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.
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- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
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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!
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I went through this EXACT dilemma last year and it's SO FRUSTRATING there's no good solution! The whole system assumes parents (let's be real, usually moms) should just magically be ready to abandon their babies at exactly 8 weeks, or somehow find affordable childcare that doesn't exist!!! I ended up quitting and was denied UI. Had to live on savings for 4 months until I found a remote job. The kicker? My old company had to hire TWO people to replace me and is now offering partial remote work. Too late for me though. 🙃
omg this is so relatable. they treat new moms like machines! 'ok your time is up, back to work like nothing happened!' meanwhile we're healing physically, emotionally drained, dealing with sleep deprivation AND supposed to just hand our babies to strangers? then act shocked when women leave the workforce 🤦♀️
One thing no one has mentioned - if your wife's employer offers a leave of absence beyond what's legally required, that might be worth exploring too. Some companies have unpaid personal leave policies that could extend her time off without severing employment. It wouldn't provide income, but it would keep her job waiting longer while you both figure things out. Worth checking her employee handbook or with HR.
That's a really smart suggestion. She works for a large healthcare system so they might have options like this. I'll have her check with HR. Thanks!
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make sure u submit ur PFL claim ONLINE not by mail!!!! i sent mine by mail and it got lost and i had to reapply & lost 2 weeks of pay. the online system is way faster anyway. also the xmas break doesnt matter, my sister works for a school and she just transitioned to PFL when her doctor released her regardless of school schedule.
To summarize the correct process for everyone: 1. Apply for PFL online through SDI Online about 1-2 weeks before your disability ends 2. For baby bonding PFL, you need proof of relationship (birth certificate) but NOT a doctor's certification 3. If you have postpartum depression, speak with your doctor about potentially extending disability before transitioning to PFL 4. Your employer's schedule (school break) has no impact on EDD's processes or timelines 5. PFL and SDI are separate claims that require separate applications The timing around holidays can make the transition more confusing, but the process itself is the same. Don't wait until your disability ends to apply for PFL!
Thank you for this clear summary! I've made an appointment with my doctor and I'm going to start my PFL application today. Hoping the transition goes smoothly!
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my friend said sometimes if u check ur EDD card balance randomly money just shows up there even b4 the website updates to say approved lol maybe check that too
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Update: I talked to my doctor and had her complete a new DE2501 form specifically stating I'm "medically restricted to a maximum of 20 hours of work weekly due to pregnancy complications." She was happy to rewrite it that way! I filed the claim online last Friday and uploaded the doctor's certificate. Fingers crossed it processes smoothly. Thanks everyone for your help and advice on this - I had no idea partial disability was even an option and was panicking about losing half my income without any support.
Perfect! That's exactly the right language to use. Now when you certify for benefits every two weeks, make sure you accurately report any part-time wages you earn. The most common issue with partial disability is people forgetting to report their earnings or reporting them incorrectly, which can lead to overpayment notices later. Good luck with your pregnancy, and don't forget to plan for the transition from pregnancy disability to baby bonding after delivery. They're separate claims, and you'll need to file a new PFL claim when you're ready to switch to baby bonding benefits.
I've been through this!!!! My pregnancy last year had similar restrictions at 24 weeks and I got partial disability while working 15 hrs/week instead of my usual 40. My advice: CALL EDD if your claim doesn't show as processing within a week. Mine got stuck because my employer reported my earnings wrong and it took FOREVER to fix. Don't wait like I did thinking it was just normal processing time. Also, hot tip: the disability payments are based on your highest quarter earnings from like 15-18 months ago, NOT your current salary. So if you got a raise recently, it won't be reflected in your benefit amount. I was so confused when my payments were lower than expected!
That's a really good point about the base period! I did get a promotion about 8 months ago, so my benefits will probably be based on my previous lower salary. That's frustrating but at least I can plan for it. I'll definitely call if my claim doesn't move forward quickly. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Zane Hernandez
u know what makes me so MAD about all this? they make these benefits IMPOSSIBLE to understand. i had my baby in 2023 and i didnt even KNOW i could get PFL until my kid was 11 months old and it was too late!!! the whole system is designed to confuse people so we dont claim benefits we deserve. its all about saving the state $$$$
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Genevieve Cavalier
•I feel this! When I had my first kid in 2022 I had no idea what I was eligible for. With my second baby I knew better and got all 8 weeks of baby bonding. Information should be given to every new parent automatically!
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Grace Johnson
One additional point that might be helpful: When you end your UI claim to apply for PFL, make sure you specify the exact date. Your PFL claim should ideally start the very next day after your UI ends to avoid any gap in benefits. The EDD system will check this timeline carefully. Also, since you mentioned being fired shortly after disclosing your COVID diagnosis while pregnant, you might want to consult with an employment attorney about possible pregnancy discrimination. California has strong protections for pregnant workers, and the timing of your termination raises some red flags that might be worth exploring.
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Christopher Morgan
•That's a really good point about making sure there's no gap between benefits. I'll definitely specify the exact date when I end my UI claim. Regarding the discrimination issue - I actually did speak with an attorney last year, but they said it would be hard to prove since my employer claimed it was a "performance-based" termination. Even though they never documented any performance issues before! But fighting it would have been so stressful during pregnancy, so I focused on getting benefits instead. Maybe I should reconsider pursuing it though...
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