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Congratulations on your baby girl! I'm currently 8 months pregnant and trying to figure all this out myself, so this thread is incredibly helpful. From what I understand after reading everyone's responses, the key points seem to be: 1) Disability payments continue automatically after birth notification for 6-8 weeks, 2) You need to file a completely separate PFL baby bonding claim (DE2501FP) around week 5, and 3) EDD won't automatically transition you or remind you to file. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and setting calendar reminders! Question for those who've been through this - is there a specific day of the week that's better for calling EDD if you need to speak with someone? I've heard mixed advice about timing calls to actually get through.
Hi @Zainab Ibrahim! Great question about timing EDD calls. From my experience and what I've heard from others, Tuesday through Thursday mornings (8-10am) tend to have the shortest wait times. Mondays are usually swamped with weekend backlog, and Fridays can be hit or miss. Also, try calling right at 8am when they open - sometimes you can get in the queue before it gets too backed up. That said, even with "good" timing you might still wait 1-2 hours, so definitely have snacks and entertainment ready! Another tip: have your claim number and all relevant dates written down before you call so you're ready when someone finally picks up. Good luck with your upcoming claim process!
Congratulations on your baby girl! I went through this exact situation last year and can share some practical tips. Yes, your disability payments should continue automatically after submitting the Notice of Actual Birth - you won't need to certify during the recovery period. However, here's what I wish someone had told me: start monitoring your SDI Online account closely around week 4-5 for any notifications about your claim ending. That's your cue to immediately file the baby bonding PFL claim (DE2501FP form). I also recommend calling EDD around week 4 to confirm your exact disability end date - this gives you a clear timeline for filing the separate PFL claim. The biggest mistake I see people make is treating these as one continuous benefit when they're actually two separate claims that you have to manage yourself. EDD's system assumes you know this, but they do a terrible job explaining it. Set phone reminders now while you remember, because with a newborn, time flies and missing that transition window can cost you weeks of benefits. You've got this, but definitely stay proactive rather than waiting for EDD to guide you!
I'm brand new to this community but sadly not new to EDD frustrations. My PFL application has been stuck in limbo for 4 weeks now with absolutely no movement or communication. Reading through all your experiences here is both heartbreaking and oddly comforting - at least I know I'm not going crazy! The most frustrating part is that we're all dealing with legitimate family emergencies that require our time and attention, yet we're forced to become full-time EDD advocates just to get basic updates on our own applications. I've tried calling dozens of times with no luck, but I'm definitely going to try some of the strategies mentioned here - especially the local EDD office approach and contacting my state rep. Thank you all for sharing your stories and tips. It's clear this system is completely broken, but knowing there's a community of people fighting the same fight makes it feel a little less impossible. We shouldn't have to work this hard for benefits we're entitled to, but I guess that's where we are. Sending strength to everyone dealing with this mess! 💙
@Sophie Footman Welcome to this unfortunately necessary community! Your situation sounds all too familiar - 4 weeks of limbo is just unacceptable. I m'also pretty new here but have been lurking and learning from everyone s'experiences. What really strikes me about your post is how you captured exactly what makes this so frustrating - we re'dealing with family emergencies that need our focus, but instead we re'forced to become EDD detectives just to get basic information about our own benefits. It s'like they ve'designed the system to exhaust us into giving up. Definitely try the local office route that @Alberto Souchard mentioned - seems to be the most successful strategy from what I m reading.'Also, don t hesitate'to reach out to your state rep s office.'From the comments here, they actually seem to respond and help escalate cases. Hang in there, and keep us posted on your progress! 🤞
Just joining this community after finding myself in the exact same nightmare situation! My PFL application completely vanished after 6 weeks of waiting - not pending, not denied, just GONE. When I finally got through to someone (took 3 days of constant calling), they acted like it was totally normal and told me to "just reapply." No explanation, no apology, nothing. It's absolutely mind-blowing that in 2024, a state agency can lose our applications and treat it like no big deal. Meanwhile, I'm juggling a family medical crisis AND trying to decode this broken system. The stress is honestly making everything worse. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both validating and infuriating - we're all dealing with the same systemic failures. I'm definitely going to try the local EDD office strategy and reach out to my state rep. At this point, I'm willing to try anything! Thanks for creating a space where we can share strategies and support each other through this bureaucratic hell. Nobody should have to fight this hard for benefits they've earned! 😤💪
@Diego Fisher I m'so sorry you re'dealing with this too! Just joined this community myself and your story sounds eerily similar to what I ve'been going through. 6 weeks vanishing into thin air is absolutely insane - how do they just lose "applications" in a digital system?? The fact that they act like it s'no big deal when you finally reach them is what really gets me. Like, this is our livelihood we re'talking about! I m'also juggling family responsibilities while trying to navigate this mess, and you re'right - the stress just makes everything so much harder. It s'honestly a relief to find this community and realize I m'not the only one dealing with these systemic failures. Definitely try the local office route that others have mentioned - seems like that s'been the most successful approach. We really shouldn t'have to become full-time advocates just to access our own benefits, but here we are! Keep fighting and keep us updated on how it goes 🙏
Don't stress too much about this - it's actually a pretty common mistake! I work in HR and see people mix up SDI and PFL dates all the time. The EDD agents are used to handling these corrections. When you call, just explain that you accidentally used your SDI start date for PFL and need to update it to reflect when you actually plan to take family leave. They'll likely ask for the correct dates and any supporting documentation. Keep your paperwork handy and you should be good to go. These kinds of administrative fixes are routine for them!
I made a similar mistake a few months ago and was completely panicking! I called the EDD customer service line and the agent was actually really helpful. She explained that these date mix-ups happen more often than you'd think, especially when people are dealing with both SDI and PFL applications around the same time. The key is to call as soon as possible to get it corrected. When I called, I just explained exactly what happened - that I accidentally used the wrong date and needed to update my PFL application. They were able to fix it right in the system while I was on the phone. Just make sure you have your confirmation numbers and the correct dates ready when you call. You'll be fine!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really comforting to know that someone else went through the exact same thing and it worked out okay. I was so worried that I'd somehow messed up my entire claim, but hearing that they fixed it right on the phone is a huge relief. I'll definitely have all my paperwork ready when I call. Really appreciate you taking the time to share this - it's exactly what I needed to hear! 🙏
btw my benefit was like 65% of my normal paycheck which was wayyyy less than i expected... make sure u have some savings!!! and the first payment took almost 3 weeks to arrive so plan for that too
Just wanted to add - if you're planning to take the full bonding time, you can actually extend PFL for up to 8 weeks (sometimes more in certain situations). Also, your job is protected under CFRA/FMLA during this time if your employer has 50+ employees. I made the mistake of not understanding my job protection rights and was super stressed about returning to work. Don't forget to coordinate with your HR about when you're planning to return so they can hold your position! And definitely start thinking about childcare arrangements during your leave - the waiting lists are insane right now.
This is such great advice about job protection! I hadn't even thought about coordinating with HR about my return date or childcare waiting lists. My company has about 200 employees so I should be covered under FMLA. Do you know if I need to give them a specific return date when I start my leave, or can I adjust it later if I decide to take the full 8 weeks of bonding time?
Lucas Parker
Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through the EDD maze before - definitely try the early morning calling strategy that others mentioned, but also consider reaching out through their "Contact EDD" form on the website if you haven't already. Sometimes the written requests get routed to a different department that can actually help. I had a similar date issue with my disability claim last year and the online form worked when phone calls didn't. Also, if you have any family or friends who've successfully navigated EDD issues, ask them to walk you through exactly what they said on their successful calls. Having the right "script" can make a huge difference with getting past the first level of customer service. Hang in there - it's frustrating but definitely fixable! 💪
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Sofia Ramirez
•This is really helpful! I hadn't thought about using the online "Contact EDD" form as an alternative route. That's actually brilliant - sometimes different departments have better systems or more authority to fix these issues. I'm definitely going to try both approaches (calling early morning AND submitting the online form) to maximize my chances. The idea about having a "script" ready is also smart - I'll ask around to see if anyone I know has had success with similar issues. Thanks for the encouragement and the practical tips! 🙏
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Luca Romano
I work for a benefits consulting firm and see this exact issue ALL the time with EDD PFL claims. Here's what's likely happening: when you submitted your claim online, there was probably a glitch where only the start date got properly saved to their system, not the end date. This creates a "one day" claim instead of your full leave period. The good news is this is 100% fixable once you get someone competent on the phone. My advice: 1) Call at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - you'll have the best chance of getting through, 2) Have your claim number, Social Security number, and exact leave dates ready, 3) Specifically ask them to verify BOTH your start AND end dates in their system, 4) If they see the issue, ask for immediate correction and a timeline for back payment, 5) Get a reference number for the correction. If the first person can't help, politely ask for a supervisor. This should be resolved within one call if you get the right person. Don't let them tell you to wait - this is their system error, not yours!
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