I'm a new mom who just went through this process last month! I used "Salary Continuation Benefits" on my DE2501 form and it was approved quickly. What really saved me was creating a simple checklist: 1) Get HR's official term for the program, 2) Get written confirmation of payment amounts and schedule, 3) Confirm whether they report to EDD directly or if I need to self-report, and 4) Ask for a contact person in HR for any follow-up questions during leave. The whole thing was much smoother once I had all these details nailed down upfront. Don't stress too much about the exact wording - EDD seems pretty flexible as long as it's clear your employer is supplementing your disability pay!

I'm also dealing with this right now and it's so helpful to see everyone's different experiences! My HR department calls it "Disability Income Supplement" but after reading all these responses, I'm realizing the most important thing is just being consistent with whatever term my company uses officially. One thing I'm curious about - for those whose companies coordinate payments directly with EDD, did you notice any delays in when you actually received your combined benefits? I'm trying to figure out if I should expect any timing differences between the EDD portion and the employer portion of my pay during leave.

As someone who's completely new to this community and the PFL system, this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm currently expecting my first child and trying to understand all the ins and outs of paid family leave before I need to file my claim. Reading through everyone's experiences really highlights how easy it is to make mistakes with dates, but it's so reassuring to see there are clear solutions and such a supportive community here. @PixelWarrior, congratulations on your new baby and I'm so glad you were able to get everything resolved! The detailed step-by-step instructions from @Giovanni Rossi and @Dylan Evans are exactly the kind of guidance I hope I won't need but am grateful to have just in case. It's amazing how this community comes together to help navigate these complex systems. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

This entire thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! I'm completely new here and currently 6 months pregnant with my first baby. Reading through all these experiences has been both eye-opening and reassuring. It's incredible how something that seems like it should be simple - changing a date - can become so complicated with EDD's system. But seeing the detailed guidance from experienced members like @Giovanni Rossi and @Dylan Evans, plus @PixelWarrior's successful resolution, gives me so much confidence that even if I mess something up, there are solutions and people here who genuinely want to help. The fact that multiple people have shared different approaches (online messaging, phone calls, even third-party services) shows there are options when one method doesn't work. I'm definitely saving this thread for reference - hopefully I won't need it, but if I do, I'll know exactly where to start. Thank you everyone for being so generous with your knowledge and experience!

Hey! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through the EDD website if you haven't already - they'll send you updates when there's any change to your claim status. Also, if you have a doctor involved in your claim, sometimes they can provide updates on whether EDD has requested additional medical documentation. I know the waiting is stressful, but hang in there! The system is slow but it does work eventually. Keep all your confirmation numbers and reference materials handy for when you do get through to someone.

I'm going through the same thing right now! What really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all my interactions - dates I called, reference numbers, who I spoke with, etc. It sounds nerdy but it's been a lifesaver when different reps ask for the same info over and over. Also, don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor if you're not getting helpful answers. Sometimes the first person you talk to doesn't have access to all the info you need. And if you're dealing with any financial hardship while waiting, ask about expedited processing - they don't always volunteer that info but it's worth asking about. One more tip: if you submitted everything online, double-check that all your documents actually uploaded properly. I thought mine went through but turns out one form didn't save correctly and that delayed everything by weeks 🤦‍♀️

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of everything else after having a c-section! This exact situation happened to my sister last year - she filed PFL first and then panicked when she realized she needed SDI. The good news is that EDD sees this mix-up A LOT, especially with new parents who are navigating all this for the first time. When she called (took several attempts to get through), she was honest about the confusion and they were actually pretty understanding. They were able to cancel her PFL and backdate the SDI claim about 5 weeks out. The key things that helped her case were: 1) being upfront about the employer misinformation, 2) having all her medical documentation ready, and 3) following up regularly. It took about 3 weeks total once she got the right person on the phone. Don't lose hope - this is fixable! And definitely don't blame yourself, the system is genuinely confusing and your HR should have guided you better. Wishing you the best of luck! ✨

I just went through this exact situation about 3 months ago! The stress of dealing with EDD while recovering from a c-section is no joke. Here's what worked for me: I called at exactly 8:01 AM on a Tuesday (seemed to have better luck mid-week), and when I got through, I immediately explained that I received incorrect guidance from HR about the filing order. The rep was actually really understanding and said this happens more than you'd think with postpartum claims. They were able to cancel my PFL and backdate my SDI claim to my delivery date, even though it had been about 6 weeks. The whole process took about 2.5 weeks once I got the ball rolling. Make sure you have your delivery records, doctor's notes about your recovery period, and any communication from HR ready when you call. Also, ask for a confirmation number for the cancellation and the new claim - it'll save you headaches if you need to follow up. You're going to get through this! The system is definitely confusing, especially when you're dealing with new parent brain fog. Don't be too hard on yourself about the mix-up! 💪

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's currently 7 months pregnant and starting to research PFL benefits for when my husband takes his paternity leave, I can't believe how many hoops you all have had to jump through just to get benefits you've already paid for. Ellie, I'm so relieved you finally got everything resolved! The fact that it was just an address verification issue that caused weeks of financial stress is infuriating but unfortunately seems pretty typical from what I'm reading here. I'm definitely taking notes on all the strategies everyone has shared - the main EDD number sequence, calling right at 8am, the Claimyr service for emergencies, and even the in-person office visit option. It's sad that accessing basic benefits requires this level of strategic planning, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share what actually works. The advice about doing a preemptive verification call before leave starts is brilliant - I'm definitely going to have my husband try that about a week before his planned start date. Better to catch any potential issues early than discover them when we're already counting on the income. Thank you everyone for being so generous with sharing your experiences and solutions. This thread is going to help so many families navigate EDD's broken system!

This whole thread has been such an emotional rollercoaster to read! I'm currently dealing with my own PFL nightmare - been waiting 6 weeks for my maternity leave payments and getting the same runaround with specialists who never call back. Reading everyone's stories makes me feel less alone in this struggle, but also so angry that EDD puts new families through this stress. What really strikes me is how all these delays seem to come down to such minor administrative issues that could be easily prevented with better communication. Address changes, employment date mismatches, missing forms - none of these should require weeks of phone tag with unreachable specialists! I'm definitely going to try the main number sequence (1-800-480-3287, press 1, 2, then 4) tomorrow morning at 8am sharp. And if that doesn't work, I think Claimyr might be worth the cost just to preserve my sanity at this point. Thank you Ellie for sharing your update about getting it resolved - it gives me hope that persistence really does pay off eventually. And thank you to everyone who's contributed strategies and encouragement. This community is proof that we're stronger when we support each other through these broken systems! 💪