Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
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- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
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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 :)
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This whole thread has been so eye-opening and helpful! I'm currently dealing with my first PFL claim for my dad's care and was starting to think I was doing something wrong with all the delays and confusing requests I've been getting. Reading everyone's experiences makes it clear this is just how the system "works" (or doesn't work, rather). I'm definitely implementing the strategies you've all shared - the dual submission method, detailed documentation, and that "PFL survival kit" idea is genius! It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to become our own case managers and bureaucracy experts just to get support for caring for our loved ones, but I guess that's the reality we're dealing with. Carlos, I really hope your appeal gets resolved soon - the fact that you've been dealing with this same nightmare for years is just unacceptable. You're doing such important work caring for your parent and you deserve so much better from this system. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and strategies. This community support makes what feels like an impossible situation feel a little more manageable. We shouldn't have to fight this hard for basic family leave benefits, but at least we don't have to fight alone! 💪❤️
@Freya Collins You re'absolutely right - this community has been incredible! I m'also dealing with my first PFL claim for (my mom and) was feeling so overwhelmed and confused by all the bureaucratic hurdles. Reading everyone s'experiences here has been both validating and empowering. It s'terrible that we all have to go through this, but knowing there are proven strategies and that I m'not alone in the frustration makes such a difference. The fact that Carlos has been dealing with this nightmare repeatedly for years just shows how desperately this system needs reform. Until then, we definitely need to stick together and share what works! Thanks for adding your voice to this supportive thread - it really does help knowing we re'all in this fight together! 🤗💙
Reading through all these stories is both heartbreaking and infuriating! I'm currently in month 4 of trying to get PFL benefits approved for my elderly mom's care, and every single strategy mentioned here resonates with my experience. The "missing documentation" game they play is absolutely maddening - I've resubmitted the same medical certification form FOUR times now! 😡 What really helped me was starting a shared Google doc with my siblings where we track every interaction, document submission, and phone call. Having multiple people monitoring the situation and taking turns calling has been a game-changer. We also discovered that some PFL representatives are more helpful than others - when we get someone who actually seems to understand the system, we ask for their direct extension. Carlos, your persistence over the years is admirable but it's absolutely shameful that you have to go through this repeatedly. The system is clearly designed to exhaust us into giving up. For everyone else just starting this journey - document EVERYTHING from day one and don't let them gaslight you into thinking you're doing something wrong. We're entitled to these benefits and we shouldn't have to become legal experts to access basic family leave support! Sending strength to all the caregivers fighting this battle! 💪❤️
@Logan Chiang The shared Google doc with siblings is such a smart approach! I wish I had thought of that earlier - having multiple people tracking everything and taking turns with the phone calls would definitely help with the burnout factor. Four times for the same medical certification is absolutely ridiculous! 😤 It s'like they re'hoping we ll'just give up. The tip about asking for direct extensions when you find a helpful representative is gold - I m'definitely going to try that. It s'so frustrating that we have to become strategic about which individual employees we talk to just to get basic help. Thank you for sharing your family s'approach and for the encouragement. It really does help to know that people understand how broken this system is and that we re'not crazy for being so frustrated! 🙏
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I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My claim has been showing "processed" for about 10 days but no payment has hit my account yet. I've been checking multiple times a day and it's driving me crazy. I tried calling but like everyone else here, I can't get through. The automated system just keeps saying "high call volume" and hangs up on me. It's so stressful when you're counting on these benefits to pay rent and bills. Has anyone had success with the secure messaging system through the UI Online portal? I'm thinking of trying that next since the phone seems impossible.
I feel your pain! I'm dealing with the same exact situation - claim shows processed but no money in sight. The stress is real when bills are due. I actually tried the secure messaging system last week and got a response after about 3-4 days, but it was just a generic "we're experiencing delays" message. Still, it might be worth a shot since calling is basically impossible. Also, someone earlier mentioned checking spam folders for ID verification emails - might be worth doing that too just in case there's something you missed. Hang in there, hopefully we'll all get our payments soon! 🤞
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My claim has been showing "processed" for over 3 weeks but still no payment. I've tried everything - calling at different times, checking my account info, looking through emails including spam folder. The whole system seems completely broken. What's really frustrating is that I can see my weekly benefit amount is approved, but the money just never shows up. I'm starting to wonder if there's some kind of technical glitch on their end that's affecting a bunch of us. Has anyone who experienced this delay actually gotten their back payments once it was finally resolved? I'm worried they might only pay from when they fix the issue forward, not the weeks that were already "processed" but never paid.
Hey @Luca Bianchi, I'm new here but dealing with the EXACT same thing! Mine's been "processed" for 2 weeks now with no payment. From what I'm reading in this thread, it seems like a lot of people are experiencing this issue. I'm really worried about the back payment situation too - that's a great question about whether they'll pay all the processed weeks or just start from when they fix whatever is broken. Has anyone who got their issue resolved been able to confirm what happened with their back payments? This is my first time filing for unemployment and I had no idea the system was this much of a mess. Really hoping we all get our money soon because rent doesn't wait for EDD to figure their stuff out! 😰
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I'm currently waiting for my PFL card too - claim approved 5 days ago for baby bonding. Reading through all these experiences is really helpful! Question for those who've been through this: once you get the card, do you need to call to activate it or can you activate it online? Also, are there any fees for transferring money from the EDD card to your regular bank account? Trying to plan ahead so I can access my funds as quickly as possible when it arrives.
Hey Caleb! You can activate the card either by calling the number on the sticker or online at the Bank of America prepaid website - I found online was faster. As for transfer fees, there's no fee to transfer to your own bank account, but it does take 1-2 business days to process. Pro tip: once you activate and set up your online account, you can also set up direct deposit for future payments so you won't have to deal with waiting for cards again. The direct deposit option is under "payment preferences" in your EDD account. Hope your card arrives soon!
I'm in the exact same boat right now! My PFL claim for baby bonding was approved 8 days ago and I'm still waiting for my card. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring - seems like 10-12 business days is pretty normal. I've been checking my mailbox like crazy every day! My online account shows "payment issued" as of 4 days ago, so I'm hoping the card arrives by early next week. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips about setting up direct deposit once we get access. It's such a relief to know I'm not the only one dealing with this waiting game when you need the money for bills!
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Hi Henrietta! Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through this whole SDI process earlier this year as a first-time mom working for a municipal government. Everyone has given you such thorough advice already, but I wanted to add one thing that really saved me stress: when you apply tomorrow, take note of the "disability start date" you enter. This should be your first day of leave (today was your last work day, so tomorrow would be your disability start date). Getting this date right is crucial because it affects when your 7-day waiting period starts counting. Also, since you mentioned being worried about income - definitely ask your county about using accrued sick time during that unpaid waiting period. My employer let me use sick time to cover those first 7 days, which really helped bridge the gap before SDI payments started. One more tip: after you submit your application, you'll get an email confirmation. Print it out or save a PDF copy! I needed to reference mine multiple times throughout the process, especially when following up with my doctor's office about their portion of the paperwork. The whole system is honestly pretty confusing, but you're being so proactive by getting all this information ahead of time. That puts you way ahead of where I was! This community has been such a lifesaver for navigating these programs. Best of luck with your application tomorrow! 💪
Hi Jamal! Thanks for the congratulations and welcome to the community! 😊 That's such an important detail about the disability start date - I definitely want to make sure I get that right since it affects the waiting period timing. And you're absolutely right about asking my county about using sick time during those first 7 days - I keep hearing this suggestion and it sounds like it could really help with the income gap. The tip about printing out the email confirmation is smart too - I can see how having that reference document would be helpful throughout the process. It's amazing how many practical details there are to keep track of! I'm feeling so much more prepared thanks to everyone's advice here. This community really has been incredible for getting real-world guidance from people who've actually been through this process. I'll definitely update everyone on how the application goes tomorrow! 🙏
Hi Henrietta! Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since I just navigated this exact situation 3 months ago - county employee, first baby, completely overwhelmed by the whole process! Everyone has given you such amazing advice already, but I wanted to add one thing that really helped me: when you apply tomorrow, make sure you have your county employee ID number handy. The SDI application asks for specific employer identification information, and having your exact employee ID can help ensure there are no delays in verifying your employment. Also, I noticed you mentioned being worried about making rent - definitely explore using your accrued sick/vacation time strategically. My county let me use sick time to supplement the SDI payments (since SDI only replaces about 60-70% of your wages) and also to cover that 7-day waiting period. It made such a difference in my budget! One last tip: after you submit your application and get your claim number, write it down in multiple places! You'll need it for literally everything - calling EDD, checking your claim status, communicating with your doctor's office about the DE2501 form. I kept mine in my phone notes, on a sticky note by my computer, and wrote it in my pregnancy journal. The stress is so real, but you're asking all the right questions and being super proactive. That alone puts you way ahead of where most people are at this stage! This community has been such a lifesaver for getting practical advice from people who've actually been through it. Best of luck with your application tomorrow - you've got this mama! 💪
Ethan Taylor
Update: I tried the Claimyr service I mentioned earlier after multiple failed attempts to reach EDD on my own. Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes and resolved my issue! The website is claimyr.com for anyone else struggling to get through. Definitely worth it for the time saved and stress reduction.
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Luca Romano
•Checking back in - I finally got through to EDD! I tried the 8:01am call trick first and got nowhere, then I tried the Claimyr service. Got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes who explained that my claim was pending because they needed to verify my last day worked with my employer (even though my employer said they already responded). The agent was able to override it since it had been more than 10 business days waiting for employer verification. Payment should be processed in 24-48 hours! THANK YOU everyone for your help!
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Amara Eze
Congrats on getting through! This is such a helpful thread - I'm bookmarking it for future reference. The employer verification delay seems to be a really common issue based on what I'm seeing in other posts here. It's frustrating that they don't give you any visibility into what specific step is causing the delay. Did the agent mention anything about how long employer verifications typically take, or if there's a way to expedite them in the future?
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Drew Hathaway
•Great question! I'm new to this whole PFL process myself and wondering the same thing. The lack of transparency in their system is really frustrating - you'd think they could at least show "waiting for employer response" or give some kind of timeline estimate. @b8d349150bb9 did the agent give you any insights about typical employer verification timeframes? I'm probably going to need PFL in a few months and want to know what to expect!
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