I'm currently going through this decision myself and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the options. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful though! @Steven Adams - I think you probably made the right choice if you had big upfront expenses. From what I'm seeing, most people who chose the lump sum seem happy with it as long as they were disciplined about budgeting. The incremental payments seem safer but less flexible. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - way more useful than the official website! 🙏

Just went through this exact same dilemma a few months ago! I ended up choosing the lump sum and honestly, no regrets. We had a ton of medical bills from the birth that needed to be paid right away, plus all the baby essentials. The one-time payout let us handle everything without stress. One thing I wish someone had told me though - make sure you have a solid plan for the money before you get it. I put about 60% in a separate savings account and used the rest for immediate expenses. Then I transferred money to myself every two weeks like a regular paycheck. Worked out perfectly! The incremental payments might feel "safer" but honestly, life doesn't always work on a predictable schedule. Sometimes you need that financial flexibility upfront. Sounds like you made the smart choice for your situation! 👍

I'm currently going through this exact situation too! My disability got extended due to postpartum depression, but I had already filed my PFL claim to start next week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - especially knowing that this is actually pretty common. I tried calling EDD yesterday but couldn't get through after 2 hours of trying. Going to check out that Claimyr service that @Ava Garcia mentioned since so many people had success with it. It's really reassuring to know that EDD can adjust the dates as long as you catch it in time. Thanks @Fatima Al-Suwaidi for posting this and to everyone who shared their tips! It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in dealing with this confusing system while trying to recover and care for a newborn.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm 3 weeks postpartum and my doctor just extended my SDI for another week due to breastfeeding complications, but my PFL was already approved to start Monday. I've been stressing about this all weekend thinking I'd lose benefits or create some kind of overpayment issue. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially @Fatima Al-Suwaidi's successful resolution, has given me so much peace of mind. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service first thing Monday morning since it seems like multiple people had success with it. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops when we're already dealing with recovery and newborn care, but at least knowing it's fixable makes it less overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community is such a lifesaver for navigating California's confusing benefits system!

Here's a detailed breakdown of what to expect when setting up an offset for benefits overpayment: • First, gather all relevant documents: overpayment notice, past benefit statements, and any correspondence with EDD. • When you call, you'll need to provide your Social Security number and confirm your identity. • The rep will explain the reason for the overpayment and the total amount owed. • You can then discuss repayment options. An offset means they'll reduce your future benefits to recoup the overpayment. • You have the right to negotiate the amount of the offset. They can't take more than 25% of your weekly benefit. • If you disagree with the overpayment, you can request an appeal or apply for a waiver. • Make sure to get a confirmation number or case number for your offset agreement. • Ask for a written statement of the agreement to be mailed to you. Remember, stay calm and polite, but be firm about your rights and needs. Good luck!

One thing I'd add - if you're currently receiving benefits and they want to start the offset immediately, you can ask for a hardship deferral if the reduced payments would cause financial distress. I had to do this when my offset would have dropped my weekly benefit below what I needed for rent. They approved a temporary delay while I got my finances sorted. It's not guaranteed, but worth asking about if you're in a tight spot financially.

Anyone else feel like we're living in a dystopian novel? "The year is 2023, and citizens must battle a labyrinthine phone system for basic survival." 🤡

I've been dealing with the same nightmare for over a month now. Here's what's worked for me so far: I started calling at 7:58 AM sharp (2 minutes before they officially open) and spam-dialing the number until I get through to the menu. Once I'm in, I select the options quickly and then just... wait. And wait. And wait. The longest I've been on hold was 4.5 hours, but I did eventually get through. I know it sounds insane, but I just put my phone on speaker, plugged it in to charge, and did other things while waiting. Also, make sure you have ALL your documents ready before you call - ID, Social Security card, any correspondence from EDD, your claim details, etc. When you finally get a human, you want to make the most of that precious time. Don't give up, everyone. The system is broken, but persistence does pay off sometimes.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - my partner took 3 weeks of PFL bonding when our baby was born in September, and we're planning to split the remaining 5 weeks between Thanksgiving and spring. Reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to follow the advice about calling at 8:01 AM with that specific phrase "continued claim certification for existing baby bonding PFL claim" and keeping detailed notes. One question I haven't seen addressed - for those who successfully did multiple segments, did you ever run into issues if there were holidays or weekends during your planned leave periods? I'm wondering if that affects the processing time or payment schedule at all. Also, has anyone tried using the online portal for continued claims, or is calling always the better option? Thanks again everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical info you can't find on the EDD website!

I'm currently preparing for a similar situation with my wife's PFL baby bonding leave! Our baby is due in January and we're already planning to split her 8 weeks - 4 weeks initially and then 2 weeks in spring and 2 weeks in summer. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly valuable! I'm taking notes on the key strategies: calling at 8:01 AM, using the phrase "continued claim certification for existing baby bonding PFL claim," keeping detailed notes with rep names, and calling 2-3 weeks before each segment. One thing I'm curious about - for those who had success with multiple segments, did you find it helpful to mention all the planned future segments during your first call, or is it better to just focus on the immediate next segment each time you call? I want to be as prepared as possible since we're planning this split approach from the beginning rather than deciding to split after the first segment is already used.