That's awesome that you got your first payment so quickly! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - make sure to keep track of your certification deadlines because if you miss one, it can really mess up your payment schedule. I almost missed my third certification and had to wait an extra week for that payment. Also, if you're planning to return to work before your full 8 weeks are up, you'll need to let EDD know or they might overpay you and then want it back later. Learned that one from a coworker who had to deal with that headache!

Just want to chime in as someone who's been through this process twice! The bi-weekly payments are definitely the norm, and I actually found it helpful for budgeting since it spreads out the income over the leave period. One tip I wish someone had told me - if you have any issues with your certification forms not showing up in UI Online (which happened to me once), you can actually call the automated phone line to complete your certification over the phone. The number is 1-866-333-4606. It saved me when the website was down during my certification window. Also, keep screenshots or records of when you complete each certification just in case there are any disputes later. EDD's system isn't perfect and having your own documentation can be a lifesaver!

I'm in the same boat, OP. Filed 6 weeks ago and crickets. This wait is killing me. How are we supposed to take care of our families without income? The system is broken af 😤

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Filed my PFL claim 5 weeks ago and still nothing. The waiting is so stressful when you're already dealing with family stuff. I've been trying to call but can never get through - the line is always busy or I get disconnected after waiting forever. Has anyone had luck calling at specific times of day? Maybe early morning or late afternoon? I'm willing to try anything at this point. The online portal is useless too - just says "processing" with no timeline. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here, at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!

CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE!!! They have liaisons who can escalate your case. It's literally their job to help constituents with stuff like this.

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my PFL claim on 8/20 and it's been radio silence ever since. Really frustrating because I need this money to take care of my newborn. I tried the early morning calling strategy that @Gianna Scott mentioned but still haven't gotten through. Thinking about trying the social media route next. Thanks everyone for the suggestions - at least I know I'm not alone in this mess!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! EDD approved my PFL claim for bonding after my son was born in February, but now they're saying I should have extended my disability benefits instead of switching to PFL. It makes no sense because I already completed my 6-week recovery period on disability and was properly transitioning to bonding time. What's really helped me so far is keeping detailed records of every conversation with EDD reps - dates, times, and names when possible. I've noticed they give completely different answers depending on who you talk to, so having that documentation has been crucial for my appeal. Also, I discovered that printing out the official EDD pamphlet that explains the difference between SDI and PFL benefits can be really helpful. It clearly states that mothers can use SDI for recovery and then PFL for bonding, which is exactly what we did. The pamphlet is available on their website under "Publications." Your situation with them overturning the decision once and then denying again sounds like their computer system is flagging your claim incorrectly. Stay strong - you followed the rules correctly and deserve those benefits!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare with EDD! Reading your story and all these comments makes me realize how common this issue is. I'm currently pregnant and planning to take both disability for recovery and then PFL for bonding, but now I'm terrified I'm going to face the same problems. Based on what everyone is sharing here, it sounds like the key is having crystal clear documentation of the transition between benefits. I'm going to start preparing now by: - Getting everything in writing from my HR department about the proper sequence - Keeping copies of all forms and submission dates - Taking notes on every conversation with EDD reps Has anyone found it helpful to involve their employer's HR department in these disputes? I'm wondering if having my employer confirm that I followed their recommended process might add weight to an appeal. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's helping me prepare better, even though it's scary to know how difficult this process can be!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My HR department has been automatically paying out my sick leave accrual during my maternity disability without telling me - I only found out when I checked my online pay portal yesterday. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both helpful and nerve-wracking, but it sounds like the consensus is to call EDD ASAP and be completely transparent about the situation. I'm planning to use that Claimyr service mentioned earlier since regular calling hasn't worked for me either. It's so frustrating that employers don't communicate these things clearly - my HR told me during my leave planning that all payroll would stop, but apparently that didn't include automatic sick leave payouts! For anyone else dealing with this, I'm keeping detailed records of all my attempts to resolve this, including screenshots of when I discovered the payments and all my call attempts. Hopefully being proactive about reporting will help avoid any major penalties. This whole system really needs better communication between employers and EDD to prevent these situations in the first place!

I went through this exact situation last year and it was so stressful! My employer had been paying out accumulated sick time during my maternity leave without any notification. What I learned is that timing is everything - the sooner you report it, the better your outcome will be. Here's what worked for me: I gathered all my bank statements showing the deposits, got documentation from HR about what the payments were for (sick time, vacation, etc.), and made a timeline of which weeks the payments were supposed to cover versus when they were actually deposited. This documentation was crucial when I finally got through to EDD. The Claims Examiner explained that they look much more favorably on self-reported income versus discovering unreported wages during an audit. In my case, they reduced my disability benefits for the affected weeks but there were no penalties since I reported proactively. The adjustment ended up being pretty minor since sick pay is usually a small percentage of your regular wages anyway. One thing that really helped was being very specific about the TYPE of payment - sick time versus vacation time versus regular wages are all treated slightly differently. Make sure your HR can provide documentation about exactly what each payment represents. Don't panic - you're doing the right thing by reporting this now rather than hoping it goes unnoticed. Most people in your situation end up with minor adjustments rather than major overpayment demands!