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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!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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I'm going through the same thing right now! From what I've gathered reading through these comments, it sounds like calling early in the morning is key. @Fatima Al-Mansour your step-by-step breakdown is super helpful - I'm definitely going to try the 8:01 AM call strategy. It's frustrating that the online system seems so unreliable, but at least there are workarounds. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
@Yuki Yamamoto Yes, the 8:01 AM thing seems to be the magic trick! I m'in the same boat as you and @Giovanni Rossi - just starting this whole reestablishment process. It s really'helpful to see what s worked'for others. I m planning'to try calling tomorrow morning with all my paperwork ready. Fingers crossed we both get through quickly! 🤞
Just wanted to add my experience for anyone going through this - I successfully reestablished my leave about 3 weeks ago. The 8:01 AM call strategy definitely works! I also recommend having your Social Security number, original claim number, and the dates you need to reestablish ready before you call. One thing I learned is to be super specific about WHY you need to reestablish - they asked me detailed questions about the gap in my leave. Also, don't hang up until they give you a confirmation number or case number for your reestablishment request. Write it down! It saved me from having to start over when I had to call back with additional documents. The whole process took about 10 days once I actually got through to someone. Hang in there everyone! 💪
@Callum Savage This is incredibly helpful! I m'just starting this process and had no idea about needing the confirmation number - that s'such a good tip. Quick question: when they asked about the gap in your leave, what kind of details did they want? I m'worried I might not have all the right documentation ready. Also, did you have to provide any medical updates or just the original paperwork? Thanks for sharing such detailed info!
@Callum Savage Thanks for the detailed breakdown! That confirmation number tip is gold - I definitely would have forgotten to ask for that. I m'planning to call tomorrow morning and this gives me a much better idea of what to expect. Did you find that having everything organized in a specific way helped, or did they just ask for things as needed? I m'trying to decide if I should make copies of everything or just have the originals ready.
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I'm so glad you got it resolved, Omar! Your experience is really reassuring for those of us navigating this system for the first time. I'm currently 10 days into waiting for my PFL claim to process after transitioning from SDI, and your post helped me realize I shouldn't stress too much yet but also shouldn't wait forever. The fact that your claim was actually approved but just not showing in the system is exactly the kind of thing I was worried about. I think I'll give it until day 15 and then call if I don't see any movement. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone - it's really helpful to know how these situations actually get resolved rather than just wondering what happened!
Edison, that's exactly the right approach! Your timeline of giving it until day 15 before calling sounds perfect - you're being patient but not too passive. Omar's story really shows how sometimes the system just has these weird delays in updating the online portal even when everything is actually moving along behind the scenes. It's so frustrating when you're stressed about money and the website just says "pending" with no other info. The early morning calling tip seems to be the real game-changer based on what everyone's shared here. Good luck with your claim, and definitely update us when you hear back!
This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - submitted my PFL claim 16 days ago and have been stressing about the lack of updates. Omar, your experience calling and finding out it was actually approved but just not showing online is exactly what I needed to hear. I've been hesitant to call because of all the horror stories about wait times, but seeing that you got through in about an hour and got real answers makes me feel like it's worth trying. I'm definitely going to call tomorrow morning using the early timing tip everyone mentioned. It's so reassuring to see how supportive this community is - the practical advice about checking for tasks/messages, understanding the SDI to PFL transition, and knowing when to be proactive vs. patient is invaluable for first-time parents navigating this confusing system!
Jason, you're absolutely right about this community being so supportive! As someone new to navigating the EDD system, I found Omar's detailed update incredibly reassuring too. The fact that his claim was actually approved but just stuck in some weird system limbo really highlights how important it is to call when you're approaching that 2-3 week mark. I'm planning to bookmark this thread because the collective wisdom here - from the early morning calling strategy to understanding the SDI/PFL transition timeline - is so much more helpful than the official EDD website explanations. Good luck with your call tomorrow! Hopefully you'll have the same positive outcome that Omar did.
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I actually just finished my 8 weeks of baby bonding PFL last month and chose paper checks. First payment took about 12 days after approval, then the rest came pretty regularly about 5-6 days after certifying. I had one check that was delayed in the mail for almost 2 weeks though, which was super stressful since we were counting on that money for bills. If your financial situation is tight, direct deposit might be better just for the reliability factor. Good luck with your decision and congrats on your little one!
Thanks for sharing your experience! The reliability factor is definitely important to me. Congrats on your little one too!
I went through this exact decision last October for my PFL claim and ended up choosing direct deposit after going back and forth for days! My biggest concern was also security, but I figured my credit union has pretty good fraud monitoring. The payments came through like clockwork - usually 2-3 days after I certified biweekly. The one thing I'd suggest is setting up account alerts on your bank account so you get notified immediately when deposits hit. That way if something goes wrong, you'll know right away instead of waiting and wondering. Also make absolutely sure you enter your routing and account numbers correctly when you set it up - I triple checked mine because I was so paranoid about typos causing delays. Whatever you choose, just remember the most important thing is getting those benefits to support you and your baby girl during this time!
That's really helpful advice about setting up account alerts! I hadn't thought of that but it would definitely give me peace of mind knowing exactly when payments arrive. Your experience with direct deposit sounds pretty smooth overall. I think I'm getting more convinced that direct deposit might be the way to go, especially since you mentioned the payments were so consistent. Thanks for the reassurance!
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This thread has been so educational! I'm a new parent myself and had no idea about the complexity of California's leave system. Reading through everyone's experiences really shows how important it is to advocate for yourself and double-check everything with both HR and EDD. The fact that you almost missed out on 2 weeks of paid PFL because of miscommunication is exactly why these discussions are so valuable. It's frustrating that such an important system is so poorly explained, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences. Congratulations on your new baby and I'm so glad you got those extra paid weeks figured out!
Absolutely agree! This whole thread has been like a masterclass in California leave benefits that I never got anywhere else. I'm expecting my first baby in a few months and honestly had no clue about the difference between PFL, CFRA, PDL, etc. Seeing Daniela's real experience - from the confusion to the happy discovery of extra paid weeks - is so much more helpful than any official government website I've tried to read. It's crazy that new parents have to become experts in this complicated system right when they're dealing with everything else that comes with having a baby. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge here!
As a California parent who just went through this exact situation last year, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to get everything in writing from both your HR department and EDD! I had a similar experience where my HR initially told me I only had 6 weeks of PFL, but when I called EDD directly, I discovered I was entitled to the full 8 weeks. The key lesson I learned is that even HR departments sometimes aren't fully up to date on all the changes to California's leave laws. I also recommend keeping detailed records of all your leave dates and payments - it really helps when you're trying to figure out what benefits you've used and what's still available. Congratulations on your new baby, and I'm so happy you discovered those extra 2 weeks of paid leave! Those early weeks are so precious.
This is such great advice about getting everything in writing! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - I'm 7 months pregnant and trying to get clarity from my HR about my leave options. After reading this whole thread, I realize I need to be way more proactive about understanding all the different programs and not just rely on what HR tells me. The fact that even HR departments can be confused or not up-to-date is honestly a bit scary, but at least now I know to verify directly with EDD too. Did you find the EDD representatives helpful when you called, or was it hard to get through? I keep hearing mixed things about wait times and getting accurate information from them.
Andre Dupont
I'm in a similar situation - just had my baby 3 weeks ago and completely forgot about filing for baby bonding leave until now. Reading through all these comments is giving me some hope! Has anyone here actually gotten approved for retroactive pay when they applied weeks after the fact? I'm worried I waited too long but sounds like it might still be worth a shot. Also @Dallas Villalobos - love that you included crying as step 4 😂 probably gonna need that too!
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Natasha Romanova
•3 weeks isn't too late at all! I actually applied 5 weeks after my baby was born and still got approved. The key is having a good reason for the delay - in my case, I was dealing with postpartum complications and honestly just forgot with everything going on. When I called, I was upfront about it and they were understanding. Definitely gather all your paperwork first (birth certificate, employment records, etc.) and be ready to explain the situation. You got this! 💪
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Natasha Volkova
•Hey @Andre Dupont! I was in almost the exact same boat - forgot to file until about a month after my little one was born. I was so stressed thinking I'd missed my chance completely. But I ended up getting approved for retroactive pay! The agent I spoke with said as long as you're within a reasonable timeframe and have documentation ready, they can usually work with you. 3 weeks is definitely not too late. My advice: call first thing in the morning (like right at 8am), have your baby's birth certificate ready, and just be honest about the situation. New parent brain is real and they understand that! Good luck! 🍀
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Collins Angel
I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago! I totally spaced on filing my baby bonding claim until my baby was almost 2 months old (new parent brain is SO real). I was convinced I'd missed my chance, but it turns out California actually allows you to file retroactively up to 49 days from when your leave should have started. The process wasn't as bad as I expected - I called the PFL line, explained my situation honestly, and the agent walked me through everything. I had to submit additional paperwork explaining the delay, but I got approved for the full 8 weeks retroactively. My biggest tip: call on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning right at 8am, have your baby's birth certificate and your employment info ready, and don't be afraid to ask questions. The agents are actually pretty understanding about late filings, especially for new parents. You've got this! 💙
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