This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm a new mom currently on PFL and was already starting to worry about this exact situation since I'm also planning to take some additional unpaid leave after my baby's first birthday. Reading through everyone's experiences - especially the horror stories about overpayments - has really opened my eyes to how important it is to get this right. The way @Zara Mirza explained it as EDD asking "when does your eligibility for these specific benefits end?" rather than "when are you physically returning to work?" finally made it click for me. It's honestly scary how the form wording makes it seem like they want your actual return date, but clearly that's not what they're looking for at all. The fact that so many people had success by putting the day after baby's birthday (even with additional leave) and zero people had good outcomes from putting their actual return date makes this decision pretty clear! @Samuel Robinson - definitely go with February 16th. After reading all these real experiences, it seems like the safest and most correct approach. Thanks for asking this question that so many of us new parents needed answered!

I'm so glad you asked this question! As someone who works in payroll and deals with EDD issues regularly, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - definitely put February 16th (the day after your baby's birthday) on your final certification. The certification is purely about telling EDD when your benefit eligibility ends, not tracking your actual work arrangements. PFL baby bonding benefits legally end on your child's first birthday, regardless of any additional leave you've negotiated with your employer. I've seen so many employees get burned by putting their actual return date thinking they're being "honest" - but EDD's system will keep paying benefits until the date you specify, creating overpayments that are a nightmare to resolve. Your HR department already has your LOA documentation and knows these are completely separate processes. Save yourself the stress and potential financial headache - put February 16th and you'll be golden!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Ruby! I'm currently going through the PFL application process myself and this thread is super helpful. One thing I'd add - make sure to keep checking your online EDD account regularly. Sometimes there are updates or requests for additional info that you might miss if you're only waiting for mail. Also, if you haven't already, consider signing up for direct deposit if possible - it's usually faster than waiting for the debit card to arrive in the mail. Best of luck with your claim! 🤞

I'm going through the same process right now! Just wanted to add that I called EDD last week and they mentioned that if you don't receive your first payment within 21 days of approval, definitely give them a call. Also, make sure your address is updated in the system - I had a friend whose payment got delayed because they moved and forgot to update their info. The EDD website also has a "payment history" section where you can track the status of your payments once they start processing. Hope this helps and congrats on getting approved! 🎉

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation. As someone who's navigated the EDD system for mental health claims, I wanted to add a few points that might help: **For finding immediate care:** - Many urgent care centers now have behavioral health specialists who can provide same-day evaluations and complete SDI paperwork - Check if your area has "maternal mental health collaborative" programs - these are becoming more common in California and specifically designed for postpartum issues **Important timing detail:** When you file your new SDI claim, make sure to request that the effective date starts the day after your PFL benefits end. There's a specific field for this on the DE2501 form, and it helps prevent any gap in coverage. **Documentation tip:** Ask any new provider to specifically state in their medical certification that your current symptoms represent a "continuation and exacerbation" of your previously diagnosed postpartum depression. This language helps EDD understand that this isn't a completely new condition. The system is frustrating, but please don't lose hope. Postpartum depression is a serious medical condition that deserves proper treatment and time to heal. You're being an excellent advocate for yourself and your baby by recognizing that you need more support right now. Keep us updated on how things go - this community is rooting for you! 💕

I'm in a very similar situation and your post really resonates with me. I just wanted to share something that helped me recently - many Kaiser locations (if you have Kaiser or know someone who does) have same-day mental health urgent care specifically for postpartum issues. They understand the time-sensitive nature of these situations. Also, I discovered that some community colleges have psychology programs where supervised graduate students provide low-cost therapy and can often see you within a few days. They may not be able to complete SDI paperwork directly, but they can provide documentation of your condition and refer you to someone who can. One more thing - when I was struggling to get appointments, I started calling offices first thing Monday morning right when they opened (usually 8am) and explaining it was urgent postpartum care. Many were able to fit me in as a "crisis" appointment that same week. Please don't give up. The fact that you're advocating for yourself shows incredible strength, even when you're struggling. PPD is so isolating but you're not alone in this fight. ❤️

Hey Zara! Congratulations on your pregnancy! I'm currently 26 weeks and have been worrying about this exact same process, so finding this thread has been such a relief! Based on everyone's incredibly helpful advice here, I've started preparing what I'm calling my "EDD survival kit" - basically gathering all the key information and forms I'll need so I'm not scrambling later when I'm exhausted with a newborn. From reading all these experiences, the main things I'm noting are: - Report birth to EDD within the first week (everyone seems to have success calling within 3-7 days) - Baby bonding PFL requires a completely separate DE2508 application - NOT automatic! - Apply for PFL about 8-10 days before disability ends to avoid payment gaps - Use the online SDI portal whenever possible instead of calling - Prep your doctor's office about the EDD forms they'll need to complete It's so reassuring to see how many people have successfully navigated this process! The consistency in everyone's advice about timing and using the online portal really gives me confidence. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this thread has become like a complete roadmap for expectant moms dealing with EDD benefits. I feel so much more prepared now instead of anxious about potentially messing something up! 💕

Hey Zara! Congratulations on your pregnancy! I'm currently 34 weeks and have been researching this exact process too, so this thread has been incredibly valuable for me as well! One additional tip I learned from my cousin who went through this last summer - she suggests setting up text/email notifications in your EDD online account before delivery so you get alerts about any status changes or required actions. She said this was super helpful because when you're sleep-deprived with a newborn, it's easy to forget to check your account regularly. Also, I've been creating what I call my "EDD quick reference sheet" on my phone with all the key info from this thread: - Report birth within 1 week ✓ - Baby bonding PFL = separate DE2508 application (NOT automatic!) ✓ - Apply for PFL 8-10 days before disability ends ✓ - Use online SDI portal when possible ✓ - Alert doctor's office about EDD forms ahead of time ✓ The consistent advice from everyone here about timing and using the online portal has made me feel so much more confident about navigating this process. It's amazing how having real experiences from other moms takes away so much of the anxiety about potentially making mistakes with EDD. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community support is invaluable! 💕

I'm dealing with this exact same error right now too! Reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful and reassuring. I was starting to panic thinking I'd done something wrong with my application, but it sounds like this system glitch is way more common than I realized. I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy tomorrow with all my documents organized. A few questions for those who've successfully gotten through: 1. Did anyone have luck with the alternate phone numbers mentioned, or is the main EDD line the best bet? 2. When they manually process it, do they send any confirmation that it's been submitted successfully? 3. For those who used services like Claimyr, was it worth the $20 or would you recommend just being patient with the regular calling process? Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and tips - this community is amazing for helping each other navigate this confusing system! Hopefully I'll have a success story to share soon 🤞

I'm actually going through this exact same issue right now! Just got the error message this morning when trying to submit my PFL claim online. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I was starting to worry that I'd messed something up, but it sounds like this system glitch is super common. I'm planning to follow the advice here and call first thing tomorrow at 8am with all my documents ready. Based on what everyone's shared, I'm preparing: - My SSN and any confirmation numbers I got before the error - Complete employer details (name, address, employment dates) - My doctor's info since this is for medical leave - A written timeline of events so I don't forget anything important The timeline of 1-2 weeks for manual processing once you get through is really helpful to know for planning purposes. It's also encouraging to hear that this error doesn't actually mean there's a problem with the claim - just that their system needs a human to review it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips! This community support makes navigating this confusing process so much less stressful. Fingers crossed I'll have a success story to share soon! 🤞