I'm new to this community but dealing with the exact same frustration trying to reach EDD about my PFL claim! This thread is absolutely incredible - it's like stumbling into a secret resistance movement with all the battle-tested strategies and solidarity. I've been trying for 8 days with zero success, but reading everyone's detailed tactics is giving me actual hope. The fact that @Emily Sanjay had to make 67 calls in one hour and track it with tally marks is both inspiring and completely insane - we shouldn't need to become data scientists just to access our own benefits! I'm definitely going to try the 8:00 AM sharp timing with multiple phones, that 1-3-4 button sequence hack, and @Millie Long's tip about waiting 30 seconds after the "maximum callers" message. It's ridiculous that we need to coordinate like we're planning a military operation, but I'm grateful this community exists. The shared knowledge here is invaluable when the official system has completely failed us. Going to gear up for tomorrow morning's phone assault - will report back with results! Thanks everyone for not giving up and helping each other navigate this broken system! 🙏

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact nightmare about 6 months ago! Reading through all these strategies brings back so many frustrating memories, but I'm happy to share what finally worked for me. The multi-phone approach at 8:00 AM sharp is definitely key, but here's an additional tip I discovered: try calling on days when there's bad weather or holidays (not federal ones where they're closed, but like Columbus Day when many people are off work but EDD is still open). I had success on a rainy Tuesday when I think fewer people were attempting to call. Also, @Emily Sanjay your 1-3-4 button sequence tip is brilliant! I wish I had known about that back when I was struggling. For anyone trying this, make sure you have a backup plan too - I actually ended up driving to a local EDD office as a last resort and was able to get help there after waiting 3 hours in person. Not ideal, but sometimes the in-person route works when phones fail completely. The whole system is absolutely broken and it's shameful that we need these workarounds, but don't lose hope! The persistence really does pay off eventually. Hang in there everyone! 💪

I'm 4 months pregnant and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was getting so stressed about not being able to file early, but now I understand it's actually designed that way for good reasons. One question I still have - for those who mentioned getting their first payment 10-14 days after filing, was that business days or calendar days? I'm trying to plan my budget and want to make sure I have enough savings to cover that initial gap. Also, has anyone had experience with what happens if you need to modify your leave dates after filing? Like if your doctor recommends starting leave earlier than planned due to complications? I'm hoping everything goes smoothly but want to be prepared for different scenarios. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this is way more informative than anything I've gotten from official sources!

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and already stressing about this whole process! Reading through everyone's experiences has been so reassuring though. It sounds like the 7-9 day filing window is pretty standard and the system actually works once you can submit everything. One thing I'm curious about - for those who had smooth experiences, did you do anything special to prepare your paperwork ahead of time? Like specific things to double-check with your doctor or HR? I want to use these next 7 months productively to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible when my time comes. Also wondering if anyone has tips for choosing between taking 4 weeks before due date vs fewer weeks? My doctor said it's flexible based on how I'm feeling, but I'm not sure how to decide what's best for my situation. Thanks for creating such a helpful discussion! This is exactly the kind of real-world info I've been looking for 🤱

Just wanted to add my experience from 2022 - I was in almost the exact same situation with a remote consulting job while on maternity leave from my main employer. The key thing that saved me was having my doctor write a very specific note that said I was "unable to perform the essential functions of [main job title] due to physical limitations from cesarean delivery, but medically cleared for sedentary computer work not exceeding 10 hours per week." I also kept detailed records of every hour worked and every dollar earned from the part-time job, and reported it all on my certifications. EDD did reduce my weekly benefit amount based on the part-time earnings, but I never had any issues or overpayment notices. The reduction formula they use is actually pretty reasonable - you get to keep most of your benefits plus the part-time income. One tip: when you call EDD, ask them to note your file that you discussed working part-time for a different employer while on leave. Having that conversation documented in their system can help if any questions come up later.

I'm currently going through something similar! I'm on maternity leave from my full-time nursing job but considering doing some freelance graphic design work from home. Reading everyone's experiences here is really helpful. One thing I wanted to add - my sister went through this last year and she said the most important thing was keeping absolutely meticulous records. She created a spreadsheet tracking every single hour worked and dollar earned from her part-time gig, plus screenshots of all her EDD certification submissions showing she reported everything. When EDD did a random audit of her claim 6 months later, having all that documentation saved her from any issues. Also, she mentioned that the EDD reps she spoke with emphasized that the key factor is whether your doctor says you can't do your REGULAR job duties, not whether you can do ANY work at all. So getting that specific language in your medical documentation is crucial. Has anyone here dealt with the audit process? I'm wondering how common those are and what triggers them to review a claim more closely.

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.

As someone who just went through this process with my son born in February, I want to emphasize how important it is to stay organized and proactive! Here's my exact timeline that worked well: - Week 4 postpartum: Set calendar reminder to apply for PFL - Week 5: Called doctor's office to confirm they had my PFL transition date in their system - Week 6: Applied for PFL online (took about 20 minutes) - Week 6.5: Doctor submitted my disability release right on schedule - Week 7: Seamless transition - no gap in payments! The key was communication with my doctor's office. I actually went in person during a regular checkup and made sure the nurse wrote down the exact date I needed to be released from disability. This prevented any confusion later. Also, don't stress too much about the online form - it's pretty straightforward. Just have your employer info, baby's birth details, and your SDI claim number handy. The system walks you through everything step by step. One last tip: if you're planning to return to work part-time eventually, ask about intermittent PFL when you apply. You can use your 8 weeks in smaller chunks if your employer allows it, which gives you more flexibility!

I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea that PFL required a separate application - my employer just handed me a stack of forms and said "figure it out" which was super overwhelming. One question I haven't seen addressed yet: if my baby comes early (like several weeks early), does that mess up the timing for when I should apply for PFL? I keep seeing everyone say to apply 1-2 weeks before SDI ends, but what if my recovery period is different than expected due to complications or an early delivery? Also, has anyone dealt with applying for PFL while still in the hospital after delivery? I'm a little worried about trying to navigate all this paperwork while recovering and adjusting to life with a newborn. Should I ask my partner to handle the application, or does it have to be done by me personally? Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - you've all made this process seem much less scary!