One more thing - make sure your husband's employer didn't report him as having returned to work "permanently" after his first bonding period. Some HR departments make this mistake, and it can cause EDD to question the second claim. If possible, have him check with HR about how his first leave period was classified in their records.

I just went through this exact situation in December! My husband took his second PFL bonding period after using only part of his 8 weeks initially. Here's what worked for us: 1) We applied exactly 30 days before his leave start date, 2) In the "additional information" section, I wrote "CONTINUATION OF BONDING LEAVE FOR SAME CHILD - PREVIOUS CLAIM #[his claim number]", 3) We kept all documentation from the first claim handy, and 4) He called EDD within 48 hours of submitting to confirm they could see it was a continuation claim. The whole process went smoothly and he got approved within 2 weeks. The key is being very explicit that it's a continuation and having the previous claim details ready!

It sounds like there's some confusion about your work schedule in your PFL claim. The denial reason suggests EDD thinks you're not regularly employed during the weekends you're trying to claim benefits for, despite you working full-time Monday-Friday and being on-call every other weekend. This is likely a misunderstanding about your employment situation. PFL benefits are designed for people who need to take time off from work they would otherwise be performing. Since you're regularly on-call every other weekend as part of your normal work schedule, you should be eligible to claim PFL for those periods. You definitely have grounds for appeal. For your appeal, gather documentation that clearly shows: - Your full work schedule including the on-call weekend rotation - Proof that being on-call is part of your regular employment (like your employment contract) - Documentation showing you're regularly paid for these on-call weekends When filing the appeal, specifically address the misunderstanding about your "normal contractual employment period" by explaining that your regular work includes these on-call weekends, and you're seeking PFL only for time you would otherwise be working. The EDD likely misinterpreted your work schedule, thinking you were trying to claim benefits for days you wouldn't normally be working. This is a relatively common misunderstanding with non-traditional schedules.

Hey Ana! I just wanted to chime in as another sleep-deprived mom who's been through the EDD maze. I'm so glad you found your remaining 3 weeks - that's such a relief! I had a similar situation last year where I thought I'd used all my PFL time but discovered I had 2 weeks left hiding in my claim history. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts through my EDD account so I'd get notifications about any claim updates or payment processing. It saved me from constantly checking the website wondering if my paperwork went through. Also, since you mentioned your husband's work stress, I'd definitely encourage you to look into whether he's eligible for his own PFL time - California allows both parents to take bonding leave, and even if his employer isn't super supportive, they legally can't deny him the right to use it. The coordination between both of your leaves could really help during this tough period. You're doing an amazing job juggling everything - new parenthood is no joke, especially when you're dealing with bureaucratic nightmares on top of it all!

Ana, congratulations on your little one and I'm so glad you were able to find your remaining PFL balance! As someone who also navigated the EDD system as a new parent, I completely understand the frustration with their phone system - it's absolutely terrible. Since you discovered you still have 3 weeks available, I wanted to share a tip that really helped me: consider keeping a simple calendar or planner specifically for tracking your PFL usage and deadlines. I marked down when I took each week, when I submitted forms, and set reminders for important dates like the one-year deadline. It helped me stay organized when my brain was total mush from sleep deprivation! Also, since you mentioned struggling with childcare and your husband's work stress, you might want to look into local parent groups or mom groups in your area - they're often great resources for childcare recommendations, emergency babysitting swaps, and just general support during those overwhelming early months. The fact that you can use those remaining weeks flexibly throughout the year is such a blessing - you'll figure out the perfect timing for your family's needs. You're doing great mama, even when it doesn't feel like it!

Update: We finally got through to EDD this morning! Turns out there was a document missing that they never notified us about. They needed my husband's ID verification even though he submitted all the other documents correctly. The rep was able to push it through and said payment should process within 48 hours. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This is such a perfect example of why the EDD system is so frustrating - they required additional ID verification but never sent any notification about it. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my own PFL claim (different reason though) and this gives me hope that calling persistently will eventually work. Did you try calling right at 8am like others suggested, or did you get through at a different time? Always trying to figure out the best strategy for actually reaching a human there!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - the 41-day deadline is one of those things that catches so many people off guard, especially when you're dealing with the chaos of a new baby and recovery. From reading through all the great advice here, it definitely sounds like you shouldn't give up yet! The "good cause" exception seems to be a real lifeline for situations exactly like yours. I'm pretty new to this whole PFL world myself, but it's clear from everyone's experiences that persistence really pays off. One thing that stood out to me from the responses is how important it seems to be to document absolutely everything - even things that might seem minor could end up being helpful for your appeal. And the fact that multiple people have mentioned success with medical recovery reasons gives me hope that there are legitimate paths forward even after missing that initial deadline. The calling strategy of trying right when they open seems to be the consistent advice from folks who've actually gotten through. It's frustrating that it has to be such a battle just to access benefits you've paid into, but at least there are people here who've navigated it successfully. Keep fighting for what you deserve - you've got a whole community rooting for you! 💪

I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in because I'm currently going through something similar with my PFL claim. It's really encouraging to see so many people sharing their experiences and practical advice! What really stands out to me from reading all these responses is how common this 41-day deadline issue seems to be. It makes me wonder if there's something fundamentally broken about how this information gets communicated to new parents in the first place. I've been taking notes on everyone's suggestions - the early morning calling strategy, the DE 1000M appeal form, documenting everything for "good cause" - and it's giving me a roadmap for my own situation. The fact that medical recovery and employer miscommunication can potentially qualify as good cause is really helpful to know. @Yara Khoury, I hope you're able to get through to them and that your appeal goes well. Please keep us posted on what happens - I think your experience could help a lot of other people who find themselves in this same frustrating situation. The support in this thread is exactly what makes communities like this so valuable! 🤞