Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
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!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
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.
An incredibly helpful service
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.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
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!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
After reading through all the comments, it sounds like what the person at your wife's work was referring to is the California Training Benefits (CTB) program through unemployment insurance, NOT an extension of PFL. To clarify the process for that (which is NOT designed as a parental leave extension): 1. Your wife would need to separate from her employer after PFL ends 2. She would apply for regular Unemployment Insurance 3. She would need to enroll in an approved training program 4. She would apply for the CTB program specifically This is NOT a seamless extension of benefits and has different eligibility requirements and benefit calculations. It also requires job separation, which means losing employer health insurance and other benefits. I'd strongly suggest speaking with an EDD representative directly before making any decisions based on this information.
Thank you for breaking this down so clearly. I think we had our hopes up for something that doesn't actually exist the way we thought. We'll look into other options - maybe a flexible return-to-work schedule or part-time arrangement could help.
I'm a new parent myself and went through this same confusion a few months ago. The unfortunate reality is that there's no legitimate 6-month PFL extension program in California. The 8 weeks of paid family leave for baby bonding is the maximum the state provides. However, here are some actual options that might help your situation: 1. Check if your wife's employer offers any supplemental parental leave benefits beyond what the state provides 2. Look into whether she has any accrued vacation/sick time that could extend her paid time off 3. Ask HR about a gradual return-to-work schedule or temporary part-time arrangement 4. See if your employer offers dependent care assistance or flexible spending accounts for childcare costs The California Training Benefits program others mentioned is real, but it's not designed for this purpose and would require your wife to quit her job first - which could create bigger financial problems given the loss of health insurance and other benefits. I'd recommend calling EDD directly to confirm there aren't any pilot programs or special circumstances that apply to your situation, but don't get your hopes up for a 6-month extension. Focus on practical solutions with her current employer instead.
This is really helpful advice, especially about checking with her employer for supplemental benefits. I hadn't thought about asking for a gradual return or part-time arrangement - that might be a good compromise. We're definitely going to explore the dependent care assistance options too. It's disappointing that the 6-month extension doesn't exist like we thought, but at least now we can focus on realistic solutions instead of chasing something that was never real. Thanks for laying out the actual options!
Join the conversation
Just wanted to add - if you're still having trouble with the SDI Online portal, you can also file the PFL claim by mail or fax. Sometimes the online system gets overwhelmed, especially during busy periods. The DE2508 form is available as a PDF on the EDD website. I had to do this route when my account kept locking me out. It took a bit longer to process (about 10 days vs 5 days online) but it worked! Also make sure to send it certified mail so you have proof they received it. The mailing address is on the form itself. Good luck with your new baby!
This is such great advice about the mail/fax option! I didn't even know that was possible. As someone new to all this, it's really reassuring to know there are backup options when the online system isn't cooperating. The certified mail tip is especially helpful - I would have never thought of that but it makes total sense to have proof of delivery. Thanks for sharing your experience! It's so helpful to hear from people who have actually been through this process.
I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm about to start my maternity leave in a few weeks and had no idea these were separate applications. My HR department just told me about "EDD benefits" but didn't explain the difference between SDI and PFL at all. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening. I'm definitely going to bookmark this and make sure to file my PFL claim early when the time comes. It's crazy that EDD doesn't make this transition more automatic or at least clearer in their communications. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences - it's so much more helpful than the confusing official websites!
Join the conversation
I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I was in a similar situation last year - my application sat in limbo for almost 6 weeks. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. I called first thing Monday morning around 8:00 AM (less busy time) 2. Had my application confirmation number ready 3. Asked specifically about what documents they were waiting for Turns out they needed additional medical documentation that I thought was optional. Once I submitted that, my approval came through in about a week. Also, don't feel bad about being persistent - this is YOUR benefit that you've paid into. You have every right to get answers about your application status. Keep detailed records of every call attempt and interaction. Hang in there - I know how nerve-wracking it is when you really need that leave approved! 💪
This is really helpful advice! The 8 AM Monday morning tip is genius - I never would have thought about timing it that way. I'm definitely going to try that next week. It's so frustrating that they don't just tell you upfront what documents they need! Like, why make it a guessing game when people are already stressed about needing family leave? Thanks for sharing your experience and for the encouragement. It really helps to know that persistence pays off and that I'm not being unreasonable for wanting answers after 5+ weeks. I'll make sure to document everything going forward too. 🙏
I'm dealing with something similar right now - submitted my PFL application about 4 weeks ago and still showing "pending" in the portal. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and nerve-wracking! 😅 It sounds like the timing can really vary, but I'm definitely going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here. The 8 AM Monday morning calling strategy sounds smart, and I should probably double-check that my employer submitted their portion too. Has anyone had success with the online messaging system through the EDD website? I'm wondering if that might be worth trying before spending hours on hold. Thanks for starting this thread @b83406405c6c - it's good to know we're not alone in this frustrating process!
Join the conversation
I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! The email verification issue is super common. Here's what I learned: even if you don't get the verification email, your benefits won't be cut off immediately. EDD usually gives you a grace period. But definitely call them ASAP - I waited too long and it caused extra headaches. When you call, ask them to read back the email address they have on file. Mine was missing a letter! Once they fixed it, the verification email came through instantly. Also, make sure to check all your email folders, not just spam. Good luck! 🍀
This is super helpful! I didn't know about the grace period - that takes some pressure off. Definitely going to call first thing Monday morning and have them double-check my email address. Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙏
This is really reassuring to hear! I was panicking thinking my benefits would get cut off immediately. I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and have them verify the email address - sounds like that's a common issue. Thanks for the detailed breakdown of your experience!
I had this exact issue a couple weeks ago! Turns out my email got changed somehow when I updated my address. The key is to call EDD and specifically ask them to verify what email address they have on file - mine was completely different from what I thought it was. Once they updated it to the correct email, I got the verification email within minutes. Also, don't panic about your benefits - they usually don't suspend them right away for email verification issues, but definitely don't wait too long to fix it. The wait times are brutal but it's worth getting it sorted out. Hope this helps!
Thanks for sharing this! It's so frustrating when they change your email without telling you 🙄 I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and ask them to read back exactly what email they have on file. Did you have to provide any verification when they updated your email address, or was it pretty straightforward once you got through to someone?
Aisha Abdullah
I'm in week 8 of waiting for my DE2504RE to process and honestly this thread is giving me some hope that I'm not alone in this mess! The financial stress is unreal - I'm caring for my sick father and we're burning through savings fast. I wanted to share something that might help others: I finally got through yesterday using the early morning calling strategy (called at 8:01am sharp) and found out my claim was stuck because they needed additional verification of my employment. The crazy thing is they never sent me any notice about this! The rep was able to tell me exactly what documents to upload and said it should move forward within 2 weeks now. So my advice: KEEP CALLING. I know it's exhausting but that one successful call revealed an issue that could have delayed me for months. Also, when you do get through, ask specifically if there are any pending requirements or missing documents - don't just ask about status. To everyone still waiting: I see you, this system is absolutely broken, but don't give up. We've got each other's backs in this fight! 💪
0 coins
Ryan Kim
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! 8 weeks is way too long but I'm so glad you finally got through and found out what the issue was. It's absolutely ridiculous that they don't send notices about missing requirements - how are we supposed to know?! Your advice about asking specifically for pending requirements is gold 💡 I'm definitely going to try that early morning strategy again tomorrow and make sure to ask those specific questions if I get through. Thanks for sharing your experience and giving the rest of us hope that there's light at the end of this tunnel. Sending good vibes that your claim moves forward quickly now! 🤞
0 coins
Ethan Anderson
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my DE2504RE about 4 weeks ago and it's been radio silence ever since. The financial stress is absolutely crushing - I'm supposed to be focusing on caring for my family member but instead I'm constantly worried about how we're going to pay rent next month. I've been trying the calling strategy but can barely get through the phone tree before it hangs up on me. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both comforting (knowing I'm not alone) and terrifying (seeing people wait 4+ months). One thing I'm going to try based on what others have shared is checking my online account more frequently to see if there are any status updates, and I'm definitely going to attempt that early morning calling strategy. It's insane that we have to become full-time advocates just to get benefits we've already paid into! Thanks for starting this thread Connor - this community support is honestly keeping me sane right now. We really need to stick together through this bureaucratic nightmare! 🙏
0 coins