One last tip - keep track of all your benefit payments throughout the year (screenshots of your EDD account or the paper statements they mail). Sometimes the 1099-G can have errors, and you'll want your own records to verify the amount is correct. If there is a discrepancy, you'll need to contact EDD for a corrected form, which can take time. Better to discover any issues early in tax season!

Just wanted to share my experience from last year - I was in almost the exact same situation (SDI during pregnancy, then PFL for bonding) and was super confused about the tax stuff too! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: even though you can't withhold taxes from SDI payments, you CAN have taxes withheld from your regular paycheck (if you're planning to return to work) to help cover the tax liability from both SDI and PFL. I talked to my HR department and increased my withholding for the rest of the year, which helped me avoid owing a big chunk at tax time. Also, don't stress too much about the 1099-G timing - mine came in late January and everything worked out fine for filing taxes. Congrats again on your little one! 💕

I went through this exact same situation last year and it was incredibly stressful! One thing that helped me was using the EDD callback feature if it's available when you call - sometimes you can request a callback instead of waiting on hold for hours. Also, try calling the disability insurance number (1-800-480-3287) in addition to the main PFL line, as they sometimes can help with transition issues between SDI and PFL. Another tip: if you're still having trouble, try calling different regional offices directly. The Sacramento office (916-464-3500) sometimes has shorter wait times than the main statewide number. And definitely document everything - dates you called, reference numbers, what each person told you - because you'll likely need to reference it later. Hang in there! It's frustrating but you will get it sorted out. Your benefits are retroactive so once they fix the date issue, you should get paid for the time you've been waiting.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD phone system is absolutely brutal when you're already dealing with a newborn! I went through something similar with my PFL claim last year. One strategy that worked for me was using a combination of approaches: I'd call the direct PFL number (1-877-238-4373) right at 8:00 AM sharp while also having the Claimyr service call on my behalf as backup. The overlapping dates issue you described is super common - they need to adjust your PFL start date to be the day after your pregnancy disability officially ends, not your baby's birth date. Also, since you mentioned rent is due next week, you might want to contact your local 211 service (dial 2-1-1) for emergency financial assistance resources while you're waiting for EDD to get their act together. Some counties have emergency funds specifically for situations like this where government benefits are delayed. Keep documenting every call attempt with dates and times - if this drags on much longer, your assembly member's office can really help cut through the red tape. Hang in there, mama! The benefits are retroactive so you'll get everything you're owed once they fix the dates.

Congrats on your baby and glad to hear your claim finally went through! I'm a new parent myself and just submitted my PFL baby bonding claim last week. Reading through all these experiences is both reassuring and nerve-wracking - it sounds like the 3-4 week wait is pretty standard right now despite what their website says. One question for anyone who's been through this recently - did you get any kind of confirmation or notification when your status changed from pending to approved, or do you just have to keep checking the portal daily? I'm trying to figure out if I should set up some kind of daily reminder to check or if they'll actually let me know when something changes. Also @Malik Jackson thanks for mentioning the Claimyr service - I hadn't heard of that before but might be worth trying if mine gets stuck too long. The regular EDD phone line seems impossible to get through on.

I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my PFL baby bonding claim to process after my little one was born last month. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly such a relief - I was starting to panic that I'd done something wrong with my application! It's so frustrating that the EDD website still claims 14 days when clearly everyone is experiencing 3-4+ weeks. I've been checking the portal obsessively every morning hoping to see a status change. My SDI pregnancy benefits ended right before I submitted the PFL claim, so like many others here, I'm in that stressful income gap period. One thing I noticed that might help others - when I submitted my claim, I made sure to keep screenshots of everything showing my documents were "received" in the portal. After reading about some people having issues with document uploads, I'm glad I have that backup proof just in case. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips! It helps knowing this is just how slow the system is right now and not a problem with individual claims. Will definitely keep the Claimyr service in mind if I hit the 3-week mark with no movement.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! I went through a similar PFL appeal last year and it was absolutely exhausting. My husband was initially approved for bonding leave after our daughter was born, then they reversed the decision 6 weeks later claiming "insufficient documentation" even though we had submitted everything they asked for. Our timeline was: Filed appeal in early October, got confirmation letter 2 weeks later, hearing scheduled for mid-December (about 10 weeks total). The hearing itself was conducted over the phone and lasted about 45 minutes. The judge was actually very fair and asked detailed questions about the original approval and what changed. We ended up winning the appeal - turns out EDD had misplaced one of our forms in their system! They reinstated all benefits and paid the back payments within 3 weeks of the hearing decision. A few tips that helped us: - Document EVERYTHING (sounds like you're already doing this) - Request your complete claim file like others mentioned - Bring a witness to the hearing if possible (my husband's supervisor testified about the leave dates) - Stay calm during the hearing - the judge really does want to get to the truth The waiting is the worst part, but hang in there. The fact that he was initially approved is definitely in your favor. Wishing you the best outcome!

I'm currently going through the exact same situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! My wife was approved for PFL in January, received 3 payments, then got hit with a denial letter last week saying she didn't meet eligibility requirements. We filed our appeal immediately but I've been panicking about the timeline. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially @Luis Johnson's success story - gives me so much hope that we can get through this. The consistency in the 6-8 week timeline for hearing dates is actually reassuring, even though it feels like forever when you're living it. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that @Tyrone Johnson recommended since calling EDD has been absolutely impossible. Also planning to request our complete claim file like @Oliver Schulz suggested - that's such a smart move to see exactly what documentation they have. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. It's amazing how this community is helping each other navigate this broken system. Will keep everyone updated on our progress, and hoping all of you still waiting get positive outcomes soon!

This is why I always use PayPal for online purchases. They have buyer protection and it's easier to dispute charges. Plus, you don't have to give your actual card info to every site you buy from.

I've dealt with this exact same issue before! Double charges are super frustrating. Here's what worked for me: First, check if both charges actually posted or if one is still pending - sometimes the first one will drop off automatically within a few days. If they're both posted, definitely contact the company first before going to your bank. Most legitimate businesses will refund the duplicate charge pretty quickly once you explain what happened. Just make sure to have your transaction details ready when you call or email them. Good luck getting this sorted out!