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I'm going through the exact same thing right now - applied for PFL almost 4 weeks ago and my claim still isn't showing up online. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money! I've tried calling but like everyone else said, it's impossible to get through. I'm thinking of trying that assembly member tip someone mentioned. Has anyone actually had success with contacting their local representative's office? Also wondering if anyone knows if there's a specific timeframe they're supposed to process these applications by law?
@Astrid Bergström I contacted my assembly member s'office when I was dealing with a similar delay last year and it actually helped! They have a constituent services team that can reach out to EDD on your behalf. It took about a week after I contacted them before things started moving. As for timeframes, I think they re'supposed to process within 14 days but with all the backlogs that s'not really happening. Definitely worth trying the assembly member route - just go to their website and look for constituent "services or" help "with state agencies. Good" luck! 🤞
I'm dealing with a similar situation - it's been almost 5 weeks since I submitted my PFL application and absolutely nothing is showing up in my online account. The anxiety is real when you're depending on those benefits to cover basic expenses! 😰 I've tried the calling marathon like everyone else with zero success. The automated system just loops you around in circles. I'm definitely going to try that assembly member suggestion - seems like that might be our best bet right now. One thing I noticed is that when I log into my EDD account, there's literally no trace that I even submitted an application. It's like it disappeared into the void. Has anyone else experienced this complete lack of any record? Starting to wonder if something went wrong during submission but there's no way to verify without talking to an actual human being. This whole system is such a nightmare when you actually need help. Praying we all get our situations resolved soon! 🙏
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I'm going through something similar with my grandmother who needs care after a fall. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned - make sure you check if your employer offers any additional paid family leave benefits beyond what California PFL provides. Some companies have policies that supplement the 60-70% wage replacement or provide full pay for a certain number of days. Also, since you're dealing with a stroke specifically, you might want to connect with your local Area Agency on Aging or stroke support groups. They often have resources about navigating care benefits and can sometimes help with paperwork or provide advocacy if you run into issues with EDD. The stroke recovery timeline can be unpredictable, so having all your documentation organized from the start will help if you need to extend your leave beyond the initial period. Good luck with everything!
This is really great additional advice! I hadn't thought about checking with my employer about supplemental benefits - I'll definitely ask HR about that tomorrow. The stroke support group idea is brilliant too. My dad's occupational therapist mentioned something about community resources, so I'll ask her about local agencies that might help. You're absolutely right about the unpredictable timeline. The doctors have been pretty vague about his recovery expectations, just saying "we'll see how he progresses." It's scary not knowing if 30 days will be enough or if we'll need longer. I'm glad I'm getting all this paperwork sorted out now rather than scrambling later if we need to extend. Thank you for thinking of the stroke-specific resources - that's exactly the kind of practical help I need right now!
I went through this exact situation with my mom after her stroke two years ago. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple daily care log from day one - just noting what assistance I provided each day (helping with medications, physical therapy exercises, meal prep, transportation to appointments, etc.). The EDD never asked for it, but having that detailed record gave me peace of mind and could have been useful if they questioned my claim. I also took photos of any adaptive equipment I helped set up in her home (grab bars, shower chair, etc.) as additional documentation of the care environment. Another tip - if your dad will need ongoing therapy appointments (PT, OT, speech), those transportation and assistance hours count toward your care time too. I didn't realize this initially and was only tracking direct personal care. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for my first payment, but it was such a relief when it finally came through. Hang in there - you're doing everything right by getting this sorted out early!
Thank you for the detailed advice about documenting care! I'm definitely going to start that daily log right away. I hadn't thought about photographing the adaptive equipment - that's really smart. The hospital discharge planner mentioned we'll need to get some safety equipment installed before he comes home, so I'll document all of that. It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through this exact situation with a stroke patient. The therapy appointments are a great point too - his neurologist already scheduled him for PT and speech therapy starting next week, so I'll make sure to track all the time spent getting him to those appointments and helping with exercises at home. Two to three weeks for the first payment sounds manageable, especially knowing what to expect. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's exactly what I needed to hear right now!
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Thanks for asking this question! I'm actually in a similar situation where I might need to return earlier than expected. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful. It sounds like the key takeaway is to contact EDD ASAP and document everything. I'm definitely going to try the online portal first like @Natalia Stone mentioned, but good to know about the calling service as a backup option if I can't get through. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this community is so helpful! 🙏
Welcome to the community! 😊 I'm glad you found all the responses helpful too. I was in the exact same boat a few months ago and this group really saved me from making some costly mistakes. The online portal route is definitely worth trying first - much less stressful than sitting on hold for hours! And yes, documenting everything is crucial. I learned that the hard way when I had to prove a conversation I had with an agent. Good luck with your situation, and don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues!
I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! Definitely call EDD as soon as possible - I made the mistake of waiting a few days thinking it wouldn't matter, but they told me I should have reported it immediately. The good news is they were able to update my return date without too much hassle once I got through to someone. Just be prepared for potentially long wait times on the phone. Also, make sure you have your claim number ready and be clear about your new return date. They'll ask you to confirm it multiple times. One thing that helped me was writing down exactly what I wanted to say before calling so I didn't get flustered. Hope this helps and congrats on being able to return to work sooner! 💪
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who's been through this exact situation. I'm curious - when you say they told you that you should have reported it immediately, did they mention any specific timeframe? Like, is there a certain number of days you have to report changes? I want to make sure I don't make the same mistake if I ever need to update my dates. Also, writing down what to say beforehand is such a smart tip - I get so nervous on important calls like that! 😅
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As a new member here, I just want to echo everyone's advice about not waiting until the last minute! I'm currently pregnant with my first and reading through this thread has been incredibly educational. The 1-year deadline seems so much stricter than I realized - I had no idea you needed to actually START the leave before the birthday, not just apply. @Zoe Alexopoulos I'm so glad you got everything sorted out in time! Your success story gives me hope that with proper planning it's totally manageable. And @Chanaii Hgmg I really hope your appeal works out - the fact that you received those 5 days of benefits shows you did start properly before the deadline. One question for the group - for those who used intermittent bonding leave, how did you coordinate the scheduling with your employer? Did you need to give them specific dates in advance, or were you able to be more flexible with when you took the remaining weeks?
@Keisha Johnson Great question about intermittent leave scheduling! As a newcomer here too, I ve'been wondering the same thing. From what I ve'read in this thread, it sounds like employer approval is key for splitting up the 8 weeks - @Zoe Alexopoulos mentioned her company let her take 3 weeks initially and save 5 weeks for later in the year, which sounds like an ideal setup. I d'imagine you d'want to discuss this with HR early in the process when you re'filing your DE2508 form, so they can plan coverage and document the arrangement properly. The flexibility would be amazing for managing childcare and work demands throughout that first year! Also wanted to say how helpful this thread has been for learning about all the nuances of PFL baby bonding - the real experiences shared here are so much more valuable than trying to decode the official EDD guidelines alone!
@Keisha Johnson That s'such a smart question to ask while you re'still planning ahead! From what I ve'seen in other threads, intermittent bonding leave coordination really depends on your specific employer s'policies. Some are super flexible and let you give shorter notice like (a few weeks ,)while others want the full schedule mapped out when you submit your initial paperwork. I d'suggest having a conversation with your HR department early - maybe around your 3rd trimester - to understand their specific requirements. Some employers are great about letting you adjust dates as needed especially (if baby arrives early/late ,)while others are more rigid. The key seems to be getting any intermittent arrangement documented properly so both EDD and your employer are on the same page about your planned leave schedule. Congrats on your pregnancy! It sounds like you re'being super proactive about planning, which is exactly what this thread shows is so important for navigating the PFL system successfully.
As a new member here, I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm currently 8 months pregnant and had been planning to figure out the baby bonding leave "later" - but reading through everyone's experiences has made me realize I need to start planning NOW. The strict 1-year deadline is honestly shocking - I had no idea you had to actually START the leave before the birthday, not just apply. @Zoe Alexopoulos your story is both terrifying and inspiring! I can't imagine the panic of realizing you almost missed the deadline, but I'm so glad you were able to get everything sorted out in time. Your success gives me confidence that with proper planning it's totally doable. I'm definitely going to start researching the DE2508 form and having conversations with my HR department ASAP. This thread has been more educational than anything I've found on the EDD website - thank you all for sharing your real experiences and advice!
Zara Shah
I'm so glad to see this thread developed with so many helpful responses! As someone who just went through a similar PFL date correction experience last month, I wanted to add that if you're still having trouble getting through to EDD by phone, you can also try sending a secure message through your UI Online account explaining the date error. While calling is definitely faster and more direct, I've had success with the secure messaging system for simple corrections like this. Just be very specific about what needs to be changed and include your claim confirmation number. They usually respond within 3-5 business days, though calling is still your best bet for urgent fixes. The early morning call strategy everyone's mentioned really does work - I got through at 8:05 AM on my first try. Hope this helps anyone else dealing with similar date issues!
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Sofia Ramirez
•That's a great point about the secure messaging option! I hadn't even thought about that as a backup plan. It's really helpful to know there's an alternative if the phone lines are completely jammed. I'm definitely going to try calling first thing in the morning using everyone's 8 AM strategy, but it's reassuring to know I have the secure messaging route as a fallback if needed. Thanks for mentioning the 3-5 day response timeframe too - that helps set expectations. This whole thread has been amazing for someone like me who's completely new to dealing with PFL claims. I feel so much more confident now about getting this fixed!
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Issac Nightingale
Just wanted to follow up on this thread since it's been so incredibly helpful! I successfully got my date corrected this morning using all the advice here. Called EDD at exactly 8:00 AM and got through on my first try - the early morning strategy really works! The representative was super understanding and said date errors are extremely common with PFL claims. She transferred me to a claims specialist who made the correction from April 27 to May 27 while I was on the phone and gave me confirmation number #PFL-DC-2025-0329-1847. The whole process took about 18 minutes and I can already see the updated end date in my UI Online account. Thank you SO much to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this community is amazing! For anyone else who makes this mistake, don't panic - it really is a straightforward fix if you call early and have your paperwork ready. Miguel, Amara, Gabriel, Freya, and everyone else who helped - you literally saved my sanity and my benefits!
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•This is such an amazing update to read! Congratulations on getting it fixed so quickly and smoothly. It's really encouraging to see that all the advice in this thread actually worked in practice. Your confirmation number and timeline details will be super helpful for anyone else who finds this thread in the future. I'm new to the PFL system myself and was honestly pretty intimidated by the whole process, but seeing how supportive this community is and how manageable these types of corrections actually are makes me feel much more confident. Thanks for taking the time to come back and update everyone - it really shows how this mistake that felt so catastrophic at first turned into a totally solvable problem with the right approach!
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