I'm jumping in as someone who just completed this exact process 3 months ago with twins! What really helped me was creating a dedicated email folder for all EDD correspondence and taking screenshots of everything I submitted online. The system can be glitchy and having your own digital trail is a lifesaver. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: when you transition from PDL to PFL after birth, there's sometimes a gap where you might not receive payments for a week or two while they process the new claim. Plan your budget accordingly! Also, your PFL benefits might be calculated differently than your PDL benefits depending on your base period wages, so don't assume they'll be the same amount. The fact that you're planning this out so thoroughly at 36 weeks shows you're going to navigate this successfully. Just remember to be patient with the system - it's not perfect, but the benefits are definitely worth the paperwork hassle. You're doing everything right by asking these questions now rather than scrambling at the last minute!

As someone who works in HR and helps employees navigate these benefits regularly, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help! First, when you file your DE2501 for disability, make sure to list your retail job as your "primary employer" since that's the one you're taking leave from. Your data entry job should be listed in the "other employment" section with clear notation that you're continuing it. One thing I always tell employees is to request read receipts when emailing documents to EDD, and if submitting online, print out the confirmation page immediately. The system sometimes doesn't save submissions properly and having proof you filed can save you major headaches later. Also, consider asking your retail job's HR if they participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) Enhanced program - some employers pay the extra premium that gives you higher benefit rates. It's worth checking since every dollar counts when you're on leave! You're being so smart to plan this out in advance. Most people wait until they're in labor to figure this stuff out! 😅

This thread is absolutely invaluable! As a first-time parent who just had my baby 3 weeks ago, I'm so grateful I found this before making any decisions about my weekend catering job. I'm currently on PFL from my main office job and was considering picking up a few catering gigs to help with expenses, but after reading about Santiago's $2300 repayment and seeing how strict EDD is about ANY work during leave, I'm definitely not going to risk it. The system really is broken when they give you 60-70% income but penalize you for trying to survive on that reduced amount. Maria, thank you so much for calling EDD and sharing their response - it probably saved me and countless other parents from making costly mistakes. I'm also shocked that you had to use a paid service just to get through to them, but I'll definitely keep Claimyr in mind if I need to contact EDD about anything else. It's heartbreaking that new parents have to choose between financial stability and following confusing rules, but this community is amazing for helping us navigate these impossible situations together!

This thread has been such an eye-opener for me as someone who's currently 5 months pregnant and working both as a physical therapist at a clinic and doing home visits on the side. I had no idea these restrictions existed and was definitely planning to continue some home visits during PFL since it seemed like "different work" from my clinic job. Reading about Santiago's $2300 repayment and all the failed appeals is honestly terrifying - that's more than I'd make in several months of home visits! It's so backwards that EDD reduces our income but then punishes us for trying to survive financially. Maria, thank you for being brave enough to call EDD and share what they told you. Your experience with Claimyr is really valuable - I hate that we have to pay just to get basic information from our own government, but clearly it's worth it to avoid thousands in penalties. I'm definitely going to call them before I apply to get official guidance on my PT situation. This community is incredible for helping parents avoid these costly traps that EDD doesn't clearly explain upfront!

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.

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! 🤞

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?

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?

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.

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 😤