! The financial stress on top of dealing with a family situation is just brutal. I've been hesitant to spend money on that calling service someone mentioned, but honestly at this point it might be worth it just to get some answers. Has anyone tried the state assembly member route? That sounds promising but I'm not even sure who my representative is or how to contact their office. This whole thread is making me feel less crazy though - glad to know it's a widespread issue and not just something wrong with my specific case. Going to try calling first thing tomorrow and see if I can find that complaint form!
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Arjun Patel
ā¢@Kolton You can find your assembly member by going to findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov and entering your zip code. Most of their offices have constituent services staff who specifically help with issues like this. When I had a similar problem with disability payments, my assembly member's office was incredibly helpful - they actually have direct contacts at EDD that regular people can't reach. Don't feel bad about the calling service either - $20 is nothing compared to the stress and lost time of trying to get through on your own. I used it last month and got connected within 45 minutes. Sometimes you just have to invest a little to get results with these bureaucratic nightmares. Hope you get some movement on your case soon!
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Malik Johnson
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been approved for almost 4 weeks and still nothing in my bank account. The most frustrating part is that when you call, they just tell you "it's processing" but can't give you any actual timeline. I've been documenting everything and taking screenshots of my approval status in case I need proof later. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both comforting and terrifying - it's good to know I'm not alone but scary to see some people waiting 5+ weeks! I'm definitely going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning and look into contacting my assembly member's office. Thanks for creating this thread @Grace - we need more people talking about these delays openly so hopefully the system gets fixed eventually. Hang in there everyone! š
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Miranda Singer
ā¢@Malik I'm so sorry you're going through this too! The "it's processing" response is the absolute worst - like, what does that even mean?? I'm coming up on week 2 myself and already feeling the anxiety creep in. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to become detective-level investigators just to get benefits we're entitled to. I'm bookmarking all these suggestions from everyone - the assembly member route especially sounds promising. Really appreciate you mentioning the screenshots idea too, that's smart thinking ahead. We shouldn't have to go through all this but at least we're figuring out the system together! š¤
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