This entire thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm 8 months pregnant and just went through a job change at 6 months, so reading everyone's experiences has been both validating and educational. What really strikes me is how much this thread demonstrates that knowledge is power when it comes to navigating pregnancy leave in California. @Zoe Stavros your original panic about not qualifying is something I think so many of us have felt, but seeing how it all worked out once you understood the different protections available is really encouraging! For anyone still reading through this - I wanted to add that when I had my HR conversation, I also asked about their policy on accruing benefits (health insurance, 401k matching, etc.) while on unpaid leave. Some companies continue benefits during the entire leave period, others only during the paid portions. It's another piece worth clarifying upfront. Also, if you're planning to pump/breastfeed when you return, definitely ask about their lactation support during that initial conversation. Some companies provide hospital-grade pump rentals, milk shipping for business travel, or extended break times beyond what's legally required. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and expertise - this thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with pregnancy and job changes in California! 🙌

This thread has been absolutely amazing! I'm 4 months pregnant and just got a job offer, but I was terrified about accepting because I didn't understand how leave would work with the timing. Reading through @Zoe Stavros's experience and everyone's detailed explanations has completely changed my perspective! The breakdown of PDL vs PFL vs CFRA was so helpful - I had no idea that PDL gives you immediate job protection regardless of how long you've worked somewhere. And seeing so many success stories of people navigating job changes during pregnancy gives me hope that I'm not crazy for considering this move. I'm definitely going to use all the strategies mentioned here: research the company's D&I policies, ask about family leave during my HR onboarding, keep all my paystubs organized, and create that timeline document to visualize everything. Quick question - for those who accepted jobs while pregnant, did you negotiate anything specific in your offer related to leave or benefits? Or is it better to wait and discuss with HR after starting? Thank you all for creating such an incredible resource! This community has made what felt impossible seem totally manageable! 💙

Just wanted to add my recent experience to help others - I filed my PFL claim 6 weeks ago and am still waiting for approval. What's been most frustrating is the lack of communication from EDD. I've called multiple times but can never get through. However, I did notice that when I log into my online account, there's sometimes a message asking for additional documentation that wasn't mentioned in the original application. My advice: check your online portal at least twice a week, even if you haven't received any emails or mail notifications. There might be requests sitting there that could be holding up your claim! Has anyone else experienced this issue with missing notifications?

I'm currently at week 3 of waiting for my PFL claim to process and reading all these experiences is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! 😅 Based on what everyone's shared, I've been checking my online portal religiously (thanks @Luca Russo and @Benjamin Johnson for that tip!). One thing I haven't seen mentioned much - has anyone had luck submitting additional supporting documentation even if EDD didn't specifically ask for it? I'm thinking of proactively sending in extra medical records just to avoid potential delays. Also, for those who got approved, did you receive any kind of confirmation email or notification when your claim status changed, or did you just have to keep checking the portal? This whole process is so stressful when you're already dealing with family care responsibilities! 😔

I'm currently preparing for maternity leave and have been following this thread closely - it's been incredibly helpful! My employer also has a supplemental pay policy, and I was initially worried about how to handle it properly. Based on everything I've read here, it seems like the key is making sure these payments are coded correctly on paystubs as "supplemental benefits" rather than regular wages. I'm planning to have a conversation with my HR department before my leave starts to ensure we're both clear on the proper coding. @StarStrider - I hope your PFL application went smoothly this week! You've handled everything so professionally and thoroughly. The way you proactively addressed the payroll error and got documentation from HR is exactly the right approach. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned much - for those who've completed the PFL certification process with employer supplemental pay, is it pretty straightforward to report these payments, or are there any tricky aspects to watch out for? This whole discussion has given me so much confidence about navigating this process when my time comes. Thank you to everyone who's shared their real experiences - this community is amazing! 🙏

I'm going through this exact situation right now and can definitely relate to your stress! My employer also supplements state benefits up to 100% of salary, and I was initially panicked about how it might affect my claims. After dealing with this for the past few weeks, here's what I've learned: the supplemental payments are totally fine as long as they're coded correctly on your paystubs. They need to show up as something like "supplemental disability benefits" or "leave pay supplement" - NOT regular wages. When you certify for PFL, you'll report these under "other benefits received," but they won't reduce your state benefits since you're not actually working. You're absolutely doing the right thing by having HR fix that payroll error and document it properly. I had a similar situation where they accidentally processed regular pay during my first week of leave, and once they corrected the coding and provided written documentation, there were no issues with EDD. For your PFL timing, applying early this week sounds perfect if your SDI ends in about 10 days. I filed mine about 6 days before my disability ended and had a seamless transition with no gap in benefits. One tip that's really helped me: start a simple tracking spreadsheet now with dates, EDD amounts, employer supplement amounts, and how they appear on your paystubs. It makes certification so much easier and gives you peace of mind that everything is documented. Don't stress too much - you're being super proactive about this which puts you in a great position. The system handles employer supplemental benefits all the time! You've got this! 💪

Just want to echo what others have said about persistence paying off! I had this exact issue earlier this year - moved to CA from Oregon and couldn't access my account. What finally worked was a combination of calling multiple times until I got someone helpful AND having all my documents ready to go. I used my Oregon driver's license + passport + Social Security card. The rep walked me through uploading them through their secure portal and flagged my account for manual review. Took about 2 weeks total but I finally got access. Pro tip: call early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) - seemed like I had better luck reaching someone who wasn't already burned out from dealing with frustrated callers all day. Don't lose hope, it's definitely solvable!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation but with a twist - I'm a CA resident who just never got around to getting a driver's license (I live in SF and use public transit). I've been putting off dealing with this but clearly need to bite the bullet. From reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like getting a CA state ID from the DMV might be my easiest path forward since I'm actually a resident. @NeonNomad mentioned this as option #1 - has anyone here actually gone through the DMV process for a state ID specifically for EDD purposes? Just wondering about timing since I need to access my benefits sooner rather than later. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - it's reassuring to know there are solutions even when the system seems impossible to navigate!

I'm a new member here and going through the exact same situation! My PFL payment has been stuck at "sent" status for 6 days now after transitioning from SDI to baby bonding leave. My first PFL payment came through perfectly, but this second one is just sitting somewhere in their system. Reading through all these comments has been incredibly reassuring - I was starting to think something was specifically wrong with my claim. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't proactively communicate about these technical issues when they know parents are counting on this income for essential expenses. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm planning to try the Claimyr service tomorrow morning since the regular phone lines seem impossible to get through. Has anyone who used Claimyr been able to get confirmation about when the broader batch processing issue might be fully resolved? I'm worried this could affect my future payments too. Thank you all for sharing - this community has been more helpful than anything I could find on the official EDD website!

I'm a new member here and unfortunately dealing with this exact same issue! My PFL payment has been showing as "sent" for 5 days now with nothing appearing in my bank account. Just like everyone else, I transitioned from SDI to baby bonding PFL and my first payment came through fine, but this second one is completely stuck. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to panic thinking it was something wrong with my specific claim or bank account. It's so frustrating that EDD doesn't send any kind of alert about these technical issues when they know payments are delayed. The stress of not knowing what's happening while managing a newborn and expecting that income is overwhelming. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service first thing tomorrow morning based on all the positive feedback here. Has anyone had any luck with the regular EDD phone lines recently, or is the third-party service really the only viable option? I've tried calling twice and got disconnected both times after waiting over an hour. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - knowing this is a widespread technical issue rather than an individual problem makes me feel so much better!