Ive been waiting 6 months for my claim to be aproved. Consider yourself lucky 🙃

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My payment was authorized about 10 days ago and still nothing. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and frustrating - glad to know I'm not alone but sorry we're all going through this. I think I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning like @Mei Liu suggested, and if that doesn't work maybe look into that calling service @Liam O'Donnell mentioned. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares!

Hi Andre! I went through something very similar last year - had to leave my job at 36 weeks due to severe pregnancy complications and stress. I was so worried about losing benefits, but PFL saved us financially during those early weeks with our baby. Just wanted to add a few things that helped me with my application: 1. Keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit - EDD has a habit of "losing" documents 2. Take screenshots of your online application confirmation pages 3. If you have any pregnancy-related medical records mentioning work stress, keep those handy in case they ask why you quit The whole process took about 3-4 weeks for me to get my first payment, but it was such a relief when it came through. You've got this! And congratulations on your daughter! 👶✨ Also, don't let anyone tell you that quitting disqualifies you - that's just not true for CA PFL. You earned those benefits by paying into SDI for 5 years!

Hey andre, so I am in the same situation as you but im quitting before my disability ends because they want me to go back to work but I am in a very stressful PP state that is not safe for me to go back to work and my disability will no longer be extended and I exhausted my FMLA so I have no job protection anymore. According to them, if I don't go back after my disability ends I will lose my job. So I plan to quit and then take my baby bonding. Did they ask you for any proof of employment or why did you quit?

I want to share one more thing that trips people up with the SDI to PFL transition. If your SDI claim was extended beyond the standard time due to your complications, make absolutely sure that your doctor has submitted the final medical certification with a clear end date. Sometimes this is where claims get stuck - when the disability end date isn't clearly documented. This ensures a clean transition to PFL.

Just wanted to update everyone - I successfully submitted my PFL application today and it went through without any issues! The online system was actually pretty straightforward once I got started. For anyone else in this situation, here's what I learned: 1) Apply immediately after your disability ends (don't wait for final payment), 2) Select "baby bonding" not "caregiving", 3) Make sure your doctor submitted the final medical cert with a clear end date, and 4) put today's date as your PFL start date to avoid gaps. Thanks to everyone who helped clarify this - you probably saved me weeks of headaches! 🙏

One more important detail - when you apply for PFL, you'll be asked to provide your baby's date of birth and documentation. The PFL claim date should be the day after your pregnancy disability ends (in your case, July 7th). Don't put your baby's birthdate as the start date for PFL - that would create an overlap with your disability claim which can cause problems. Just to clarify: 1. Pregnancy Disability: May 1 - July 6 2. Baby Bonding PFL: Should start July 7 You apply for PFL around June 29th, but specify July 7th as the start date for benefits. This ensures a smooth transition without gaps or overlaps.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation last year! All the advice here is spot-on. I applied for PFL about 8 days before my disability ended and had zero gap in payments - it was seamless. One small tip that helped me: when you're filling out the PFL application online, save it as a draft first and double-check all your dates before submitting. I caught a mistake where I accidentally put my baby's birth date instead of my PFL start date (thanks to Riya's advice above, I knew this was wrong!). Also, don't stress too much about the birth certificate - I used the hospital discharge paperwork and it was totally fine. The birth certificate took like 3 weeks to arrive anyway. You've got this mama! Focus on healing and bonding with your little one. The paperwork will work out! 💕

Has anyone successfully canceled online? I've heard mixed things about whether that's even possible.

I actually just went through this process last week! Here's what worked for me: I called the main number at 8:00 AM sharp and got through in about 20 minutes. The rep was actually really helpful once I explained my situation. They asked for my claim number, SSN, and reason for canceling. The whole call took maybe 10 minutes once connected. They said it would take 3-5 business days to process and I got a confirmation email 2 days later. Pro tip: have a pen and paper ready to write down the confirmation number they give you - you'll want that for your records!