Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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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.
That's a great question! I was wondering the same thing. From what the EDD rep told me, I should be transparent about it being the "second portion" of my baby bonding benefit, but she said the notes in my account should handle most of the backend confusion. I'm planning to write something like "This claim is for the remaining 4 weeks of my 8-week baby bonding entitlement, following repayment of overpayment notice #[whatever number]" in the additional comments section. Better to be upfront than have them discover it later and think I'm trying to double-dip!
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!
This is such valuable advice! I wish I had seen a list like this before I went through my own EDD nightmare last year. One thing I'd add - if you do end up appealing, make sure to request the appeal in writing AND follow up with a phone call to confirm they received it. I sent my appeal by mail and it somehow got "lost" for 6 weeks, which delayed everything even more. Also, when documenting your original intent to split claims, save any text messages or emails you might have sent to family members about your leave plans - EDD actually accepted screenshots of my texts to my mom as evidence of my planned timeline!
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I've been lurking here for a while but finally had to create an account because this thread is SO helpful! I'm a new mom trying to file for PFL and have been stuck on this exact E313 error for over a week. My name is Zoë (with the umlaut) and reading through all these comments made me realize that might be the culprit. I'm going to try entering it as just "Zoe" without the special character and see if that fixes it. It's honestly insane that in 2025 we still have to deal with government systems that can't handle basic international characters, but I'm just grateful you all figured out the workarounds! Will definitely report back if this works - fingers crossed! 🤞
Welcome to the community @Leeann Blackstein! You're absolutely right - it's crazy that we're dealing with these outdated systems in 2025. The umlaut in "Zoë" is definitely likely to be causing your E313 error based on what @CosmicCaptain discovered. Definitely try entering it as "Zoe" without the special character. Also, congrats on your new baby! 🎉 PFL can be such a lifesaver for new parents, so hopefully this workaround gets you through the system quickly. Keep us posted on how it goes - your experience will probably help other new moms dealing with the same issue!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been dealing with the same E313 error for the past two weeks and was starting to lose hope. My name has both a long first name AND special characters (my last name has an accent mark), so I was getting hit with a double whammy. Reading through all these solutions has been incredibly helpful - I never would have thought that special characters could be the issue. I'm going to try entering my name in ASCII format like @CosmicCaptain suggested, and also maybe shorten my first name to just the first part if the character limit is still a problem. It's frustrating that the system is so outdated, but at least now I have some concrete steps to try. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver! 🙏
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Had this exact same issue last month! The ID.me verification somehow changed my first name from "Michael" to "Micheal" (with an extra 'e'). I was freaking out because I thought it would mess up my whole claim. Here's what worked for me: 1. First, I tried fixing it through ID.me directly - didn't work, they said it had to be corrected on EDD's end 2. Used the EDD web portal to send a message (like StarSurfer mentioned) - included screenshots of my driver's license 3. Also called them using that early morning trick (call right at 8am when they open) 4. Got it resolved in about 10 business days The key is being persistent but polite. Don't let them brush you off! And definitely ask for that name discrepancy flag that Anastasia mentioned - wish I had known about that earlier. Good luck Oliver, you got this! 💪
This is super helpful, thank you so much! The screenshots idea is brilliant - I wouldn't have thought of that. Really appreciate you taking the time to break down your whole process step by step. Definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy too. Did you have any issues with payments while waiting for the fix, or did they keep processing normally?
This is such a frustrating but common issue! I went through something similar when my middle initial got dropped after ID.me verification. Here's what I learned from my experience: **Multiple approaches work best:** - Online message through EDD portal (fastest response time) - Phone call as backup (try calling right at 8am or use one of those callback services mentioned) - Keep all documentation handy (ID, screenshots, etc.) **Timeline expectations:** - Online messages usually get responses in 5-10 business days - Phone fixes can happen same day if you get the right rep - Don't panic if it takes up to 3 weeks total **Pro tip:** When messaging online, use "URGENT - Name Correction Needed" as your subject line. I noticed they prioritize those messages. The good news is this won't typically hold up your payments once you've reported it. They see these ID.me discrepancies all the time now. Stay on top of it and you'll be fine! @Oliver Becker - definitely try the online message route first with screenshots like StarStrider suggested. Much less stressful than sitting on hold for hours.
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This entire discussion perfectly captures the impossible position EDD puts new parents in - you're already stressed about money on reduced benefits, but trying to supplement that income could cost you thousands in repayments. As someone who's about to start my own parental leave journey, I'm honestly shocked at how punitive the system is. The fact that Santiago lost $2300 and others faced similar penalties for what seems like reasonable financial decisions is really eye-opening. Maria, thank you for sharing your experience with Claimyr - it's ridiculous that we need to pay a third party just to get clear answers from our own government agency, but your success getting through in 15 minutes versus days of failed attempts shows it might be necessary. The consistent message here seems to be: when in doubt, get official written guidance from EDD before making ANY work decisions while on leave. It's better to struggle financially in the short term than face massive repayments later. This thread should be required reading for anyone applying for PFL!
You've really captured the heart of this whole issue perfectly! As someone who just joined this community after finding myself in a similar situation, this thread has been both incredibly helpful and deeply frustrating to read. The systemic problems are so clear - EDD creates financial hardship with reduced benefits, then penalizes families for trying to survive on those reduced amounts. What really strikes me is how many people had to learn these rules the hard way through expensive mistakes. Santiago's story about losing $2300 could have been any of us who assumed working at a different job wouldn't affect benefits from another employer. The fact that Maria had better luck with a paid service than the official EDD phone lines just shows how broken the system really is. I think your point about this being "required reading" is spot on - every parent applying for PFL should see these real experiences before making decisions that could cost them thousands. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, especially the difficult ones. It takes courage to admit mistakes, but it's helping so many other families avoid the same traps!
This entire thread has been such a wake-up call! I'm currently 8 months pregnant and work as a nurse at a hospital plus do private duty nursing on weekends. I was planning to keep doing some private shifts during my bonding leave since it's "technically different" from my hospital job, but reading about Santiago's $2300 repayment and all the appeal failures has completely changed my mind. It's so messed up that EDD reduces our income but then punishes us for trying to make ends meet! Maria, thank you for calling EDD and sharing what they told you - it probably saved me from making the same mistake. The fact that you had to use Claimyr to get through is telling about how broken this system is, but I'm definitely going to try that service when I apply for benefits. I'd rather pay a small fee upfront than risk thousands in repayments later. It's heartbreaking that new parents have to choose between bonding time and financial stability, but at least this community is helping us navigate these impossible decisions together!
Luca, your nursing situation is such a perfect example of how these rules can trip up healthcare workers who often have multiple employment arrangements! The distinction between hospital nursing and private duty nursing seems logical from a work perspective, but EDD clearly doesn't see it that way. Your decision to avoid the private shifts is definitely the smart choice after seeing everyone's experiences here. It's especially frustrating for essential workers like nurses who are already dealing with demanding schedules and now have to navigate these complex benefit rules during what should be a restful bonding period. The fact that you're thinking about this at 8 months pregnant shows great foresight - much better to plan ahead than deal with repayment issues later. Healthcare workers already sacrifice so much, and it's unfortunate that the system makes it even harder for you to spend quality time with your new baby without financial stress. Thanks for sharing your situation - it shows how these restrictions affect people across all types of professions!
Ethan Brown
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!
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Mason Stone
•This is exactly what I needed to read! I'm dealing with my first PFL claim too and it's been 2 weeks with no updates. After reading everyone's stories here, I'm realizing I need to be way more proactive. Going to call my HR department first thing Monday morning to verify they submitted everything correctly, and I'm also going to go through my application character by character to make sure there are no formatting mismatches like Dmitry's hyphen issue. It's honestly insane that such tiny details can cause massive delays without any notification, but at least now I know what to look for. This community has been a lifesaver - the official EDD resources tell you nothing about these real-world gotchas!
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Lydia Bailey
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!
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Lucas Bey
•You're absolutely right that this thread should be pinned! I'm new to this community and just starting to research PFL before I apply in a few months. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly valuable - I had no idea about any of these potential issues like name formatting, employer verification delays, or mystery system flags. It's honestly terrifying that the system is this broken when people are depending on these benefits during such a vulnerable time. I'm definitely going to be super proactive when I apply - triple checking everything with HR, making sure every character matches exactly across all documents, and bookmarking that Claimyr service. Thank you all for being so transparent about your struggles and solutions. This kind of real-world advice is exactly what new parents need but can't get anywhere else!
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