This thread has been super helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation with my partner who has about 10 days of PFL left that expires soon. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the Mon-Fri strategy can definitely work, but the key seems to be: 1. Getting employer approval first (as @Giovanni Marino mentioned) 2. Being crystal clear on the claim forms about normal work schedule 3. Calling EDD ahead of time to confirm the certification process 4. Keeping detailed records of exact dates taken One question I have - for those who successfully did this, did you find EDD payments came through on the normal schedule, or were there any delays because of the intermittent nature? I'm worried about potential processing hiccups that might delay payments. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical info that's so hard to find in the official EDD documentation!

This is such valuable information! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where I have about 12 days of PFL remaining that expire in early 2026, and I was wondering if I could do something like this. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the consensus is that yes, you can take Mon-Fri only to stretch benefits, but the certification process requires extra attention to detail. I'm particularly interested in @Liam O'Sullivan's point about the DE 2508 form being updated for 2025 - that's good to know! One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned yet: if your husband takes intermittent days like this, does it affect his ability to take any additional family leave later if needed? Like if there's a family emergency or something? I know there are annual limits on PFL, but I'm not sure how intermittent scheduling impacts that. Also, @ThunderBolt7, please keep us updated on how it goes for your husband! It would be really helpful to hear about the actual experience once he goes through the process. Thanks to everyone sharing their real-world experiences - this kind of practical advice is so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official EDD guidelines alone!

Hey OP, just wondering - have you tried creating a new account with a different email? Sometimes that works if your old account has been inactive for a while.

I went through this exact same situation last year! What finally worked for me was using the ID.me verification process. Go to the EDD website and look for the "Verify Identity" option - it should let you verify who you are using your phone and ID, then you can update your email address associated with the account. It took about 30 minutes to complete the verification, but once I did that, I was able to reset my password and change my email to one I could actually access. Way easier than waiting on hold for hours or mailing documents. Hope this helps!

This is such a relief to read! I'm 8 months pregnant and my partner has been stressing about the PFL application process after hearing horror stories. Bookmarking this thread - the Trusted Referee number and paper form backup plan are game changers. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions! It's crazy that we have to crowdsource these workarounds when the system should just work properly in the first place.

Wow, what a journey! I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved. As a new parent myself (my daughter is 6 months old now), I know how stressful it is to deal with bureaucratic nightmares when you're already sleep-deprived and financially stretched. The fact that we have to jump through so many hoops and rely on community knowledge-sharing just to access basic benefits is absolutely maddening. For anyone else dealing with ID.me issues, I'd also recommend documenting EVERYTHING - screenshots, call logs, reference numbers, etc. I learned this the hard way when dealing with my own PFL claim. Having that paper trail saved me when there were discrepancies later in the process. Also, don't forget that the PFL clock starts ticking from when you first become eligible, not when you finally get through the system. So even if there are delays in processing, you should still receive retroactive payments for the full period you're entitled to. Congratulations on your new daughter, Ravi! Hope you get to enjoy some quality bonding time with her once all this administrative chaos is behind you.

idk if this helps but i had to deal with pfl last year and they kept loosing my docs 🤦‍♂️ make sure u get confirmation when u send stuff in

Been through this twice now - the key is to be proactive! When they send that vague "additional information" request, call them ASAP to get specifics. In my experience, they usually want employment verification (like a letter from HR), medical documentation if it's health-related, and sometimes wage statements. Also, send everything via certified mail or their online portal if they have one - regular mail has a habit of "disappearing" with government agencies. Good luck! 🤞

Just to give you some peace of mind about the timeline: even with the delay, you should still receive your maternity disability benefits before your due date. EDD typically processes ID verification within 7-10 business days once received. After that, if everything else in your application is complete, you should start receiving payments within another 1-2 weeks. So roughly 3 weeks total from when you send in your documents, which still gives you plenty of time before your baby arrives in 8 weeks.

I went through this exact same panic when I was pregnant with my daughter! Missing that deadline felt like the end of the world, but honestly EDD is pretty understanding about late submissions, especially for pregnancy-related claims. I sent mine in 5 days late and included a brief note about pregnancy symptoms affecting my ability to keep up with mail - they processed it without any issues. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: when you call EDD to notify them about the late submission, ask them to put a note in your file about the pregnancy-related delay. This can help if there are any questions later. Also, keep copies of everything you send and get a tracking number so you have proof of delivery. You've got this mama - take a deep breath and get those documents sent tomorrow! 💙