Friendly reminder to everyone: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Keep copies of all forms, note down every call (date, time, who you spoke to), and save all emails. It'll save your butt if theres ever a dispute.

If the care recipient has a legal guardian or power of attorney, they might be able to sign on their behalf. You'll need to include documentation proving the legal relationship (like court papers or POA documents) along with your claim. I had to do this for my elderly parent and it worked, though it did add a few extra weeks to the processing time. Make sure to include a cover letter explaining the situation too!

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!

As someone who just completed a split PFL leave last fall, I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me: **Documentation is everything** - I created a simple folder (digital and physical) with copies of my original claim, all correspondence with EDD, and my employer's verification forms. This saved me so much time when filing the second application because I had all the reference info at my fingertips. **Be proactive with your employer** - I scheduled a meeting with HR about 6 weeks before my planned second leave to walk them through the process. I brought the EDD guidelines and explained exactly what they'd need to verify. This prevented any last-minute confusion or delays. **Track your benefit usage** - The EDD online portal shows your remaining balance, but I also kept my own simple spreadsheet tracking weeks used vs. remaining. It helped me plan the exact timing of my second portion. **Consider your employer's busy periods** - I strategically planned my split around my company's less busy season, which made the whole process smoother for everyone involved. The split leave option is such a game-changer for families! It let me bond with my baby initially, then be there for him again when my partner returned to work. Don't let the paperwork intimidate you - with good planning, it's totally manageable.

I actually had to cancel my PFL claim earlier this year and wanted to share what worked for me! The most important thing is to be super persistent with the phone calls - I literally set reminders to call every 2 hours until I got through. When I finally connected with someone, they were surprisingly understanding about my situation (had to return to work sooner than expected due to staffing issues). The rep walked me through everything and even sent me a confirmation email the same day. One tip I didn't see mentioned - if you have the EDD online portal account, log in before you call and have all your claim details pulled up on screen. It made the verification process much faster when they asked for information. The whole cancellation was processed within 3 business days and I haven't had any issues with future claims. Don't overthink it too much - once you get someone on the phone, they handle this kind of request all the time!

I actually went through the cancellation process just last month and wanted to add a few things that really helped me! First, make sure you have your claim number, SSN, and the dates of your original claim ready before calling. I also wrote down a brief explanation of why I needed to cancel so I wouldn't stumble over my words when they asked. The rep I spoke with was actually really patient and explained that voluntary cancellations are totally normal - she said they get these requests all the time for various reasons like returning to work early, family situations changing, etc. One thing that surprised me was that they actually asked if I was sure about canceling and explained some alternatives like putting the claim on hold temporarily. Might be worth asking about that option if your situation could change again! The whole call took about 20 minutes once I got through, and I had written confirmation within 48 hours. Definitely keep calling back if you don't get through the first few times - persistence is key with the EDD phone system!

I'm also navigating PFL with my 4-week-old and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that I called my local EDD office directly (not the main customer service line) and they were much easier to reach. The local office confirmed they accept hand-delivered forms if you really don't trust the mail, and they also told me something interesting - they actually recommend using the pre-paid envelope that comes with the DE 2580GF form if you received one, as it goes directly to their processing center and can be faster than regular mail to their PO Box. I hadn't noticed the envelope at first because I was so focused on the form itself! For anyone still waiting to receive their form, the rep mentioned they're currently seeing about 7-10 days from when they mail it to when people receive it, so don't panic if it hasn't arrived yet. I'm planning to use the pre-paid envelope tomorrow and will update if there are any issues. This whole system definitely needs to be modernized, but it's so comforting to see all these recent success stories from other new parents!

I'm currently on PFL for my 8-week-old and just went through this process two weeks ago! Like everyone has confirmed, the DE 2580GF absolutely has to be mailed - no online option exists unfortunately. I was really hoping to avoid the mail system too since I've had issues with delayed delivery in my area. What worked for me was using Priority Mail Express (around $26) with signature required - it guaranteed overnight delivery and I got confirmation when it was signed for at the EDD office. The form showed up as "received" in my online account within 2 business days and my payment processed without any delays. One thing I learned that might help others - make sure you're checking the correct EDD office address on YOUR specific form, as apparently they have different processing centers and using the wrong address can cause major delays. Also, I highly recommend filling out the form immediately when you receive it rather than waiting, since the deadline is pretty strict and you don't want to risk any gaps in benefits. The whole system is definitely frustrating when you're already dealing with newborn exhaustion, but it's manageable with the right approach! Good luck to all the other new parents dealing with this bureaucratic maze!

This thread is amazing! I'm in week 2 of my baby bonding leave and was completely confused about the payment schedule until reading everyone's experiences. I got my first payment last Monday but had no idea when to expect the next one. Now I understand it's all about the certification cycle - that makes so much more sense than trying to figure out some mysterious calendar schedule. I'm definitely going to set up those text notifications right now and start keeping track of my certification dates like @Katherine Hunter suggested. The tip about certifying first thing in the morning when you're eligible is super helpful too. I've been so stressed about budgeting but the advice about building in a 3-5 day buffer is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is way more helpful than anything I found on the official EDD website!

This has been such a helpful thread! I'm just starting my PFL baby bonding leave next week and was totally clueless about how the payment schedule works. Reading everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease - I was expecting some kind of fixed monthly payment like a regular paycheck, but the certification-based system actually makes more sense once you understand it. I'm definitely going to set up those text notifications and direct deposit right away based on all your advice. The tip about certifying on the very first eligible day and then expecting payment within 2-3 business days is exactly the kind of concrete timeline I needed. And building in that 3-5 day buffer for budgeting is so smart - I was planning to cut things way too close. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and timelines. This community is way more informative than any official EDD documentation I've found!