This is such valuable info, thank you for sharing! I'm expecting my first baby in April and just realized I need to update my name with EDD too - got married last summer but completely forgot about updating it with them. Quick question: did you need to bring any specific forms or just the marriage certificate? Also, do you know if they can update it the same day you file your PFL claim or do you have to make separate trips?

Just wanted to add another data point - I went through this exact same situation last month! Got married in December and needed to file PFL for January. The EDD office in Sacramento was actually pretty efficient - I went on a Wednesday around 10am and was in and out in 45 minutes including the name update and filing my claim. One thing that helped was having everything organized beforehand: marriage certificate in a folder, copies of my old and new ID, and all my PFL paperwork filled out. The rep told me that people who come prepared like that make the process so much smoother for everyone. She also mentioned they see this situation A LOT, especially with new parents, so don't feel embarrassed about it - you're definitely not alone!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm expecting in August 2025 and was completely overwhelmed by all the different leave options until I found this discussion. Everyone's real-world experiences are way more valuable than the confusing government websites and vague HR responses. I love how organized some of you have been with your approach - especially the timeline document idea and getting everything in writing. It's clear that being well-prepared makes a huge difference in getting the benefits you're entitled to. One question I haven't seen addressed: Has anyone dealt with a situation where you work remotely for a California-based company but live in a different state? I'm wondering if that affects eligibility for California PFL or if there are any complications with coordinating benefits across state lines. My company is headquartered in CA and I pay into the CA SDI system, but I live in Nevada. Also, for those mentioning the importance of CFRA job protection - does anyone know if there are any gotchas or situations where you might not qualify even if you meet the basic requirements? I want to make sure I understand all the pieces before approaching my HR team. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive and informative community! Reading all these experiences gives me so much more confidence going into the leave planning process. 🤰

Great question about remote work, Mei-Ling! I actually went through this exact situation in 2024. I work remotely for a CA company but live in Oregon. The good news is that if you're paying into CA SDI through your paycheck (which you mentioned you are), you should be eligible for CA PFL regardless of where you physically live. The key is that your employer is CA-based and you're contributing to the CA system. However, there can be some complications with paperwork and timing. For example, if you need medical certifications, make sure your out-of-state doctor understands they're filling out CA forms. I had to educate my Oregon OB about the CA PFL requirements since they weren't familiar with the system. Also double-check your employer's leave policy - some companies have different policies for remote workers in different states, especially regarding job protection laws that might vary by your resident state. For CFRA eligibility, the main gotchas are: 1) You must work for an employer with 5+ employees, 2) You must have worked there for 12+ months, and 3) You must have worked 1,250+ hours in the past 12 months. The hours requirement can sometimes trip up part-time or newer employees. I'd recommend contacting EDD directly to confirm your eligibility before starting the application process, just to avoid any surprises. Good luck with your August baby!

I'm dealing with the same frustrating name length issue right now! My hyphenated name is 17 characters and the online system just won't accept it. I've been getting paper notices for weeks and it's driving me crazy not being able to check my claim status online. Has anyone tried shortening their name temporarily just to get into the system? Like using just one part of a hyphenated last name? I'm wondering if I could create an online account with a shortened version of my name and then call to have them link it to my paper claim. Probably a long shot but at this point I'm willing to try anything to avoid the phone maze!

I'm currently going through this exact same nightmare! My hyphenated name is 18 characters and I've been stuck with paper everything for my maternity leave. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope though. I'm definitely going to try calling at 8:05 AM sharp tomorrow with all my paperwork ready. Quick question for those who successfully got online access - were you able to upload documents through the online portal after getting access, or do you still have to mail everything? I have some medical forms I need to submit and I'm really hoping I won't have to keep dealing with the postal service delays!

FYI for everyone: EDD has been updating their systems lately. Might explain some of the weirdness with calls and stuff. They posted about it on their Twitter last week.

Thanks for sharing this! I've been worried about the same thing - accidentally submitted multiple callback requests last month and was paranoid about security. Good to know 888-506-3112 is legit. The EDD process is stressful enough without having to worry about whether the calls are even real! 😅

I'm going through this exact same frustration right now with my PFL claim for caring for my newborn! It's been almost a month since I submitted and I've called probably 50+ times with no luck getting through. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both comforting (I'm not alone!) and infuriating (this system is clearly broken for everyone). I'm definitely going to try the early morning 8am strategy and the Friday afternoon approach that several people mentioned. The Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth the cost at this point - @Ethan Clark I'm so glad that worked for you! It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to pay a third party or become experts in gaming their phone system just to access benefits we've already paid into through our paychecks. For anyone else struggling with this - one thing I've noticed is that the automated message sometimes gives slightly different wait time estimates at different times of day. Not sure if that actually means anything, but I've been tracking it along with my call attempts. This whole process adds so much unnecessary stress when we should be focusing on our families. Thanks to everyone for sharing your strategies and experiences!

I'm new to this community and currently going through my first PFL claim experience - submitted my bonding claim about 2 weeks ago for my newborn and haven't been able to get through to EDD at all. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and eye-opening about how broken this system really is. It's incredibly frustrating that we have to strategize and game their phone system just to access benefits we've already paid for through our paychecks. I'm definitely going to try some of the timing strategies mentioned here - the 8am sharp approach sounds promising, and I'm intrigued by @Alexander Zeus's Friday afternoon tip. The Claimyr service that helped @Ethan Clark also seems worth considering if the direct calling doesn't work out. It's honestly heartbreaking that so many new parents are dealing with this added stress when we should be focusing on our babies and recovery. Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences and creating this supportive space - it really helps to know we're not alone in this struggle!