Hey Dmitry! I just went through this exact situation with my twins 4 months ago and had the same panic about the employer supplement! You definitely need to report that 30% on your PFL claim - it's required regardless of the classification. But here's the good news: if your employer properly classifies it as a parental leave supplement (sounds like they do), it won't reduce your PFL benefits at all! When I met with my HR team, they provided documentation showing it was classified as "Paid Family Leave Wage Integration" and I got both my full EDD benefit AND the employer supplement. Basically ended up with close to 100% of my normal pay during leave which was a lifesaver with two newborns! My advice: get that HR documentation in writing before you file, be super transparent on the DE2501F form about the supplement, and file online as soon as baby arrives. The whole process was way less scary than I expected once I had proper documentation. You're being so smart to plan ahead - most people figure this out after baby arrives and scramble! Your little one is lucky to have such a prepared parent. Best of luck! 👶✨

Hey there! As someone who literally just went through this process with my first baby 2 months ago, I can totally relate to the anxiety you're feeling! Yes, you absolutely must report that 30% employer supplement on your PFL claim - there's no getting around it. But don't panic! I had a similar 35% supplement from my company and was terrified I'd mess something up. When I met with HR, they provided a letter stating it was classified as a "Paid Family Leave Wage Supplement" and I attached that documentation to my DE2501F form. EDD didn't reduce my benefits at all - I got the full state PFL payment PLUS my employer's supplement, which was incredible! Here's what made the process smooth for me: 1) Get HR documentation in writing about how they classify this benefit, 2) Be completely transparent on the DE2501F form in the additional income section, 3) File online as soon as baby arrives for faster processing, and 4) Keep copies of everything you submit. The fact that you're planning this out ahead of time shows you're going to be an amazing parent! Most people scramble to figure this out after baby arrives. One more tip - if you need to call EDD, try right at 8 AM when they open. I got through in under 30 minutes that way. You've got this! 🍼

As someone who just joined this community and is currently pregnant with my first child while running a small consulting business, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about the DIEC program either. @Keisha Jackson, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress during what should be an exciting time. Have you considered reaching out to SCORE or your local Small Business Development Center? They sometimes have resources or know about local grants for small business owners facing hardships. Also, some professional associations for graphic designers might have emergency assistance funds - it's worth checking if you're a member of any. I'm definitely going to look into enrolling in DIEC after reading everyone's experiences here. Thank you all for sharing such valuable information!

Hi @Keisha Jackson! I just joined this community and your post really caught my attention because I'm also self-employed (freelance marketing consultant) and trying to plan for a potential pregnancy in the next year or two. Reading through all these responses has been such a reality check for me - I had no idea about the DIEC program either! While I can't help with your current situation, I wanted to mention that some areas have sliding-scale childcare assistance programs that might help you get back to work sooner than planned if needed. Also, if you have any regular clients, now might be a good time to discuss potentially working reduced hours remotely during your recovery period, even if it's just light tasks you can do from home. I'm definitely going to apply for DIEC coverage after reading this thread. Thank you for asking this question - it's helping so many of us who didn't know we needed this information! Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy and hoping you can build up a good financial cushion over the next few months. 💙

I'm dealing with this exact same situation and it's so stressful! My PFL claim submitted about 5 weeks ago just completely vanished from the system. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though - I had no idea about the 8 AM calling strategy or the pfl@edd.ca.gov email address. I'm definitely going to start that tracking spreadsheet everyone mentioned and try the multi-pronged approach. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become private investigators just to get updates on our own benefits, but seeing so many success stories here gives me hope that persistence really does pay off. The assemblyperson option is also good to know about as a backup plan. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences and practical solutions - this community is more helpful than anything I've found on the official EDD website!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now and finding this thread feels like discovering a hidden treasure of actually useful advice! My PFL claim vanished about 4 weeks ago and the stress has been overwhelming, especially when you're counting on that support for family care needs. After reading through everyone's experiences, I'm amazed at how common this problem is - it's both reassuring that I'm not alone and absolutely infuriating that the system is this broken. I'm putting together my action plan based on all the successful strategies shared here: • Starting that detailed tracking spreadsheet immediately (this is genius for staying organized!) • Setting my alarm for 7:55 AM to start calling right at 8:00 AM when they open • Emailing pfl@edd.ca.gov with that specific subject line format that actually gets responses • Gathering all my original documentation and confirmation numbers The assemblyperson option is definitely going in my back pocket if the first approaches don't work. It's wild that we need to become private investigators just to track down benefits we've already earned, but seeing so many success stories here gives me real hope that persistence pays off. Thank you all for sharing what actually works instead of just complaining (though the complaints are totally valid too!). This community is more helpful than the actual EDD website. I'll definitely update with my progress - fingers crossed we can all add to the success stories soon! 💪

Hey Alberto! I totally understand the panic - I literally had the exact same reaction when I got my determination letter about a month ago! 😅 A determination is basically EDD's official decision on your claim, but their communication is honestly terrible at explaining what it actually means. Like everyone else is saying, definitely check your online EDD portal first - there's usually way more detailed info there than in those cryptic letters they send. I found mine under "Claim History" and it actually broke down exactly what they decided and why. If you still need more clarity after checking online, that 8 AM calling strategy everyone's mentioning really does work - I got through in about 20 minutes doing that! But honestly, try not to stress too much about it. Getting a determination is actually a sign that your claim is moving through the system, which is way better than radio silence. The whole EDD process is confusing for literally everyone, so you're definitely not alone in feeling lost. Keep us posted on what you find out - rooting for you! 🙏

Hey Alberto! I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago and I totally get the confusion. A determination is basically EDD's official decision about your claim - could be about eligibility, your weekly benefit amount, or resolving some issue they found during processing. The annoying thing is their letters are always super vague! Here's what helped me: log into your EDD online portal ASAP and look for "Determination Details" or "Messages" - there's usually way more specific info there than what they mail you. If it's still unclear after checking online, definitely try calling right at 8:00 AM when they open (that timing trick really works!). Don't panic though - getting a determination is actually good news because it means they're actively processing your case instead of it just sitting there. The whole EDD system is intentionally confusing I swear, but you'll get through it! Let us know what you find out when you check your online account. We're all here to help! 💪

I've been dealing with EDD for months now and I swear they change the rules every other day. It's like trying to hit a moving target while blindfolded. Sending positive vibes your way, OP. We're all in this struggle together. 💪

I went through something similar last year! The key is to be super persistent and document EVERYTHING. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call the EDD overpayment department directly (not the general line) - the number should be on your notice 2. Ask them to email you the specific repayment instructions 3. Keep records of every call (date, time, rep name, reference numbers) 4. Once you send the payment, follow up weekly until they confirm it's processed The whole thing took about 6 weeks for me, but having that paper trail saved my butt when they tried to say I never paid it back. Don't give up - you've got this! 🙏