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I'm in almost the identical situation and this entire conversation has been such a lifesaver! My SDI ends in about a week and I have a 2.5 week gap before my planned return date. I also had a c-section and have been dealing with some ongoing recovery issues that I wasn't sure were worth mentioning to my doctor. After reading through all these amazing responses, I think I have a much clearer path forward. I'm definitely going to talk to my doctor about the persistent fatigue and occasional incision discomfort I've been experiencing - like many of you mentioned, I think I was downplaying these symptoms because I wanted to seem like I was recovering well. If there's a legitimate medical reason to extend my disability, that would be ideal. If not, I'm really intrigued by the intermittent PFL option that @Norman Fraser brought up - being able to use just a few days here and there instead of full weeks could be perfect for my situation. I had no idea that was even possible! I'm also going to check with my HR department about supplemental policies and vacation time options. One thing I wanted to add - I called my benefits administrator yesterday and they mentioned that some people don't realize you can also use accrued sick time (not just vacation) to bridge these gaps, depending on your employer's policy. Might be worth checking if you have sick leave available too. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - it's made this whole confusing process so much less overwhelming!
This thread has been absolutely incredible! I just joined this community because I'm facing the exact same situation - my SDI ends in two weeks and I have about a 3-week gap before I'm ready to return to work. I also had an emergency c-section and like so many of you, I've been experiencing some ongoing fatigue and soreness that I kind of brushed off as "normal." Reading about the intermittent PFL option from @Norman Fraser has completely changed my perspective on this! I had no idea you could use bonding time in smaller increments rather than full weeks. That could be perfect for covering just the specific days I need while preserving most of my bonding time for later when my partner goes back to work. Your point about checking sick time availability is really smart too - I completely forgot that might be an option alongside vacation days. I m'definitely going to call my HR department first thing Monday to understand all their policies. It s'so reassuring to know that so many people have navigated this successfully. The whole system really does seem designed to confuse new parents when we re'already dealing with so much! Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your experiences and strategies.
This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm in a very similar situation - my SDI ends in just over a week and I have about a 2-week gap before I planned to return to work. Like many of you, I had a c-section and have been dealing with some lingering issues (mainly fatigue and some abdominal tightness) that I hadn't really thought to discuss with my doctor as potential reasons for extended leave. The intermittent PFL option that several people have mentioned is completely new to me and sounds like it could be a perfect solution! Being able to use just specific days rather than full weeks would let me get some financial coverage while preserving most of my bonding time for later in the year when I really need it. I'm also going to check with my employer about their policies on using accrued time during family leave - I had no idea some companies have supplemental short-term disability benefits that could help bridge these gaps. One question for those who successfully got medical extensions - how did you approach that conversation with your doctor? I don't want to seem like I'm exaggerating symptoms, but I also don't want to dismiss legitimate recovery issues that might justify more time off. Thanks so much everyone for sharing your experiences so openly - this community has been such a lifeline during a really confusing time!
I went through this exact same thing last year! What really helped me was submitting a request through the "Contact EDD" form on their website instead of just calling. They actually responded within a week and told me exactly what was holding up my claim (turns out they needed an additional form I didn't know about). Also, make sure you're checking the EDD website regularly because sometimes they update requirements without telling you. Don't give up - I know it's super stressful but you'll get through this! 💪
PSA: Don't forget that paid family leave is taxable income! Set some aside or you might be in for a nasty surprise come tax season 💸
Hey Connor! I just went through this process a few months ago. After you file, you should definitely get an email confirmation within 24-48 hours. If you haven't received one, definitely check your spam folder first. The whole process can take 2-3 weeks from filing to first payment, but the waiting is the worst part! Make sure you have all your documentation ready (especially any medical forms if it's for bonding/caregiving). The EDD website also has a claim status checker you can use with your confirmation number. Hang in there - it does eventually work out! 🤞
Thanks so much for the detailed info! That's really helpful to know about the 2-3 week timeline. I did check my spam folder after someone else suggested it, but still nothing there. I'll definitely try the claim status checker - didn't even know that existed! Do you remember roughly how long it took from when you got your confirmation to when you actually received your first payment?
unpopular opinion: sometimes its easier to just let the claims overlap and deal with slightly lower benefits than go thru the hassle of changing dates. been down this road and the stress wasnt worth it for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
hey, i said unpopular opinion 😂 just sharing my experience. sometimes peace of mind is worth more than a few extra bucks
Just went through this exact same situation last month! The key is to be super specific about which claim you want adjusted and why. When I called, I explained that the overlap was preventing me from getting my full benefits and asked them to modify the start date on my FMLA claim to begin after my SDI ended. Make sure you have both claim numbers handy and be prepared to explain the timeline clearly. Also, don't hang up until they confirm the changes in the system - I made that mistake the first time and had to call back again. You got this! 💪
This is super helpful! Thanks for breaking down exactly what to say. I'm new to all this and wasn't sure how specific I needed to be. Did you have any issues with them making the changes right away or did it take a while to process?
They actually made the changes while I was on the phone! The agent was able to adjust the dates in real-time and I could see the updated information in my online account within a couple hours. The key is making sure they read back the new dates to you before you hang up - that way you know it's been entered correctly in their system.
Romeo Quest
I'm in a similar boat - submitted my PFL claim about 6 weeks ago and it's been stuck on "Pending Process" this whole time. The lack of communication is honestly the most frustrating part. I've tried calling multiple times but can never get through. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the early morning calling strategy is really the way to go. I'm also going to check with my HR department like others suggested - didn't even think about potential issues on the employer side. @Jacinda Yu have you had any luck reaching out to your HR yet? It might be worth trying before doing the paid calling service thing. The waiting game is brutal but at least we're not alone in this mess!
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Miguel Silva
•@Romeo Quest I haven t'had a chance to reach out to HR yet but I m'planning to call them first thing Monday morning. You re'absolutely right that it s'worth trying that first before paying for a calling service. 6 weeks is absolutely ridiculous - I thought my month+ wait was bad but you ve'got it even worse! Let s'both try the HR route and the 8 AM calling strategy and see if we can finally get some answers. This whole thread has been so helpful, at least now I have a concrete plan of action instead of just refreshing the portal over and over again hoping for a miracle 😅
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Maggie Martinez
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My PFL claim has been stuck on "Pending Process" for almost 7 weeks now and it's driving me crazy. The complete lack of communication is what gets me the most - like, just give us SOME kind of update or timeline estimate, you know? I've been following all the advice in this thread and finally got through to someone yesterday using the 8 AM calling strategy. Turns out there was a missing signature on one of my forms that they never told me about! Once I resubmitted it, they said it should process within 1-2 weeks. So definitely keep calling early morning and don't give up - there might be something small holding up your claim that they just haven't bothered to tell you about. The system is seriously broken but at least there's hope at the end of the tunnel!
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