Hello! Did you ever get paid past your baby’s birthday? My benefits stopped the day before my daughter’s 1st birthday. I had about 1 week left of benefits left in my claim :

This is such an important thread - thank you to everyone sharing their experiences! I'm seeing conflicting information here that's really concerning. Some people like @Amina Toure and @FireflyDreams report getting their full 8 weeks even past the 1-year mark, while @Chanaii Hgmg and @Lizeth Aparicio had their benefits cut off right at the birthday. This suggests EDD might be inconsistently applying their own rules, which is incredibly unfair to families. For anyone in this situation, I'd strongly recommend: 1. Get written confirmation from EDD about your specific case before your baby's birthday 2. Document everything - save emails, take screenshots of your claim status 3. If benefits are cut off unexpectedly, file an appeal immediately 4. Consider contacting your state representative if you believe EDD is misapplying the rules The fact that some families are losing precious bonding time due to what appears to be inconsistent policy enforcement is really troubling. No parent should have to worry about their benefits being cut short when they're following the rules correctly.

I'm dealing with the same frustration! Been waiting 8 weeks now and it's driving me crazy. One thing that helped me was calling the disability insurance number (1-800-480-3287) instead of the main PFL line - sometimes they can transfer you or give you updates since PFL claims go through the same system. Also, if you have a case worker assigned, try asking for their direct extension when you do get through. I finally got one after my 4th successful call and it's been a game changer for follow-ups. The whole system definitely needs an overhaul, but hang in there! You'll get through eventually. Keep detailed records of everything like others mentioned - it really does help when you finally talk to someone. Good luck! 🤞

I'm in the exact same boat and it's absolutely maddening! Filed my PFL claim 7 weeks ago and have been getting the runaround ever since. What's really frustrating is that I need this money to take care of my newborn, but the system seems designed to wear you down until you give up. Here's what I've learned from my countless attempts: • The best time to call is Tuesday-Thursday between 8:00-8:15 AM • Download a call recording app if your state allows it - helps keep them accountable • File a complaint with the CA Labor Commissioner if you've been waiting over 60 days • Join the Facebook group "California EDD/PFL Support" - tons of helpful people sharing real-time tips The fact that we have to resort to paid services or social media shaming just to access our own benefits is honestly disgraceful. But don't give up - you've earned this support and deserve to receive it. We're all rooting for you! 💪

I'm a military spouse who went through this exact situation when we PCS'd from Naval Base San Diego to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska last year! I was working as a nurse practitioner for only 7 weeks when my husband got his orders, so I completely understand your stress about the short work history. Here's what really helped me get approved: I went back through ALL my 2024 records and found wages from nursing school clinical preceptorships, part-time work as an RN during my NP program, some telehealth consulting I did on weekends, and even per diem shifts at a VA clinic. When I used the alternate base period, these combined earnings were well above the monetary threshold. One thing I want to emphasize that I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you keep detailed records of every conversation with EDD. I created a simple log with date, time, representative name/ID, and summary of what was discussed. This saved me when I got conflicting information from different reps about my military spouse status. Also, don't stress too much about the Arizona job market - Alaska actually turned out to have incredible opportunities for healthcare professionals, especially at the military treatment facilities. Arizona's healthcare system is much more robust, so you'll definitely land on your feet! The timeline was about 5-6 weeks from filing to first payment, but having that financial bridge during our PCS made all the difference. You're going to navigate this successfully - the military spouse provision exists exactly for situations like yours! 🌟

I'm a military spouse who went through this exact process when we PCS'd from Fort Irwin to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 2024! I was working as a surgical tech for only about 5 weeks when my husband got orders, so I totally get your anxiety about the short work history. Here's what saved my claim: I dug up every single earning from 2023-2024, including surgical tech externship stipends, weekend shifts as a medical assistant during my program, some medical device training contracts, and even small amounts from helping with continuing education seminars at local hospitals. Using the alternate base period, these scattered earnings actually exceeded the $1,300 requirement by quite a bit! One tip I haven't seen mentioned - consider calling EDD early in the week (Monday/Tuesday) rather than later. I found that reps seemed more patient and knowledgeable at the beginning of the week, probably because they weren't as burned out from dealing with difficult cases all week. Also, Washington state ended up having amazing opportunities for surgical techs, especially at Madigan Army Medical Center on base. Arizona has an even stronger healthcare market, so you should have excellent prospects! The military medical facilities there actively recruit military spouses because they understand our unique situation. My whole process took about 6 weeks from filing to first payment. It felt like forever at the time, but that bridge income was crucial during our move. You're going to get through this - the system really does work when you know how to navigate it! 💪

Just want to add my support here - you're absolutely in the right! I went through something similar 3 years ago and my company initially tried the same argument. What helped me was getting everything in writing from them about WHY they were denying my request, then responding with the specific CFRA regulations that others have mentioned here. Once I had their denial documented, it became really clear they were violating state law. Also, don't forget that during your baby bonding leave, you'll be eligible for PFL benefits (about 60-70% of your wages) even though you've been on disability for months. The PFL and CFRA eligibility windows run independently. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you - 7 years with the company means you've definitely earned these rights!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My company's HR department initially told me the same thing about the 1,250 hours being calculated from when the baby bonding leave would start, not from when my original pregnancy leave began. It's so frustrating when they give you incorrect information that could cost you your legal rights. After reading all these responses, I'm definitely going to push back harder with the specific regulations that Nia shared. It's really helpful to see so many people confirming that the eligibility is locked in from your first leave date. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it makes me feel much more confident about advocating for what I'm entitled to!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! Definitely call EDD as soon as possible - I made the mistake of waiting a few days thinking it wouldn't matter, but they told me I should have reported it immediately. The good news is they were able to update my return date without too much hassle once I got through to someone. Just be prepared for potentially long wait times on the phone. Also, make sure you have your claim number ready and be clear about your new return date. They'll ask you to confirm it multiple times. One thing that helped me was writing down exactly what I wanted to say before calling so I didn't get flustered. Hope this helps and congrats on being able to return to work sooner! 💪

Just wanted to add my two cents here - I actually went through this exact same situation last month! I originally planned to take 8 weeks but ended up feeling ready to return after 6 weeks. I was super worried about the whole process but it turned out to be way easier than I expected. I called the EDD customer service line (1-877-238-4373) around 8:30 AM on a Tuesday and only waited about 20 minutes, which felt like a miracle! The representative was really helpful and updated my claim right away. She explained that as long as you report the change before your original return date, there shouldn't be any issues with overpayments. I also got an email confirmation the same day which gave me peace of mind. My advice would be to call sooner rather than later - don't overthink it! The EDD deals with these kinds of updates all the time. Good luck with your return to work! 🍀