Did your former employer show up to the hearing with an attorney? Or just an HR rep? That makes a big difference too.

the waiting is THE WORST!!!! hang in there. sending positive vibes ur way!!!!

One other thing nobody mentioned - if he goes back on UI after PFL, they're going to ask him WHY he isn't working. If he says "seasonal layoff" they might deny him because they'll say "but you were just on leave, not laid off." I had to get my boss to write a letter confirming I was still seasonally laid off even though I took baby bonding leave in the middle. SUCH A HEADACHE! The whole system is designed to deny you benefits!!!!

Just wanted to add. My hubby took the PFL for our baby back in 2023 and said it was the best decision ever. Hes also seasonal landscaper and deals with UI every year. Just do the PFL its way better pay then UI anyway lol

btw how old is ur baby? remember u only get 8 weeks total for baby bonding and u have to use it in the first year after birth

Yes, you can split up your 8 weeks of baby bonding PFL. Many parents do this. You just need to file separate claims for each period. Remember that the minimum duration for a baby bonding claim is two weeks, unless the employer agrees to a shorter period. And all 8 weeks must be used before your child's first birthday. Regarding your earlier question about documentation - as others mentioned, you'll need proof of relationship (birth certificate) and your ID. There's also a section where your employer must verify your employment, so make sure to submit it with enough time for them to complete their portion. One last tip - track everything by taking screenshots of confirmations and noting your claim numbers. The EDD system sometimes has glitches, so having your own documentation can save a lot of headaches if something goes wrong.

Anyone else notice that the EDD website is ALWAYS "undergoing maintenance" whenever you actually need to use it?? I swear the whole system is from 1995. My sister works in IT and says their entire infrastructure is outdated by like 30 years lol

Update: I called using the Claimyr service and finally got through to someone at EDD! Turns out there was an issue with how my employer reported my last day worked, which didn't match what I put on my claim. The rep fixed it immediately and said I should receive all my back payments within 3-5 business days. Such a relief! If anyone's stuck like I was, definitely try getting through to a real person - sometimes these issues can be fixed in minutes once you actually reach someone.

When this happened to me (2 months ago), it turned out they needed additional documentation but NEVER SENT ME A NOTIFICATION! I only found out after finally getting through to a rep who told me they'd sent a letter that I never received. Check your physical mail carefully - they sometimes send paper requests even if you applied online. Also - one trick that helped me get through: call exactly at 8:00:01 AM when they open, and use the Spanish line (option 2) then ask for English service when connected. The Spanish queue is typically shorter. I always got through within 15-20 minutes this way instead of the hours on the English line.

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning using the Spanish line trick! The representative found that there was a "system flag" on my claim because my baby's birthdate was entered differently on my disability claim vs my PFL claim (I accidentally put 02/14/2025 on one form and 2/14/2025 on the other - literally just missing a zero). Such a tiny error causing weeks of delay and stress! The rep fixed it immediately and said I should receive payment within 48 hours with full backpay. For anyone else stuck in limbo - definitely keep trying to reach them because it might be something simple holding things up!