Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Zoe Wang
Success update: I finally got my retroactive baby bonding PFL approved after a similar interstate nightmare (NV/CA). The key was getting through to the Interstate Claims Unit and having them flag my file. Make sure you emphasize to the EDD that the issue wasn't your fault - it was a matter of administrative confusion between states. I had to cite the specific regulation that gives CA jurisdiction (Section 2708(a) of CA Unemployment Insurance Code), and then they finally processed my claim correctly. You're absolutely entitled to those benefits even if you're back at work now. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
Emma Swift
•This gives me so much hope! Thank you for sharing your success story and the specific regulation. I'll make sure to cite that section when I talk to them. Did it take a long time from when you finally reached the right department until you got your benefits?
Emma Swift
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at EDD today! Used the Claimyr service that someone suggested and it actually worked - got connected in about 7 minutes instead of endless redialing. The agent confirmed I can still file for retroactive benefits since I'm within the 41-week window. She transferred me to the Interstate Claims Unit, and they're sending me a special package of forms to complete. They said I need to provide: - Proof of Arizona's claim closure - Documentation of all my attempts to file - Employment verification from both states - Birth certificate - Employer's confirmation of leave dates I should receive the forms in 5-7 days, and once I submit everything with all documentation, they said it could take 2-3 weeks to process but that I'm likely eligible for the full 8 weeks of benefits I missed. Such a relief to finally have some progress! Will update again when I know more.
Zoe Wang
•That's fantastic news! Make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you send them. I also recommend sending it via certified mail so you have proof of delivery. The Interstate Claims Unit is much better at handling these complex cases than the general representatives. Wishing you a smooth process from here!
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Zainab Yusuf
im sooo confused by all this! i thought pregancy disability and baby bonding were the SAME THING?? im 7 months pregnant and now im worried. do i need to file for disability first and THEN bonding leave later?? this is my first baby and i have no clue whats going on!! help!!
Yara Khoury
•They're two separate benefits in California. First, you can claim State Disability Insurance (SDI) typically 4 weeks before birth through 6-8 weeks after birth (depending on delivery type). Then after your doctor releases you from disability, you can claim Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding for 8 weeks. Both use the same online system, but require separate applications. You'll likely file for disability first before your due date, then baby bonding after recovery.
CyberSiren
UPDATE: I followed the advice here and successfully filed my PFL claim today! For anyone who finds this thread later - here's exactly what I did: 1. Completed my final disability certification and marked "able to return to work" 2. Logged into SDI Online and clicked "New Claim" 3. Selected PFL and baby bonding 4. Entered my baby's info and uploaded hospital discharge papers (they're letting me submit birth certificate later) 5. The start date for PFL was automatically set to the day after my disability ended Thanks everyone for your help! The EDD system is incredibly confusing but I think I've got it figured out now.
Great update! One more tip - save screenshots of your confirmation page and claim number. Sometimes claims seem to disappear from the system during processing and having that evidence is super helpful.
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Alana Willis
btw my sister had her baby right before thanksgiving and she said they did actually transition her automatically. so maybe they changed the system? she didn't have to file anything new she said.
Justin Trejo
•This is actually a common misunderstanding. What likely happened is that EDD sent her the pre-filled DE2508 form electronically, she completed it quickly online without realizing it was a separate form (since much of the information is pre-filled), and then her benefits continued seamlessly. The system has not changed - you still need to complete and submit the DE2508 form, but the process can feel "automatic" if everything goes smoothly and you complete the electronic form right away.
Update: Thank you all SO much for your help! I found the form in my EDD inbox (it was labeled "PFL Bonding Transition" which is why I missed it at first). I've submitted the DE2508 online through my SDI account. The rep confirmed my disability ends on March 20th and my baby bonding should start March 21st with no gap if I've done everything correctly. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly!
Freya Ross
•Dont get ur hopes up. Watch ur account like a hawk and call the SECOND there's any issue. The EDD is a nightmare.
Tyler Murphy
•Sounds like you're all set! Just keep an eye on your account after your disability ends to make sure the PFL payments start as scheduled. Enjoy this special time with your little one!
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My doctor actually had to submit something saying I was recovered before I could get my PFL benefits started. It was super annoying cos it delayed everything by like 2 weeks. I think different doctors handle it differently tho?? The whole system is so inconsistent lol.
That's actually not standard procedure. Your doctor should have just completed the standard medical certification for your original SDI claim with the anticipated recovery date. Sounds like either your doctor or the EDD representative handling your claim was confused about the process. The official procedure doesn't require a separate recovery certification when transitioning to PFL baby bonding.
Second update: My PFL claim was just approved! Only took 5 days to process. No gap in payments between SDI and PFL. For anyone reading this in the future - you definitely DON'T need to submit any recovery notification when transitioning from pregnancy disability to baby bonding. Just make sure you note on your PFL application that you're coming from SDI and include your claim number. Thanks everyone for your help!
Ethan Clark
UPDATE: I used the Claimyr service that someone recommended below, and got through to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. She told me they received my paperwork but it was flagged for "additional review" because my employer reported a different PDL end date than what my doctor submitted. She was able to verify everything and pushed it through! Said I should see payment in 3-5 business days. Such a relief!
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Carmen Ruiz
•That's great news! This is exactly why calling is so important when there are delays. There's often some small discrepancy that can be resolved quickly but will cause indefinite delays if you don't bring it to their attention.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•So glad you got it sorted out! It's crazy how often these little issues come up that they never bother to communicate to us.
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StarStrider
Pro tip for anyone reading this thread later: If you're pregnant and planning to transition from PDL to baby bonding, call your employer's HR department BEFORE submitting your PFL paperwork. Make sure they have the correct end date for your disability claim, and get it in writing if possible. So many of these delays happen because employers and doctors submit conflicting dates.
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Andre Lefebvre
•I wish I'd known this before! My transition was delayed 6 weeks because my doctor put my return-to-work date as the day after my C-section recovery (8 weeks) but my company somehow had it as 6 weeks. The EDD system just got stuck in limbo because of the conflicting info.
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