Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Hey OP, what's your reason for filing PFL? I'm considering it for bonding time with my newborn, but I'm worried about the financial impact. Any thoughts?
Amina Diallo
•I'm actually filing for the same reason! From what I've read, you get about 60-70% of your wages. It's not full pay, but it's better than nothing for sure.
Congrats on the new baby! 🎉 The bonding time is priceless, even if the pay is reduced. Totally worth it imo
Ava Martinez
I'm going through the PFL process right now too! Filed about 10 days ago and still waiting to hear back. From reading all these comments, it sounds like the timeline really varies depending on when you file and how backed up they are. I'm trying to stay patient but it's definitely stressful not knowing when you'll hear something. Has anyone had luck checking the status online, or is calling really the only way to get updates?
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NebulaNova
Protip: if you can't get through on the phone, try reaching out on Twitter. Sometimes their social media team is more responsive than the actual call center.
Amara Okafor
I'm dealing with the exact same thing! Applied 5 weeks ago and still stuck on "processing." It's so frustrating not knowing what's happening or if there's an issue with my application. I've tried calling but like everyone else mentioned, can't get through. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess. Going to try some of the suggestions here, especially calling right when they open. This whole system really needs an overhaul 😤
Sayid Hassan
•I'm new here but going through the same nightmare! Applied almost 7 weeks ago and still nothing but "processing." The lack of transparency is maddening - like, just tell us if something's missing or give us an actual timeline! I've been lurking and reading all these horror stories. Definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy. This whole situation is stressing me out more than whatever I need the leave for in the first place 😩
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Rachel Tao
lol why is it easier to file my taxes than to get this PFL stuff sorted? 🤡 The whole system needs an overhaul
Derek Olson
Quick question - does anyone know if you can apply for PFL retroactively? I've been caring for my mom for a few weeks already but just found out about this benefit.
Pretty sure you can, but there's a time limit. I think it's within 41 days of starting your leave? Double-check on the official website tho
QuantumQuest
•@Danielle Mays is right about the 41-day rule! I had a similar situation and was able to apply retroactively. Just make sure you have documentation showing when your family care responsibilities started. The sooner you apply, the better - they can be pretty strict about those deadlines.
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I'm dealing with something very similar! Got SDI checks while on employer-paid leave and panicking about the same things. After reading all these responses, I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy AND use certified mail as backup. One thing I learned from my HR department - they said to make sure I document EVERYTHING because sometimes these situations can take months to fully resolve. I'm keeping a spreadsheet with dates, times of calls, reference numbers, etc. Also wanted to mention - if you have a union representative at work, they might be able to help navigate this too. Mine was actually the one who told me about the potential tax form issues @PrinceJoe mentioned. Hang in there! You're being super responsible by handling this proactively instead of just cashing the checks and hoping for the best like some people do.
This is such great advice about documenting everything! I'm definitely going to start a spreadsheet too - I wish I had thought of that from the beginning. The union rep idea is really smart, I didn't even think about reaching out to mine. It's so reassuring to know other people are going through this exact same situation. The whole system really needs better coordination between employer benefits and state programs. Thanks for the encouragement - some days I feel like I'm the only one who made this mistake!
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just had my baby 3 weeks ago and realized I shouldn't have applied for SDI since my company provides full salary continuation. Reading through everyone's advice here is so helpful - it sounds like the consensus is to both mail the checks back AND get through to an actual EDD representative to document it in your file. I'm planning to try the early morning calling strategy tomorrow (calling at 7:55am before they officially open) and also looking into that Claimyr service several people mentioned. The idea of waiting months like @Brooklyn Knight did is terrifying, especially with a newborn! One question - for those who successfully returned checks, did you write "VOID" across the entire front of the check or just in a specific spot? I want to make sure I do this correctly. Also keeping my fingers crossed that the new parent exhaustion doesn't make me mess up any of the paperwork! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this confusing system.
Holly Lascelles
Quick question - does anyone know if changing your name affects your claim in any way? Like, does it reset anything or cause delays? I'm in the middle of receiving benefits and don't wanna mess that up.
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Malia Ponder
•Nah, you're good. I changed mine mid-claim and it didn't affect anything. Just make sure you keep certifying under your old name until they confirm the change.
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Holly Lascelles
•Oh thank god. That's a relief. Thx for the info!
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Diego Flores
Just wanted to share my recent experience - I actually managed to get through to EDD on my third try by calling right when they opened at 8am. The agent was super helpful and walked me through everything. She said the name change usually takes 5-7 business days to process once they receive your documents. Also, pro tip: they prefer if you send a certified copy of your marriage certificate rather than just a regular photocopy. It might take a bit longer to get one, but it speeds up their processing time. Hope this helps someone! 🤞
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Zainab Yusuf
•Thanks for sharing your experience! 8am calling strategy is smart - I never thought about timing it that way. Quick question though - where do you get a certified copy of your marriage certificate? Is that something you have to request from the county clerk or can you get it online? Just want to make sure I'm prepared before I call! 📋
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