Does anyone know if theres a way to check the status of your claim online? I submitted mine weeks ago and havent heard anything back 😕

Just went through this process myself a few months ago! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure your doctor fills out the medical certificate completely and legibly. My first one got rejected because the doc's handwriting was illegible and they missed a required field. Had to go back and get it redone, which delayed my whole claim by like 2 weeks. Also, if you're planning to take leave consecutively (like one parent right after the other), coordinate your start/end dates carefully so there's no gap in coverage. Good luck with everything! 🍼

anybody notice that the online system is always "down for maintenance" exactly when u need it?? like im not saying its on purpose but..... 🤔

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! It's been 12 business days since my pregnancy disability ended and I filed for PFL, and my online account is completely blank. It's so stressful not knowing what's happening, especially when you're already dealing with a newborn and need that income. Has anyone had success getting updates through the automated phone system, or do you really need to speak to an actual person? I've been hesitant to tie up the phone lines but it sounds like calling might be the only way to get real answers. The uncertainty is almost worse than knowing there's a delay!

I'm currently going through a name change with EDD myself and wanted to share what I've learned! The most important thing is to be consistent with your current legal name across all documents. Since you've already updated Social Security and your employer has your married name, definitely use that on your SDI claim. Here's what worked for me: I called EDD at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday morning and got through in about 25 minutes (way better than the horror stories!). The representative was actually really helpful and updated my name in their system immediately. She told me that as long as I filed my claim with my current legal name and provided supporting documentation, there wouldn't be any issues. For the DE 2501 form, use your married name and in the additional information section, just mention that your previous EDD account was under your maiden name. Upload your marriage certificate as supporting documentation. The rep I spoke with said they see this situation frequently and have processes in place to handle it smoothly. Don't stress too much about creating timing issues - you're being super proactive by addressing this now! The fact that you've already updated your address and contacted your doctor's office shows you're on top of things. Focus on getting ready for your little one instead of worrying about the paperwork. You've got this! 💕

I'm going through pregnancy disability leave planning right now too and wanted to add something I learned from my HR department that might help! When you update your name with EDD, make sure you also notify your employer's payroll/HR team about the potential name discrepancy. My HR rep told me that sometimes there can be delays in wage verification if the names don't match exactly between EDD's records and what the employer has on file. Since you mentioned your work already has your married name, you should be good, but it's worth double-checking that they'll report your wages under your married name when EDD requests verification. Also, if you have direct deposit set up from your old unemployment claim, make sure that bank account is still active and under the right name! I almost forgot about that detail. Wishing you the best with your claim and congratulations on your upcoming little one! 🍼

I'm in the exact same situation right now! Filed my FMLA request in early January and it's been radio silence ever since. What's really frustrating is that they don't provide any meaningful timeline updates - just generic "your application is being processed" messages. I've been trying the phone system but it's like trying to win the lottery just to speak to an actual human being. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both comforting (knowing it's not just me) and terrifying (seeing how long some people have been waiting). I'm definitely going to try that early morning calling strategy and start documenting everything like others have suggested. It's wild that we have to become amateur project managers just to navigate a system that's supposed to help us during difficult family situations. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - at least we're all suffering through this bureaucratic maze together! 🤝

I'm going through the exact same thing! Submitted my FMLA paperwork in mid-January and still no word back. It's so stressful because I need to care for my grandmother who just had hip surgery, and I can't make any solid plans with her physical therapy schedule until I know if my leave is approved. The worst part is feeling like you're in limbo - you can't move forward with family care arrangements but you also can't just ignore work responsibilities. I've been checking the online portal daily hoping for any update, but it's been stuck on "under review" for weeks now. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (I'm not alone!) and concerning (some people have been waiting since December!). Definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy that @Sean O'Donnell mentioned. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories and tips - this community has been a lifeline during this frustrating process! 💪

I'm a newcomer to this community but have been following this thread closely because I'm in a somewhat similar situation! I'm 4 months pregnant and just started a new job after being laid off, so reading everyone's experiences with navigating EDD benefits during job transitions has been incredibly valuable. One thing I wanted to add that might help is about the base period calculations - I learned from my HR department that EDD looks at quarters, not just continuous employment. So even though you had that gap between jobs, your 12 years of steady work history should definitely establish a strong base period for calculating your benefits. The quarters from 5-17 months ago (when you were still with your original employer) are what matter most for determining your weekly benefit amount. Also, I've been keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking all the important dates and deadlines for each benefit program after reading about everyone's experiences. It includes things like when to file SDI (36 weeks), when my doctor visits are scheduled, my expected due date, etc. Having it all in one place has really helped me feel more organized and less overwhelmed by all the moving pieces. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been such a lifeline for understanding this complicated system! Wishing you the best with your situation, Chloe! 🤗

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through a very similar situation just 6 months ago! I was laid off at 7 months pregnant and managed to navigate the UI → SDI → PFL transition successfully, though it definitely had some bumps along the way. First, you absolutely can collect unemployment now since you were laid off through no fault of your own. With your 12 years of work history, you'll easily meet all the base period requirements for UI, SDI, and PFL - that continuous employment is actually a huge advantage! A few things I learned that might help: - When you do get rehired (fingers crossed!), you MUST report it to EDD immediately to stop UI benefits - There's typically a 1-week waiting period when transitioning from UI to SDI that nobody warns you about - plan for that gap - Keep meticulous records of everything because EDD's systems don't always communicate well with each other - If you get the new job before your due date, you can still file for SDI at 36 weeks and then PFL after birth The most nerve-wracking part for me was having "the conversation" with my new employer about needing maternity leave so soon after starting. I decided to be upfront during the hiring process and it actually went much better than expected - most employers appreciate the honesty rather than being surprised later. Your situation is definitely manageable! The paperwork is the hardest part, but the safety net will be there. Feel free to reach out if you have questions as you navigate this - we're all here to help each other! 💪