I'm so sorry to hear about your uncle's heart condition, Malik. This thread has been incredibly helpful in showing both the limitations of the system and all the creative alternatives available. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: have you considered reaching out to the Argentine consulate or embassy? They sometimes have resources or contacts for US citizens who need to provide care for family members in Argentina. They might know about local support services, have connections with English-speaking healthcare coordinators, or even have information about other Americans who've navigated similar situations. Also, since you'll potentially be there for 8 weeks, it's worth looking into temporary resident services in Buenos Aires. Some cities have programs specifically designed to help international visitors who are there for extended medical care situations - things like discounted temporary housing near hospitals, transportation services, or even volunteer companion programs that could give you breaks from caregiving duties. The remote work + PTO + company flexibility approach really seems like your best path forward. Having all these backup plans and resources will make you feel much more prepared when you talk to HR. Your uncle is so lucky to have someone willing to go to these lengths for him. Hoping for a successful surgery and smooth recovery for both of you!

I'm really sorry to hear about your uncle's heart condition, Malik. This has been such an informative thread about the limitations of PFL and all the creative workarounds people have found. One resource I haven't seen mentioned yet is checking if your employer has any partnerships with international employee assistance programs. Some larger companies have agreements with global EAP providers that offer support services for employees dealing with family emergencies abroad - things like translation services, local care coordination, or even emergency financial assistance. Also, you might want to look into whether your health insurance has any international coverage or resources. While it won't cover your uncle's care, some plans have nurse hotlines or care coordination services that work internationally and could help you understand what to expect during his recovery process. The combination approach everyone's suggesting (remote work + various leave options + employer flexibility) really does seem like your best bet. Having talked to HR departments about similar situations, I think showing up with a detailed plan that demonstrates you've thought through all the logistics will go a long way toward getting approval. Your uncle is so fortunate to have someone who cares enough to research all these options and plan so thoroughly. I hope his surgery goes smoothly and you can put together a solution that works for everyone. Please keep us posted on how your HR conversation goes!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a new parent planning to split my PFL leave and was completely overwhelmed by all the conflicting information I found online. Reading everyone's real experiences has given me so much more confidence about the process. Just to summarize what I've learned from all your posts: - Keep the same claim number but file a new DE 2501F application - Submit the second application 2-3 weeks before starting the second portion - Make sure employer verifies the work period between leaves - No minimum time required back at work between portions - Can check remaining benefit balance in EDD online account One question I haven't seen addressed - if I'm planning to take my second portion around the holidays (like December), should I submit my application even earlier to account for potential processing delays during that time? I'm thinking maybe 4 weeks ahead instead of the usual 2-3 weeks? Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences. This community is such a lifesaver for navigating California's benefits system!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a first-time mom planning to split my PFL leave and was getting completely different answers every time I called EDD. Reading everyone's actual experiences has been way more helpful than any official FAQ page. One thing I'm still confused about though - do I need to notify EDD when I return to work after my first portion, or do they automatically know when my leave ends? I keep seeing conflicting info about whether there's some kind of return-to-work notification process. Also, has anyone had issues with their employer trying to discourage the split leave? My HR person seemed surprised when I mentioned it and said she'd "never heard of anyone doing that before." I want to make sure I'm communicating this correctly to avoid any pushback. Thanks for all the detailed advice everyone - this community is amazing for navigating these confusing systems!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm an IHSS provider for my disabled uncle who has cerebral palsy, and I also work part-time at a local credit union. My husband and I are planning to start trying for our first baby next year, and honestly, I was completely in the dark about how all these benefits would interact. What's really striking me is how many people are in almost identical situations - it's both comforting and eye-opening to realize this is such a common scenario for IHSS providers who also work traditional jobs. The detailed explanations about SDI/PFL being separate from IHSS payments makes so much sense now that I understand the underlying logic. I'm taking notes on everyone's advice, especially about: - Getting ahead of it with early social worker discussions - Understanding that transparency is key with both agencies - Having backup plans for physical tasks during recovery - Keeping meticulous documentation of everything The Claimyr service recommendation has been mentioned so many times - clearly it's a game changer for actually getting through to EDD! I'm definitely bookmarking that. What really gives me confidence is seeing how many people have successfully navigated this exact situation. A year ago, I honestly thought having a baby might mean giving up either my IHSS work or my other job. Now I see it's totally doable with proper planning and preparation. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this thread is going to help so many families like ours who are trying to balance caring for disabled family members while also building our own families!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm also an IHSS provider for my disabled nephew and work part-time at a restaurant. Not currently pregnant but my boyfriend and I have been talking about starting a family, and I had NO idea this was even possible until I found this discussion. The amount of practical, real-world advice here is incredible - from the specific form numbers to the Claimyr service recommendation to the detailed explanations about how these programs actually work together. I've been taking screenshots of all the key points because this is exactly the kind of information you can't find on any official website. What really stands out to me is how important early planning and communication seems to be. Everyone who had success stories mentioned talking to their social worker ahead of time and being completely transparent with both agencies. The horror stories seem to come from confusion or lack of preparation. I'm definitely going to have a conversation with our IHSS social worker at our next quarterly meeting, even though we're still just in the thinking-about-it phase. Better to understand the process now than be scrambling to figure it out when I actually need the benefits. Thank you so much to everyone who shared their experiences - both good and challenging. This thread is going to help so many people in our situation navigate what seems like an impossible bureaucratic maze. Saving all of this info for when we're ready to take that next step!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed my pregnancy disability claim on December 9th and my doctor submitted everything by December 16th. The holiday timing is so frustrating when you're trying to budget for baby expenses and end-of-year bills. From what I've gathered from friends who've been through this, the key thing is that once your claim is approved, all payments will be backdated to your actual disability start date. So even though the processing delay is stressful, you won't lose any money - just the timing gets pushed back. I've been checking my EDD account obsessively, but based on everyone's experiences here with holiday delays, I'm now expecting my first payment around January 6-8th instead of before New Year's. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, especially when you're in nesting mode and trying to get everything organized financially! Hang in there - sounds like we're all in this holiday processing limbo together! 🤰

I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and about to start this process myself, so this thread has been incredibly helpful! The holiday timing confusion makes so much sense now - I was planning to submit my claim right after New Year's but now I'm wondering if I should wait until mid-January to avoid any lingering holiday processing delays? Also, for those who've been through this - do you recommend having all your doctor paperwork ready to submit the same day you file your initial claim? It sounds like getting everything in quickly helps speed up the overall timeline. The financial planning aspect is definitely stressing me out, especially after reading about 3+ week delays during holiday periods! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info you can't find on the EDD website! 🙏

This entire thread is so validating - I thought I was going crazy dealing with EDD's complete lack of communication! I'm currently at week 5 of "Pending Processing" for my maternity bonding leave and reading everyone's experiences has been both helpful and terrifying. A few things I've learned from my own research that might help others: 1. The EDD Disability Insurance (DI) phone line (1-800-480-3287) sometimes has shorter wait times than the main PFL number, and they can still look up your claim status and escalate if needed. 2. If you're on social media, try reaching out to @CA_EDD on Twitter with your situation. They have a team that monitors social media complaints and sometimes respond faster than traditional channels. 3. Keep detailed records of every interaction - date, time, who you spoke with, what they said. I started doing this after my third week and wish I'd done it from day one. The Assembly member route seems to be getting the best results based on this thread. I'm contacting mine tomorrow morning. It's absolutely insane that we have to escalate to elected officials just to get basic government services, but here we are. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences and tips. This community support means everything when you're feeling helpless in the face of government bureaucracy!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! I'm currently going through something very similar - my PFL claim has been stuck in "Pending Processing" for 9 weeks now for bonding with my newborn twin girls. The stress of not knowing when (or if) the money will come while trying to care for newborns is absolutely devastating. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and validating. I had no idea so many parents were dealing with the exact same delays. A few additional things that have helped me: 1. I started calling the PFL line using an auto-dialer app on my phone so I don't have to sit there manually redialing dozens of times. It just keeps trying in the background while I can do other things. 2. I've been documenting everything in a spreadsheet - not just calls but also portal screenshots, dates I certified, everything. My husband thinks I'm obsessive but I have a feeling we'll need this documentation eventually. 3. Someone in my new mom's group mentioned filing a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs if EDD doesn't resolve the issue within a reasonable timeframe. Apparently they have authority to investigate government agency failures. The Assembly member route definitely seems like the most promising option based on everyone's experiences here. I'm contacting mine first thing Monday morning. It's absolutely criminal that new parents have to jump through all these hoops while caring for newborns, but we have to do whatever works. Hang in there - you're definitely not alone in this mess! Please keep us updated on your progress, especially with the Assembly member's office.