For split periods of baby bonding leave, your husband would file an initial claim for the first period. Then for subsequent periods, he'd need to file a "Notice of Reestablished Claim" when he wants to use the remaining weeks. It's still under the same claim, but he needs to notify EDD each time he starts a new period of leave. Make sure he notifies his employer according to their policy as well.

Just wanted to add my experience from having our baby in February 2025! My husband's PFL baby bonding claim was super straightforward - no doctor certification needed at all. He just filled out the DE2508 form online and uploaded a copy of our baby's birth certificate. The whole process took about 10 minutes and he got his first payment within 2 weeks. One tip: make sure he selects the right claim type on the EDD website. There are different options and "baby bonding" is specifically listed as separate from disability claims. Also, he can actually start his claim on any date after the birth - doesn't have to be immediately. We waited a month so I could go back to work part-time first, then he took his 8 weeks. The system is way more flexible than we expected!

I'm also new to this community and going through my first PFL claim! Mine just changed to "processed" yesterday, so I'm right at the beginning of this waiting period. Reading everyone's experiences here is so helpful - I had no idea what to expect with the timeline. It's reassuring to know that 7-10 business days is normal and that Money Network is usually pretty quick once it changes to "paid." I was starting to worry that something was wrong since I didn't see the money immediately. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and tips! This community seems really supportive. I'll try to be patient and not check my account every hour (though let's be honest, I probably still will 😅). Will definitely look into setting up those text alerts that Miguel mentioned!

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community and currently dealing with my first PFL claim. Mine has been showing "processed" for about 4 days now with Money Network, and I was getting pretty anxious about the timeline until I found this thread. Reading through all of your experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! It sounds like the 7-10 business day window from "processed" to actually receiving payment is pretty standard. I was definitely one of those people checking my account multiple times a day (guilty! 😅), but now I know that's totally normal behavior. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - this community seems really supportive for those of us navigating the PFL process for the first time. I'm going to set up those text alerts through Money Network that were mentioned and try to be more patient. Fingers crossed we all see our payments soon!

I experienced this exact same issue last month! The VPN was definitely causing problems for me. What worked was: 1. Temporarily disable VPN and use your regular connection 2. Use Chrome in incognito mode 3. Save your progress frequently using the "Save Draft" button 4. Make sure you're clicking "Submit" AND then "Confirm Submission" on the final page The key thing I missed initially was that there are actually TWO final steps - you have to click submit, then on the next page click "Confirm Submission" to actually get it out of draft status. Once I did that properly, I got my confirmation number immediately and could upload the medical certification. Also, being out of country shouldn't disqualify you from PFL as long as you're caring for a qualifying family member. Just make sure you have all the proper documentation ready. Good luck!

I had this exact same problem a few weeks ago! The issue for me was definitely the VPN - EDD's system seems to flag international IP addresses and won't properly process the submission. Here's what finally worked: 1. Disconnect from VPN completely 2. Clear browser cache and cookies 3. Use Chrome or Firefox (Edge gave me issues) 4. Fill out the entire form in one session - don't save and come back later 5. After clicking "Submit" make sure you see a page with an actual confirmation number (not just "submitted successfully") The fact that you're caring for family in Colombia shouldn't disqualify you, but the VPN is likely the culprit. I also recommend calling EDD at 1-877-238-4373 and selecting the PFL option - they can see if there are any partial submissions stuck in their system under your SSN and clear them out. One more tip: try submitting between 6-8 AM PST when their servers have less traffic. That seemed to make a difference for me too. Hope this helps!

Hey Anastasia! I went through this exact same thing last month. The key is to stay calm and be super organized when you call. Have your claim number, SSN, and the correct return-to-work date written down before you dial. Also bring any documentation that supports the correct date (like a doctor's note or employer letter). One thing that really helped me was calling the technical support line instead of the regular claims line - sometimes they're less busy. The number is 1-800-300-5616. When you get through, be polite but firm about needing the correction made immediately. Also, ask them to send you a confirmation letter or email with the changes. That way you have proof if anything gets messed up later. Good luck! 🤞

I feel your pain! I had a similar issue where my return date was off by a whole week. Here's what worked for me: Call early morning (like 8 AM sharp) - way shorter wait times. Have your claim documents ready, but also prepare a simple explanation of what happened and what the correct date should be. I found it helped to say something like "I need to update my return-to-work date from X to Y due to [brief reason]." One thing nobody mentions - if the first person can't help you, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes the front-line agents have limited access to make certain changes. Also, get a case reference number for your correction request! The whole process took me about a week to fully resolve, but once I got the right person it was pretty straightforward. Don't stress too much - mistakes happen and they deal with this stuff all the time. You've got this! 👍

I just went through this with my wife's PFL claim a few months ago and can confirm everything everyone is saying - there's absolutely no 2-week minimum for bonding leave! Your husband can definitely take just 1 week. We had the same confusion with our HR department initially. One tip I'd add: when he files the claim, make sure he selects "bonding with a new child" as the reason (not disability or care for family member). The form will ask for the baby's birth date and birth certificate, and processing is usually pretty straightforward for bonding claims. Also, December timing should be fine as long as he applies by mid-November like others suggested. We applied about 3 weeks before our planned leave and had approval within 10 days. The key is just making sure all the paperwork is complete when submitted - any missing info will delay processing significantly during busy periods.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been through the EDD PFL process multiple times - your husband is absolutely good to go with just 1 week! I've seen this 2-week minimum myth come up so often in these discussions, and it's really frustrating how many HR departments seem to believe it. A few practical tips for his December leave: - File the claim by November 15th at the latest to account for holiday processing delays - Keep screenshots of his submitted application - EDD's system can be glitchy and it's good to have proof of submission dates - The birth certificate is really the only key document he'll need for bonding PFL (unlike disability claims which need doctor forms) - Make sure his employer knows that PFL is employee-funded through payroll deductions, so it's not costing them anything December is actually a great time for bonding leave since many workplaces are slower anyway. Your husband will love having that special time with your daughter during the holidays!