I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating situation! My PFL was approved 9 days ago and I'm still waiting for the payment to hit my account. It's such a relief to read through everyone's experiences here - I was starting to panic that there was something wrong with my specific claim, but it sounds like these delays are just par for the course unfortunately. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking when you're depending on that money for rent and bills. I've definitely joined the "obsessive bank account checking" club that others mentioned - probably refreshing my banking app 20+ times a day at this point! 😅 Based on what Yara shared about actually getting through to someone, it sounds like 7-14 business days after approval is the realistic timeline we should expect due to their current backlog. That's longer than I was hoping for, but at least now I know what to expect. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow that Caesar and others recommended. Also going to double-check all my banking info online just to make sure there's nothing holding things up on my end. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - this community support makes the waiting so much more bearable! Fingers crossed we all see our payments come through soon. Hang in there everyone! 💪

I'm in the exact same boat as everyone else here! My PFL was approved 7 days ago and I'm still waiting for the payment. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief - I was starting to think I was the only one dealing with this delay and was getting really worried something was wrong with my claim. The obsessive bank account checking is SO real! 😅 I've probably refreshed my banking app about 50 times today alone. It's become this compulsive habit where I check it every time I pick up my phone, which is honestly way too often. Based on what Yara shared about getting through to someone and hearing that 7-14 business days is the current realistic timeline due to backlogs, I'm trying to be more patient. Still super frustrating when you're counting on that money for bills though! I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy that Caesar mentioned. Sounds like that's the best chance of actually getting through to a human. Also going to double-check my banking info online just to rule out any issues on my end. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences - it's so comforting to know we're all dealing with the same frustrating wait together. This community support makes it so much more bearable! Hoping we all see our payments soon 🤞

As someone who went through this exact situation 8 months ago, I can confirm you've handled everything perfectly! Your doctor submitting the extension paperwork online and you updating your return-to-work date during certification are the two key steps. Just a heads up - even though your account shows "extension processing," keep an eye on your payment status over the next week or two. Sometimes there can be small delays while they update the system, but as long as you keep certifying when prompted, any delayed payments will be retroactive. For your PFL baby bonding transition, I'd recommend applying around May 5th (exactly one week before your new disability end date). Have your baby's birth certificate and ID ready to upload. The application will ask for your normal work schedule even though you're on leave - just enter what your schedule was before you went on disability. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple checklist: 1) Monitor SDI extension processing, 2) Apply for PFL on May 5th, 3) Save new PFL claim number, 4) Continue certifying for both claims as needed. Having it written down made the whole process feel much less overwhelming during those sleep-deprived newborn days! You're doing an amazing job navigating this system as a new parent. The fact that you're planning ahead shows you'll handle the transition smoothly!

I just went through this exact same situation 3 months ago with my first baby! You're handling everything perfectly - your doctor submitting the extension paperwork online and you updating the return-to-work date during certification are exactly the right steps. Since your account is already showing "extension processing," that's a great sign that everything is moving forward correctly. Just keep certifying as normal when prompted - your payments should continue without interruption. For the PFL baby bonding transition, definitely apply about a week before May 12th (so around May 5th) to avoid any payment gaps. You'll get a completely new claim number for PFL even though it's the same department. Make sure you have your baby's birth certificate ready to upload - if you don't have the official one yet, the hospital discharge papers work just fine. One tip that saved me stress: take screenshots of your account showing the extension approval and write down your new PFL claim number as soon as you get it. The system can be glitchy sometimes and having that documentation is super helpful if you need to call later. You're doing such a great job staying organized with all this! The transition should be smooth now that your extension is processing correctly.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just went through a name change after marriage and the EDD system is so confusing. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of every attempt to contact them - dates, times, reference numbers if you get any. Also, I found out from a friend who works in benefits that you can sometimes get faster service by calling right when they open at 8am or during lunch hours when call volume might be lower. The Claimyr service mentioned above sounds promising too. Make sure to document everything in case you need to file an appeal later. The stress of dealing with this while pregnant is awful - sending you good vibes that you get it resolved quickly!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The key thing that finally worked for me was being super persistent with the phone calls AND having all my documents ready before I called. Here's what I learned: 1) Call EDD at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - you'll get through faster, 2) Have your marriage certificate, old and new IDs, and SSN ready before you dial, 3) When you get through, specifically ask for the "name change department" - don't let them transfer you around, 4) Get a confirmation number for your name change request and write it down! The whole process took about 3 weeks once I got through to the right person. For your PFL claim, definitely use both names on all forms like "Anastasia [Maiden Name] Popov" until it's fully updated in their system. Also, give your employer's HR a heads up about the name situation so they're not surprised when processing your leave paperwork. Don't give up - you've got this mama! 💪

I had my baby last year and its so confusing the way everything works in California!!! I thought PFL and CFRA were the same thing but they're totally different right? And then theres SDI too? Why do they make this all so complicated for new parents????

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!

Thanks for all your helpful responses! It sounds like the current benefit is definitely 8 weeks for PFL baby bonding. I guess my coworker either confused the terminology or was talking about her total leave with PDL combined. Does anyone know if the 8 weeks of PFL has to be taken immediately after PDL/SDI ends? Or can I take a few weeks of unpaid leave in between?

Just wanted to add that I'm currently going through this process and can confirm it's still 8 weeks for 2025. I applied in February and got approved for 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding. One thing that helped me was calling the EDD customer service line early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) - much shorter wait times than later in the day. Also, make sure you have your doctor's certification ready before you apply because that can slow things down if it's not complete. The whole system is confusing but once you get through it, the benefits are really helpful for new parents!