Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
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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!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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back to original question - my sister works for a district in northern cali and said some districts have opted out of SDI completely so check your district policy too. if they opted out, you might be eligible for different benefits thru the district instead of EDD.
That's a good point! Some public employers opt out of SDI and offer their own disability plans. If that's the case for your district, you'd go through their internal process rather than EDD. The OP mentioned seeing SDI deductions on her paystub though, so it sounds like her district participates in the state program.
Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation! I was a substitute teacher who got moved to a "temporary" office position at my district for over 18 months, and I was so worried about benefits when I got pregnant. The good news is that your employment classification (permanent vs non-permanent) has zero impact on EDD eligibility - it's all about those SDI contributions you mentioned seeing on your paystub! One tip that really helped me: start gathering your documents early. You'll want recent paystubs, your doctor's contact info, and your expected due date ready when you file. Also, don't stress too much about the timing - you have some flexibility with when to start your leave. I ended up working until 38 weeks because I felt fine, and it worked out great. The school district HR departments can be notoriously unhelpful with EDD questions (mine told me to "just call EDD" 🙄), but the process is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. You've got this!
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To answer your follow-up question - yes, EDD will notify you when your PFL claim is approved. You'll get an email notification (if you opted for electronic communications) and a letter in the mail. You can also check your claim status online, but the system isn't always updated in real-time. PFL claims are taking anywhere from 7-21 days to process right now. They're supposed to be processed within 14 days, but there's often a backlog, especially at the beginning of the year.
Thank you for the timeline info. I guess I'll just have to be patient and keep checking my account. And definitely NOT certify for those UI weeks!
Hey there! Congrats on your new baby! 🎉 I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and totally understand the confusion. You're absolutely making the right choice by NOT certifying for those UI weeks - everyone here has given you solid advice about avoiding the double-dipping issue. Just wanted to add a couple things that helped me during the waiting period: - Make sure you have all your baby's documentation ready (birth certificate, etc.) in case EDD requests additional verification - Keep screenshots of your PFL application confirmation and any reference numbers - If you're breastfeeding, remember that your PFL baby bonding can run up to 8 weeks, so plan accordingly The wait is definitely nerve-wracking (mine took about 2.5 weeks), but once it processes you'll get backdated payments to your start date. Hang in there - you're doing everything right! Focus on enjoying those precious newborn days instead of stressing about EDD 💕
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Just wanted to follow up - I think there's some confusion in the comments about terminology that might be making your search for help harder. For pregnancy-related benefits, you first get Pregnancy Disability Leave (SDI) for 4 weeks before birth and 6-8 weeks after birth depending on delivery type. Then you transition to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding (8 weeks). They're both administered by EDD but processed by different departments with different phone numbers. Since you mentioned you've only received one SDI payment so far, you need to speak with the Disability Insurance office first to fix those payments before dealing with PFL. The number for DI is 1-800-480-3287. Once your SDI is sorted out, then you can address the PFL portion.
Thank you for clarifying! I've been using SDI and DI interchangeably and probably causing confusion. You're right that I need to get the disability part fixed first. My doctor authorized 6 weeks post-delivery (vaginal delivery) which should have ended in early December. Then I was supposed to transition to PFL for baby bonding starting mid-December. But I've only received that one disability payment in January, nothing before or after 😩
I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - the stress of dealing with EDD while caring for a newborn is absolutely crushing. I went through something similar last year with my daughter's PFL claim. Here's what finally worked for me after 2+ months of hell: I contacted my state assembly member's office AND my state senator's office simultaneously. Don't just email - call both offices and ask to speak with their constituent services team about an urgent EDD matter. Tell them you're a new mom with zero income for 4+ months and need immediate intervention. In my experience, the senator's office had more pull with EDD than the assembly office. Also, when you do get through to EDD (using the tips others shared), ask them to escalate your case to a "Tier 2" specialist immediately. Don't let them tell you to wait - insist that 4 months without payment constitutes an emergency. Document everything - dates, times, names of who you spoke with. You've got this mama, and your persistence WILL pay off! ❤️
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I feel your pain, OP. The waiting game with EDD is the worst. While you're waiting, make sure you're keeping detailed records of your caregiving duties. It might help if they need more info later. Hang in there! 💪
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my PFL claim about 4 weeks ago and it's been radio silence. It's so stressful not knowing what's happening, especially when you're already dealing with a family member who needs care. I've been checking the online portal daily but the status just says "pending" with no other details. Has anyone had luck with the online chat feature, or is calling really the only way to get answers? This whole process feels broken when people who need help are left hanging for months. 😤
Emma Anderson
just use up ur $406 and file for welfare until baby comes. thats what i did. its not worth the headache with EDD.
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Amina Toure
•That's not necessarily the best advice. EDD benefits are typically higher than welfare benefits, and filing for a new disability claim after delivery is a straightforward process with the right documentation. It's better to maximize the benefits you're entitled to rather than switching to a different program that might provide less support.
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Edison Estevez
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! I'm 34 weeks and have about $300 left on my current claim. From what I've researched and been told by my OB's office, you CAN file a new disability claim after delivery even within the same benefit year because childbirth is considered a separate medical event from your initial pregnancy complications. The key things I've learned: - Use up your remaining $406 first - Have your doctor fill out the DE2501 form right after delivery (they can do this at the hospital) - The new claim covers your recovery period (6-8 weeks depending on delivery type) - Then you transition to PFL baby bonding after recovery I'm planning to bring the paperwork to the hospital with me so there's no delay. My doctor's office said they're used to filling these out and it's pretty routine. Hang in there mama, we're almost there! 💪
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