This is super helpful! I didn't know about the grace period - that takes some pressure off. Definitely going to call first thing Monday morning and have them double-check my email address. Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙏

This is really reassuring to hear! I was panicking thinking my benefits would get cut off immediately. I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and have them verify the email address - sounds like that's a common issue. Thanks for the detailed breakdown of your experience!

Thanks for sharing this! It's so frustrating when they change your email without telling you 🙄 I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and ask them to read back exactly what email they have on file. Did you have to provide any verification when they updated your email address, or was it pretty straightforward once you got through to someone?

Good luck tomorrow Isabella! 🍀 I'm in the exact same boat and was planning to call this week too. This whole thread has been such a relief - I was honestly scared I'd be stuck on hold for hours or get bounced around between departments. The fact that multiple people have had success with the early morning approach gives me so much more confidence. Definitely going to follow Sophie's advice about asking about suspension vs cancellation too. Please do update us on how it goes! I'll probably try calling Wednesday morning if I can work up the courage 😅

You've got this, Isabella! 💪 The collective wisdom in this thread has been amazing - I love how everyone's sharing practical tips instead of just horror stories. That early morning strategy really seems to be the secret sauce. I'm actually going to try calling Thursday morning myself after reading everyone's success stories. The prep work Sophie outlined sounds like it could make all the difference. Really hoping you get through quickly tomorrow - definitely come back and let us know how it goes! This whole thread is turning into like a mini support group and I'm here for it 😊

Absolutely agree, Luca! This thread has been like finding a treasure map for dealing with PFL cancellation. I was honestly dreading this whole process but now I feel like I actually have a game plan. The fact that so many people have shared their real experiences with specific timing and prep tips makes it feel totally manageable. I'm particularly grateful for the suspend vs cancel clarification - that could save people from making the wrong choice for their situation. Monday morning calls seem to be the way to go! Hope it goes smoothly for you and everyone else tackling this. It's amazing how much less scary bureaucracy feels when you have a community backing you up! 💪

This is such comprehensive and reassuring information! Thank you for sharing your complete journey from SDI through PFL. The tip about checking payment history and upcoming dates in the EDD portal is brilliant - I had no idea that feature existed and it sounds like it would eliminate so much guesswork about timing. I'm definitely going to explore that section of my account once my claim gets processed. The insight about calling EDD to expedite PFL processing when transitioning from an existing SDI claim is really valuable. I wouldn't have thought to specifically ask them to flag my account for faster review, but it makes total sense since it's a continuation rather than a brand new claim. Even with that, having a 2-week gap sounds pretty typical based on what others have shared, so I'll definitely plan for that financially. I love the practical tip about certifying during those middle-of-the-night feeding sessions! It's exactly the kind of real-world mom advice that you don't get from official websites. Knowing that the PFL certification questions are straightforward and can be done on mobile during newborn chaos is actually really comforting as I think about managing everything with a new baby. Thanks for taking the time to share such detailed, practical advice from someone who made it through the entire process successfully!

Great question about twins! I don't have personal experience with multiples, but I have a friend who had twins last year and her experience was definitely different from singleton pregnancies. Her doctor was able to certify her for SDI starting at 32 weeks (instead of the typical 36+ weeks) due to the higher risk nature of twin pregnancy, and her recovery period was extended to 8 weeks instead of 6 for vaginal delivery. The key thing is that your OB will determine the timeline based on medical necessity and document it appropriately on your SDI forms. EDD typically follows whatever your doctor certifies as medically necessary for multiples, since twin pregnancies are automatically considered higher risk. So if your doctor recommends starting leave earlier or extending recovery time, EDD should approve it as long as the medical documentation supports it. For the mobile app vs website question - I'd definitely recommend using the full website for your initial application. The mobile app is great for certifying benefits and checking status once your claim is established, but the initial SDI application has a lot of detailed forms and document uploads that are much easier to handle on a computer. You can always download the app afterward for the ongoing management part. Congratulations on your twins! The financial planning is definitely more complex with multiples, but at least now you have a good roadmap for the EDD process timeline.

Oh wow, 10 days and radio silence sounds stressful! Thanks for the tip about text alerts - I had no idea that was an option. Definitely going to sign up for those right now since I've been doing exactly what you described (checking obsessively 😂). It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one going through this waiting game. Fingers crossed we both get some good news soon! 🤞

Hey! I'm also a newcomer here and just submitted my PFL application a few days ago, so I totally feel your anxiety about the timeline! From what I've been reading in this thread, it seems like holiday timing might actually slow things down a bit since government offices tend to have reduced staffing during that period. But on the bright side, applying online without needing extra docs should definitely work in your favor! I'm trying to stay optimistic that we'll both hear back within that 2-3 week window that some folks mentioned. The waiting is definitely the hardest part though - glad to find this community where people actually share real experiences instead of just generic government website info!

I'm actually looking into it for future planning. My partner and I are thinking about starting a family soon, so I want to understand my options now.

Oh nice! Congrats on the future plans 😊 For new parents, you typically get up to 8 weeks for pregnancy disability (if applicable) and then another 8 weeks for bonding. And your partner might be eligible for bonding time too!

Thanks @Emma Anderson for sharing all that detail! The SDI payment requirement is definitely something I need to look into. Quick question - do you know if there s'a way to check how long you ve'been paying into SDI online, or do you have to go through old paystubs? Also, when you coordinated with your employer, did you give them a heads up months in advance or wait until closer to when you actually needed the leave?

@Emma Anderson this is so helpful! I m'in a similar planning stage and had no clue about the SDI requirement timeline. Quick question - when you say 60-70% of wages, is there a cap on how much they ll'pay out? Like if someone makes really good money, do they still get the full percentage or is there a maximum benefit amount? Also, did you find the application process overwhelming or was it pretty straightforward once you had all the docs ready?