Just a heads up, there's been some changes to the PFL policy recently. Make sure you're looking at the most up-to-date info on the official website. I almost messed up my application because I was using old guidelines 😅

I'm in the same boat right now - applied about 10 days ago and still waiting for that callback! The anxiety is real 😰 I've been checking my online account daily but no updates yet. Reading through these comments is actually making me feel better knowing I'm not alone in this. @Zainab Abdulrahman your checklist is gold, I'm definitely going to start keeping a log. Has anyone tried calling the main number directly or is it always just endless hold times?

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the waiting is absolutely brutal when you need that money for bills! I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago and what finally worked for me was a combination of things: I called my state assembly member's office and they actually have staff who specialize in helping with EDD issues. They can't magically speed things up, but they can at least get you real information about what's holding up your claim. Also, make sure you check that your employer submitted their portion correctly - that was actually my holdup and nobody told me for weeks! In the meantime, if you're really struggling with bills, see if your local 211 has any emergency assistance programs. Hang in there - it WILL come through eventually, even though the system is absolutely broken right now. 💪

I'm dealing with a similar delay right now - going on 4 weeks with my PFL claim. What's really helped me is keeping detailed records of every interaction and submission. I created a simple spreadsheet with dates, times, and what I submitted or who I spoke with. Also, if you haven't already, try contacting your local state senator's office in addition to assembly members - they often have constituent services that can help with state agency issues. I know it's incredibly stressful when bills are piling up, but from what I've seen in this community, persistence really does pay off. Keep pushing and don't give up! 💪

Congratulations on your baby girl! 🎉 I'm actually in a very similar situation - just had my little boy 4 days ago and was having the exact same confusion about this whole EDD process. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful! I had been frantically searching for some kind of "birth notification" form on the EDD website and getting nowhere. Now I understand it's actually two completely separate claims - the pregnancy disability doesn't automatically transition to baby bonding PFL. I love that everyone mentioned you can file the PFL claim right after birth while still receiving SDI payments. That's such crucial information that really should be more clearly explained by EDD! I'm planning to file my PFL application later today using the temporary birth certificate from the hospital. It's honestly such a relief to find other new parents going through this exact same confusion. The EDD system really needs to be more user-friendly for exhausted new parents, but at least we have this amazing community to help each other figure it out! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you've turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic nightmare into a manageable process. Now I can focus on enjoying these precious early days with my son instead of stressing about paperwork! 💕

Congratulations on your baby girl! 🎉 I'm currently 38 weeks pregnant and this thread is exactly what I needed to see! I've been so worried about navigating the EDD system after delivery, especially since my HR department has been pretty vague about the whole process. It's such a relief to learn that there's no mysterious "birth notification" form I need to hunt down - I was starting to think I was missing something obvious! The fact that it's just two separate claims (SDI for pregnancy disability, then a new PFL claim for baby bonding) makes so much more sense now. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread to reference in a couple weeks when my little one arrives. The tip about filing the PFL claim right after birth while still receiving SDI payments is gold - I would have never known that was possible and probably would have created a gap in benefits by waiting. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences so clearly! This community is amazing for helping us navigate these confusing systems during such an overwhelming time. I feel so much more prepared now! 💕

Hey Zara! Congratulations on your pregnancy! I'm currently 30 weeks and have been researching this exact process, so this thread has been incredibly helpful for me too! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my sister who just went through this in November - she highly recommends downloading and saving the DE2508 PFL form to your phone/computer BEFORE you deliver. That way when it's time to apply for baby bonding benefits, you're not trying to navigate EDD's website to find the right form while dealing with newborn exhaustion. She said having it ready to go made filling it out much quicker and less stressful. Also, from reading everyone's consistent advice here, I've created reminders in my phone for: - Report birth to EDD within 1 week - Apply for PFL 8-10 days before disability ends - Follow up with doctor's office about EDD forms The fact that so many people are giving the same timeline recommendations really gives me confidence this is the right approach! Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this thread has been like having a whole mentorship group of moms who've actually navigated this process successfully. I feel so much more prepared now! 💕

Hey Zara! Congratulations on your pregnancy! I'm 33 weeks and have been stressing about this exact same process, so this thread has been a lifesaver for me too! One thing I wanted to add that my friend mentioned - she said to take a photo of your EDD disability award letter and save it to your phone before delivery. When she was filling out the PFL application later, she needed to reference information from her original disability claim and it was so much easier having the photo readily available rather than trying to log into her account while juggling a newborn. Also, based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to create a simple "EDD action plan" note in my phone with all the key steps and deadlines. The consistency in everyone's timing recommendations (report birth within a week, apply for PFL 8-10 days before disability ends, use online portal) gives me so much confidence that this is the right approach. It's amazing how much less anxious I feel about this whole process after reading everyone's real experiences. Thank you to all the moms who took the time to share what worked for them - it's like having a whole support network of people who've actually been through this successfully! You're definitely not alone in feeling stressed about getting everything right with EDD! 💕

Hey OP, what documents did you submit? Make sure you didn't miss anything important. I thought I had everything in order but turns out I was missing a form and that's why my claim was held up.

I feel your pain! I went through the exact same thing last month. What finally worked for me was calling the disability insurance number (1-800-480-3287) instead of the main PFL line - they handle PFL claims too and the wait times are usually shorter. Also, try calling around 2-3 PM on weekdays when it's less busy. Don't give up - once you get through, they can actually see your claim status and give you real updates. Keep us posted on how it goes!