I'm so glad you posted this question! I was in the exact same boat last year and the confusion is totally understandable. Everyone here is absolutely right - California PFL for baby bonding is still 8 weeks, no recent changes. Your coworker is probably thinking of the TOTAL leave time when you combine pregnancy disability + PFL bonding + any employer benefits, which can definitely add up to 12-16+ weeks. I had my baby in October and made the same transition from disability to PFL. Here's what I learned: definitely file your PFL claim about 2 weeks before your disability ends (like others have mentioned), and don't be afraid to split up those 8 weeks! I took 5 weeks right after my disability ended, then saved 3 weeks for later in the year when my childcare fell through unexpectedly. One tip that really helped me - I created a simple calendar showing exactly when each type of leave would start and end, including any employer benefits. It made everything so much clearer! The EDD website can be confusing, but once you understand that disability and PFL are two separate programs with separate applications, it gets easier. Hang in there - you've got this! 💪

As someone who just went through this exact situation a few months ago, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - California PFL for baby bonding is still 8 weeks, no changes! Your coworker is definitely mixing up the total leave time (which can be 14-18+ weeks when you combine disability + PFL + employer benefits) with just the PFL portion. I had my baby in December and was so confused about the same thing. What really helped me was calling it the "leave sandwich" - you get disability leave (the bread), then PFL bonding time (more bread), and sometimes employer benefits (the filling). Each piece is separate but they stack together! One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can actually overlap with your husband's PFL time, which is amazing for those first few weeks when you're both learning how to parent. We took 3 weeks together and it was honestly the best decision we made. Also, definitely take advantage of being able to split your 8 weeks - I used 6 weeks right after my disability ended, then saved 2 weeks for when my baby was 6 months old and going through a rough sleep regression phase. Having that flexibility was a lifesaver! Good luck with everything - you're going to do great! And don't stress too much about the EDD bureaucracy, it's confusing for everyone but it works out in the end. 😊

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation and was feeling really anxious about the whole process. Reading everyone's experiences and tips has made this seem so much more manageable. I especially appreciate the practical advice about calling in the afternoon, having all documents ready, and writing down your explanation beforehand. It's also really reassuring to hear that multiple people have gone through this successfully without any negative impacts on future claims. I'm planning to call tomorrow afternoon armed with all the tips from this thread. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing! 🙏

I just successfully canceled my PFL claim last week and wanted to share what worked for me! After reading through all the great advice in this thread, I decided to call at 2:30 PM on a Tuesday (thanks for that tip @Chloe Harris!) and got through after only a 15-minute hold - way better than the horror stories I'd heard about hour-long waits. I had everything prepared beforehand: claim number, SSN, dates, and a brief written explanation of why I needed to cancel (returning to work earlier than expected). The representative was super professional and understanding. She asked a few basic questions about my reason for canceling and whether I was certain about my decision, but the whole process was surprisingly straightforward. The call lasted about 12 minutes total, and I received email confirmation the next day. For anyone still hesitating - just do it! It's really not as scary as it seems, and having a plan based on everyone's advice here makes all the difference. Thanks to this amazing community for all the support and guidance! 🙌

I just went through this exact same situation last week! The combination of login issues and impossible phone wait times is so maddening when you're trying to care for a new baby. What finally worked for me was actually filing a complaint through the EDD website's "Contact EDD" form under the "Technical Issues" category - within 24 hours someone from their IT department called me back and walked me through resetting my account over the phone. It was much faster than trying to get through the regular phone lines. They also mentioned that if you've been locked out due to multiple password reset attempts, there's actually a 72-hour waiting period before you can try again (which they don't tell you anywhere!). If you haven't tried that route yet, it might save you the trip to Fresno. But honestly, having a backup plan with all those documents ready is smart too - this system is so unpredictable! Hope you get it sorted out soon mama! ❤️

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - been trying to file my PFL claim for bonding leave for almost 3 weeks! The system keeps timing out when I try to submit my application, and when I call, I either get disconnected after an hour+ wait or get transferred to someone who can't help with PFL issues. Reading through all these suggestions is giving me so much hope though! I'm definitely going to try the Assembly member route first (had no idea that was even an option), then the technical support contact form, and the browser clearing tricks. It's honestly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this nightmare - the whole system seems designed to exhaust you into giving up. For anyone else in this boat, save screenshots of EVERYTHING - error messages, confirmation numbers, even the phone wait times. Having that documentation has been helpful when explaining the issues to anyone who will listen. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions! 🙏

Oh no, this is so frustrating! 😤 I'm actually going through the exact same thing right now - submitted my PFL application last week and it's nowhere to be found on the website even though I have the confirmation number. It's like it vanished into thin air! I've been checking obsessively every day hoping it'll magically appear. At least I'm not the only one dealing with this mess. The EDD system really needs a major overhaul. Hope we both get this sorted out soon! 🤞

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! 😔 I actually work as a customer service rep (not for EDD, but for another government agency) and system glitches like this are unfortunately more common than they should be. A few things that might help while you're waiting to get through on the phone: 1. Try accessing the site at different times of day - sometimes the servers are less overloaded early morning or late evening 2. Clear your browser cache and cookies completely before logging back in 3. If you have the confirmation email, forward it to yourself as backup documentation 4. Keep a detailed log of every call you make (date, time, who you spoke with, reference numbers) The fact that you have a receipt number is actually good news - it means your application DID go through on their end, even if their website isn't displaying it properly. Don't give up! The system is frustrating but your claim is in there somewhere. Sending you good vibes! ✨

I'm so sorry for your loss and the additional stress you're dealing with during this already difficult time. The complete lack of transparency in EDD's PFL caregiving appeal process is absolutely unacceptable - it's 2025 and they can't even provide a basic "appeal received" status update online? I went through something similar last year when my uncle was in his final stages in Texas. EDD initially denied my caregiving claim because his oncologist wasn't in California, even though I had all the proper documentation. The appeal process was a nightmare - weeks of complete silence with no way to check status online. What finally worked for me was getting my state assemblymember's office involved after about 5 weeks of no communication. Their constituent services team called EDD directly and suddenly my "lost" appeal was magically found and approved within 72 hours. It's ridiculous that it takes political intervention to get basic customer service, but that's the reality with EDD's broken system. Keep detailed records of every call you make and every document you submit. If you haven't heard anything by the 3-week mark, definitely consider reaching out to your local representative's office. They deal with EDD issues all the time and know exactly who to contact. The system is clearly designed to prioritize baby bonding claims over caregiving claims, which is infuriating when you're dealing with end-of-life care for a parent. You shouldn't have to fight this hard while you're grieving.

I'm really sorry for your loss and the bureaucratic nightmare you're dealing with on top of everything else. This thread has been incredibly informative about how broken the PFL caregiving system is compared to other EDD programs. I'm currently caring for my elderly father who has dementia, and thankfully his doctors are all in California, but reading these experiences makes me realize how lucky that is. The fact that EDD can quickly approve baby bonding claims with full online tracking but leaves caregiving claimants completely in the dark during appeals is honestly shameful. What strikes me most about your situation is that you have documentation from THREE different medical sources - that should be more than sufficient evidence. The hospice documentation alone should carry significant weight since hospice care requires serious medical certification regardless of what state it's in. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like persistence with phone calls is key, and the suggestion about involving your state representative after 3-4 weeks seems like solid advice. The fact that multiple people had their "lost" appeals suddenly found after political intervention really exposes how dysfunctional their internal processes are. Keep fighting for what you deserve - you were there for your father when he needed you most, and you absolutely deserve these benefits. The system is broken, not your claim.