I'm currently going through this exact situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far! After using my full pregnancy disability and 8 weeks of PFL bonding, my postpartum anxiety became completely unmanageable. I couldn't even make it through a full workday without having multiple panic attacks. My therapist connected me with a psychiatrist who explained that postpartum mental health conditions can absolutely qualify as separate disability claims when they're severe enough to prevent you from working. The key is having it properly documented as a standalone mental health disability, not as an extension of pregnancy-related benefits. I'm in the process of filing now - my psychiatrist is handling the DE2501 form and specifically documenting it as "Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety Features, Postpartum Onset" rather than just "postpartum depression." She's being very detailed about functional limitations like "unable to maintain focus during meetings due to intrusive thoughts" and "sleep disruption prevents completion of complex tasks." I waited about 5 weeks after my PFL ended to file, which my doctor said helps establish this as a new medical event rather than a continuation. One thing that's been helpful is keeping a symptom diary - tracking panic attack frequency, hours of sleep, specific work tasks I can't handle, etc. For anyone considering this: don't feel guilty about needing more time. These are legitimate medical conditions that deserve proper treatment, and California law recognizes that mental health disabilities can occur independently from pregnancy recovery. You're not "gaming the system" - you're accessing support that exists specifically for situations like this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this, but I want to add some hope to this conversation! I successfully filed a separate mental health disability claim for severe postpartum anxiety and depression after exhausting both my pregnancy disability and PFL bonding time in late 2024. The key things that made my claim successful: - I waited about 6 weeks after my bonding time ended to create clear separation - My primary care doctor (not OB) filed it as "Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood" specifically noting it was triggered by but separate from childbirth - We documented specific work limitations: "unable to concentrate on tasks for more than 15 minutes," "experiences panic attacks when handling client communications," "severe insomnia prevents cognitive functioning required for data analysis" - I had been in therapy for 8 weeks and on medication for 4 weeks, showing ongoing treatment despite persistent symptoms The process took about 4 weeks from filing to approval, and I was initially granted 10 weeks with the option to extend if needed. Having detailed therapy notes really helped - my therapist wrote a letter explaining how my symptoms were interfering with daily functioning despite consistent treatment. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: start documenting everything NOW. Keep a daily log of symptoms, panic attacks, sleep patterns, and specific work tasks you can't handle. This concrete evidence really strengthens your case. You're absolutely not alone in this struggle, and seeking additional disability support doesn't make you weak - it makes you a responsible parent taking care of your mental health so you can better care for your baby in the long run. Hang in there! 💙

I'm dealing with this exact same problem right now! Just submitted my PFL claim 3 days ago and it's nowhere to be found in my online account. I've been refreshing the page constantly and was starting to panic that I somehow messed up the application. Reading all these responses is incredibly helpful - it's clear that their online system has serious issues and this isn't something we did wrong. The fact that so many people are experiencing missing claims is both reassuring and frustrating at the same time. I'm going to try calling right when they open tomorrow morning and also double-check that all my documents went through properly. It's ridiculous that we have to deal with this added stress when we're already managing family situations that require leave. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - knowing I'm not alone in this makes it so much less scary! 🙏

I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Filed my PFL claim about a week ago and it completely vanished from my online account. I've been checking multiple times a day and was starting to think I somehow messed up the application process. Reading through all these comments has been such a relief - it's clear this is a widespread problem with their system and not something we did wrong. The anxiety of not being able to track your claim status is terrible, especially when you're already dealing with a family situation that requires leave. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy that several people mentioned. It's so frustrating that their online portal is this unreliable when people are depending on these benefits! Thanks for starting this thread - it really helps to know so many others are going through the same thing. Hopefully we can all get some answers soon! 🤞

Andre, I'm so glad you found this supportive community! Reading through all these responses has been really heartwarming - it's amazing how many people have shared their similar experiences to help you feel confident about your situation. I just wanted to add that as someone who's been following CA benefits discussions for a while, your case is absolutely straightforward for PFL approval. With 5 years of SDI contributions, you're exactly the type of person this benefit was designed to support. The fact that so many people here went through nearly identical situations (leaving toxic workplaces in late pregnancy) and all got approved should give you complete peace of mind. It sounds like you've got all your documents ready and a clear plan to apply today - that's perfect! Enjoy these precious early weeks with your daughter, and don't spend another minute worrying about eligibility. You've earned this support through years of contributions, and now it's time to focus on what matters most - bonding with your little one! Congratulations! 💕🎉

Andre, congratulations on your daughter! 🎉 I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that I'm going through something very similar right now. I had to leave my job at 35 weeks due to a hostile work environment, and my baby was born just over 2 weeks later. Reading through all these responses has been SO helpful - I had no idea so many people have navigated this exact situation! It's really encouraging to see that everyone who's applied for PFL baby bonding after leaving their job in late pregnancy has been approved. I've been putting off applying because I was terrified of getting denied, but after seeing all these success stories, I'm definitely going to file my DE2508 this week. It sounds like with our years of SDI contributions, we're exactly the type of situation PFL was designed to support. Thank you for asking this question - you've helped more people than just yourself! I hope your application goes smoothly. It's clear from everyone's responses that you made the right choice prioritizing your health and your baby's wellbeing. Those toxic work environments are no joke, especially when pregnant! 💕

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently 3 weeks into waiting for my PFL claim and was starting to panic thinking something was wrong. Reading about Dmitry's hyphen issue and Evelyn's wage information problem makes me realize there could be so many hidden issues causing delays that they just don't tell you about. I'm going to contact my HR department tomorrow to double-check they submitted everything correctly, and I'm also going to review my application with a magnifying glass to make sure every single character matches my other documents exactly. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to be detectives to figure out why our own benefits are being held up, but at least now I have a game plan. Definitely keeping that Claimyr service as backup if I can't get through in the next week or two. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real advice new parents need!

This entire discussion has been such a wake-up call! I'm currently dealing with my own PFL claim (week 4 of waiting) and honestly thought I was doing something wrong or that my case was uniquely problematic. Reading about all these hidden issues - name formatting mismatches, employer verification problems, mystery system flags - makes me realize the system is just fundamentally broken. It's absolutely unacceptable that people have to become detectives to figure out why their own benefits are being withheld, especially when we're dealing with newborns and financial stress. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice here: double-checking with HR, reviewing my application for any tiny formatting differences, and keeping that Claimyr service as a backup plan. The fact that we have to pay a third party just to access benefits we've already paid into is infuriating, but if it works, it's worth it. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this thread should be pinned for every new parent navigating this nightmare system!

Great update! I'm so relieved you got through to someone who actually understood the situation. The Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver - I've been putting off calling EDD about my own issues because I dreaded the wait times. Quick question: when you file the new claim, are you planning to explicitly mention the previous overpayment and repayment in your application, or just let the notes the rep added to your account speak for themselves? I'm curious how transparent you need to be when filing the second claim to avoid any red flags in their system.

This is exactly why I always recommend documenting EVERYTHING when dealing with EDD! For anyone else reading this who might face a similar situation, here are some key takeaways from this thread: 1. Keep detailed records of your original intent to split claims (emails to employer, calendar entries, family visit plans, etc.) 2. Screenshot your EDD account regularly - claims can disappear without warning 3. When filing for partial benefits, be extremely explicit about it being "X weeks of Y total weeks entitled" 4. If you get an overpayment notice, act quickly - don't let it sit while you figure out what to do 5. The Claimyr service seems to be a game-changer for actually reaching EDD reps @Lim Wong - smart move being transparent on your new claim. That approach should prevent any fraud flags from popping up. Hopefully this whole mess gets resolved quickly for you!