To answer your question about the birth certificate - you don't need to wait for the official birth certificate to arrive before applying for PFL. When you file your PFL claim, you can initially provide the hospital discharge papers or other documentation showing you had the baby. You can always provide the birth certificate later once it arrives. And yes, you can typically use PTO to supplement SDI and PFL to get to 100% of your normal wages, but that's entirely up to your employer's policies. Some allow it, some don't, and some require you to use PTO first before state benefits kick in. Definitely check with your HR department.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation! I had a UI overpayment from 2021 that I was still paying off when I went on maternity leave in 2023. Like everyone said, it didn't affect my SDI or PFL at all - got my full benefits on time. One thing I'd add is to screenshot/save all your documentation when you file online. The EDD system can be glitchy and sometimes forms don't save properly. I learned this the hard way when my initial SDI filing seemed to disappear and I had to resubmit everything. Also, set up direct deposit if you haven't already - it's so much faster than waiting for paper checks, especially when you're dealing with newborn chaos! You've got this mama! The hardest part is just the anxiety of not knowing, but sounds like you're being super proactive about getting everything sorted.

I've been in the exact same situation! After weeks of getting nowhere with the phone system, I finally had success with a combination approach. First, I used the online contact form on the EDD website - even though they say it takes 5-7 business days, I got a response in 3 days. Second, I called my state assembly member's office and they actually have a dedicated EDD liaison who helped escalate my case. The assembly office route was a game changer - they got back to me within 24 hours with an update. Also, if you're tech-savvy, there are browser extensions that can auto-redial for you, which saved my sanity. Don't lose hope, there are ways around this broken system! 💪

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been calling for over a week with zero luck. The "maximum callers" message is so frustrating - like they're not even trying to help us. I'm going to try some of these strategies mentioned here, especially the 8 AM calling time and contacting my assembly member. It's crazy that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access benefits we're entitled to. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess! 😤

I've been dealing with the same overlapping claims issue! What worked for me was calling the 1-877-238-4373 number (the PFL-specific line) rather than the general disability number. I called at exactly 8:01 AM on a Tuesday and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep was able to fix my start date issue right on the spot. Also, make sure you have your confirmation numbers for both claims ready - they'll need those to sort out the overlap. Don't give up, it's definitely fixable once you get someone on the line!

I had the exact same issue with overlapping dates between my PFL and disability claims! It was such a nightmare trying to get it sorted out. What finally worked for me was being super persistent with the callbacks - I called every single day at 8 AM sharp until I got through. When I finally reached someone, they were actually really helpful and fixed it within 10 minutes once they understood the situation. The key is having all your documentation ready: both confirmation numbers, your correct start/end dates written down, and your social security number. Also, be really clear about which claim needs the date correction when you're explaining the issue. It's frustrating but definitely fixable! Don't let them transfer you around - insist that the first person you talk to handles it or connects you directly to someone who can. Good luck! 🙏

As someone who works in benefits administration, I want to emphasize what others have said about the 49-day filing deadline - this is absolutely critical and many people miss it because they misunderstand how employer benefits coordinate with state programs. Here's the key point: California requires you to file your SDI claim within 49 days of when your doctor certifies your pregnancy disability (typically around 36 weeks). This deadline exists regardless of whether your employer pays you 0%, 50%, or 100% during leave. Your employer's policy of "100% base pay coverage" could mean: - They supplement SDI/PFL to reach 100% (concurrent) - They pay you separately and don't use state benefits (substitute) - They coordinate behind the scenes in ways you may not see The problem is many HR departments use confusing language like "in lieu of state benefits" when they actually mean "in addition to state benefits." My strong recommendation: File your DE2501 form as soon as your doctor provides pregnancy disability certification, even if you're receiving full employer pay. This preserves your rights and starts your benefit timeline. If it turns out you don't need the payments because your employer covers everything, no harm done. But if you miss that 49-day window, you've lost thousands in benefits you've been paying into through payroll deductions. Also make sure to ask HR specifically: "Am I required to file for state disability benefits while receiving company maternity pay?" Get the answer documented.

I'm a new mom who just went through this exact situation 3 months ago! Your confusion is totally understandable - the timing rules are so confusing when you have generous employer benefits. Here's what I learned the hard way: You absolutely MUST file your SDI claim within 49 days of when your doctor certifies your pregnancy disability (usually around 36 weeks), even though your employer is paying you 100%. That 49-day clock starts ticking from your disability date, NOT from when your company benefits end. I almost made the same mistake you're considering - waiting until my employer-paid leave ended to apply for state benefits. Thankfully a coworker caught my error just in time! Even though my company called their policy "separate from state benefits," it turned out they actually coordinated behind the scenes. The key things to ask your HR: - Do I need to file for SDI/PFL while receiving company pay? - Does our policy run concurrently with state benefits or consecutively? - Will the company file claims on my behalf or do I need to do it myself? My advice: File your DE2501 form as soon as your doctor certifies disability, regardless of what your employer is doing. You can always sort out payment coordination later, but you can't recover from missing that 49-day deadline. I would have lost about $4,000 in benefits I'd been paying into if I had waited! Don't let the generous employer policy fool you into missing out on state benefits you're entitled to. File early and ask questions later! 💕

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Just got off a successful SDI claim and now they're hitting me with this Supplemental Certification request before I can start my PFL. It's so confusing because I thought once SDI ended, that would be it! From reading everyone's responses here, it sounds like this is pretty common and usually related to timeline issues or needing to close out the SDI file properly. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy and check my online account for any specific explanations. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really helpful to know this won't necessarily delay the PFL process once it gets sorted out! The EDD paperwork maze never ends, but at least we're all in it together 😅

Hey Connor! I actually just went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago. The Supplemental Certification request totally threw me off too - I was like "wait, didn't my SDI claim already close?" From my experience, they usually ask for this when there's some kind of administrative loose end they need to tie up from your SDI claim before processing your new PFL application. In my case, it was because my return-to-work date didn't perfectly align with when my SDI benefits stopped, so they needed clarification. The good news is that it didn't actually delay my PFL benefits once I got it sorted out! I was able to submit my PFL application while this was being resolved, and they processed everything in parallel. My advice: definitely check your online EDD account first for any specific messages explaining why they need it. That saved me a lot of confusion. And if you do need to call, the early morning strategy really works - I got through around 8:05 AM on my third try. Don't stress too much about it - this seems to be pretty routine when transitioning from SDI to PFL. You've got this! 👍