I'm going through something very similar right now! My partner is trying to file for PFL after our daughter was born 3 weeks ago, and we keep getting the exact same "driver's license already assigned to account" error. It's been absolutely maddening trying to get through to EDD - I swear their phone system is designed to make you give up. Reading through all these responses gives me hope though. We're going to try the Identity Verification unit number someone mentioned (866) 401-2849 and also look into contacting our assemblyperson's office. It's so frustrating that such a common system error requires jumping through so many hoops to fix. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this nightmare!

I'm a new parent dealing with this EXACT same issue right now! My wife gave birth to our son 2 weeks ago and I've been trying to file for baby bonding PFL but keep hitting that same "driver's license already assigned to account" error. It's incredibly stressful when you're already sleep-deprived and trying to support your partner and new baby. Reading through all these responses has been a lifesaver - I had no idea about the Identity Verification unit at (866) 401-2849 or the option to contact our assemblyperson's office. I'm definitely going to try both of those tomorrow. It's really encouraging to see that Isabella got her issue resolved with Claimyr too, though I wish we didn't have to pay a third party to access our own government benefits. The "ghost account" explanation makes total sense - I actually did start filling out some forms online a few weeks before our son was born just to see what the process looked like, but never submitted anything. That's probably what triggered this mess. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions. It gives me hope that we can get this sorted out soon. The bonding time with your newborn is so precious and it's heartbreaking that these system glitches are eating into that time for so many families.

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!

I'm a working mom who went through this exact situation with both my kids! The confusion is so real because the form wording makes it seem like they want your actual physical return date, but that's not what EDD is asking for at all. For baby bonding PFL, always put the day after your child's first birthday - in your case February 16th. This tells EDD when your benefit eligibility legally ends, which is completely separate from any leave arrangements you have with your employer. I made the mistake with my first baby of putting my actual return date (2 weeks after his birthday) and got slammed with a $1,800 overpayment notice months later. With my second baby, I learned my lesson and put the day after her birthday even though I took 3 weeks additional unpaid leave. Zero issues! Your HR team won't be confused - they already have your LOA documentation and know these are separate systems. Save yourself the financial headache and put February 16th!

Just wanted to add something that really helped me when I went through this process - create your EDD online account BEFORE you need to file! You can set up your account at any time, and it'll save you stress later when you're trying to submit your actual claim. The account setup can take a day or two to fully activate, so doing it early means one less thing to worry about when you're at 36 weeks and ready to file. Also, once your account is set up, you can explore the interface and get familiar with where everything is located. Made the whole process much smoother for me!

@Edison Estevez This is absolutely brilliant advice that I wish I had seen weeks ago! I'm currently 34 weeks and was planning to handle everything at my 36-week appointment, but you're so right about getting the EDD account set up early. I had no idea there could be verification delays or that the system might be glitchy when I actually need to file. I'm definitely creating my account this weekend while I have the mental bandwidth to deal with any issues that come up. One question - when you set up your account early, did you find any helpful resources within the portal that aren't available on the public website? I'm hoping there might be checklists or preparation guides that could help me get all my documents organized ahead of time. Also, did the early setup give you a better sense of how long the actual application process takes once you have everything ready? Thanks for sharing this tip - it's going to save so much stress when I'm ready to file in a couple weeks! Sometimes it's these practical details that make the biggest difference.

So relieved to see your update! This is exactly why I always tell people to call EDD when claims are pending too long - there's usually something specific holding it up that only they can see and fix. Employer verification issues are incredibly common, especially with intermittent claims where HR has to respond multiple times throughout the year. Many employers just don't prioritize these requests or understand the tight deadlines. Glad you got your 11 days confirmed and the March payment released! That's cutting it close to your 12-month deadline but at least now you know exactly where you stand.

This is such a common issue with intermittent PFL claims! I went through something very similar when my son was born in 2022. The key things that helped me were: 1) Keep a personal spreadsheet tracking each claim period and workdays used - don't rely on EDD's system alone, 2) Always follow up with your employer's HR after submitting each claim to make sure they received and processed EDD's verification request, and 3) If a claim sits pending more than 10 business days, call immediately. The 12-month deadline is firm and EDD won't extend it even if the delays were on their end. So glad to see from the updates that you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this - intermittent PFL is totally doable but requires more proactive communication with both EDD and your employer than continuous leave.

This thread has been absolutely incredible! I'm 18 weeks pregnant and have been putting off researching maternity leave because every official resource I found was so confusing and overwhelming. Reading through everyone's real-world experiences has been a game-changer. I love how @Sara Unger laid out that timeline spreadsheet - I'm definitely stealing that idea! And @Sophia Nguyen's advice about keeping copies of everything and taking screenshots is so smart. I work in tech and even I wouldn't have thought to screenshot the EDD portal pages, but given all the horror stories about their system, that's brilliant. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone dealt with having multiple jobs while filing for SDI/PFL? I have a full-time job plus some freelance work on the side. I'm wondering if the freelance income complicates the benefit calculation or if I need to report it separately? Also, @Hattie Carson, thank you so much for starting this conversation! Your questions were exactly what I needed to see answered. This community is amazing - I've learned more from this thread than from hours of trying to navigate the EDD website. You all are lifesavers! 🙏✨

This thread is absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing your experiences! As someone who's 25 weeks pregnant and has been procrastinating on figuring out the whole SDI/PFL situation, reading through everyone's real-world advice has been a total lifesaver. I'm particularly grateful for the timeline breakdown from @Destiny Bryant and the tip about creating the SDI account early from @Dyllan Nantx. I had no idea about the mailed verification code taking a week - I definitely would have been scrambling at the last minute! One question I haven't seen addressed: does anyone know if changing jobs during pregnancy affects your SDI/PFL eligibility or benefit calculation? I'm considering a job change in my second trimester but I'm worried it might mess up my base period calculations or create complications with the claims process. Also, @Sophia Nguyen's advice about keeping copies of everything and taking screenshots is brilliant - I'm starting that documentation system right now while I have time to get organized. @Hattie Carson thank you for asking all the right questions! This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for other expecting parents navigating this confusing system. You all have turned what felt like an impossible maze into a clear, manageable process. This community is amazing! 🌟