This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 31 weeks pregnant and due in early March, and reading through everyone's experiences has really eased my anxiety about potential timing complications with maternity leave. @Summer Green - congratulations on your little one! 🎉 Your situation perfectly illustrates how babies have their own timing regardless of our work schedules. It's so reassuring to see how the community came together to provide such clear, consistent guidance. What really stood out to me was @Gael Robinson's explanation about SDI and employer pay being separate systems that coordinate together - I had been stressing about having to choose between them! And the wage tracking advice from @Owen Jenkins is brilliant - I'm setting up my system now so I'm prepared if my little one decides to arrive early too. @Liam Murphy's HR perspective was especially valuable - knowing that employers actually encourage transparency in these situations takes away so much of the worry about doing something wrong. This community is amazing for getting real-world advice that goes way beyond what you can find in official materials. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should be required reading for all expecting parents! 💕

This thread has been such a valuable resource! I'm currently 26 weeks pregnant and due in late April, but after reading @Summer Green's experience with her early arrival, I'm realizing I need to prepare for any timing scenario. What really helped me understand this was @Gael Robinson's clear explanation that SDI and employer holiday pay are two separate systems that just coordinate with each other - I had been so confused thinking I'd have to pick one or the other! The consistency in everyone's advice about using your actual medical disability date regardless of employer pay really gives me confidence. I'm absolutely implementing the wage tracking system that @Owen Jenkins and others recommended. Even though I'm still months away, I can already see how crucial it would be to have those amounts organized when you're dealing with a newborn. @Summer Green - huge congratulations on your little one! 🎉 Thanks for asking the question that created such an incredibly helpful discussion. Your baby's surprise timing turned into the perfect learning opportunity for all of us expecting parents. Hope you're enjoying those precious newborn moments despite all the EDD paperwork stress! This community is seriously amazing for getting practical, real-world guidance on these complex benefits. Definitely saving this whole thread for future reference! 💕👶

I'm currently going through this same frustrating issue right now! Just finished my pregnancy disability last week and trying to file for PFL, but keep getting that "cannot verify banking information" error even though my direct deposit worked perfectly for SDI. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and infuriating - it's crazy that this is such a widespread known problem that EDD just hasn't bothered to fix. I'm going to try calling that 1-800-480-3287 number that @Carter Holmes mentioned at 8 AM sharp tomorrow. If that doesn't work out, I might have to bite the bullet and use the Claimyr service since sitting on hold for hours with a 2-week-old doesn't sound feasible. Thank you all for sharing your solutions - it's such a relief to know I'm not alone in dealing with this technical nightmare during an already stressful time!

This is such a frustrating but unfortunately common issue! I'm dealing with the exact same banking verification error right now after transitioning from pregnancy disability to PFL. It's so stressful when you're already sleep-deprived with a newborn and need those payments to come through. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it's both reassuring to know this isn't just me and infuriating to see how widespread this known glitch is. I'm definitely going to try calling EDD at 8 AM using that number @Carter Holmes shared, and if that doesn't work, the Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth the cost to avoid hours on hold with a crying baby. Thanks to everyone who shared their solutions - this community is such a lifesaver during these stressful transitions!

I went through this exact situation in 2023! I was on disability/PFL from my main job as a physical therapist (couldn't do patient transfers after my C-section) but was able to continue my side telehealth consultations from home. Here's what worked for me: Get your doctor to write a very specific note distinguishing between your job duties. Mine wrote "Patient is unable to perform essential functions of physical therapy including patient transfers, prolonged standing, and lifting >10lbs due to post-surgical restrictions. Patient is medically cleared for sedentary computer-based work up to 15 hours per week." Report EVERYTHING on your certifications - even if you only work 2 hours that week, report it. EDD has a formula where they reduce your benefits based on part-time earnings, but you still come out ahead financially. For me, working 8-10 hours/week reduced my weekly benefit by about 30%, but the combined income was still more than benefits alone. The transition from disability to PFL was seamless - same reporting requirements. Just make sure your doctor's clearance notes specify you're still unable to perform your main job duties during the PFL period too. Document everything and don't stress too much - this is actually a pretty common situation for people with multiple employers!

I'm in a very similar situation right now - on maternity leave from my full-time job as a teacher (can't handle the physical demands of being on my feet all day with kindergarteners) but considering doing some online tutoring from home. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been SO helpful! Based on what I'm seeing, the key takeaways seem to be: 1) Get very specific medical documentation that distinguishes between your job duties, 2) Report absolutely everything on your certifications, and 3) Keep meticulous records of all part-time work and earnings. I'm curious - for those who successfully did this, did you give EDD a heads up before starting the part-time work, or did you just start reporting it on your next certification? I want to be as transparent as possible but also don't want to create unnecessary complications if it's not required to notify them in advance. Also wondering if anyone has tips for the best time to call EDD to actually get through to someone? I've been trying for days and either get busy signals or disconnected after waiting on hold for hours.

guys, i heard theres a new bill being proposed to overhaul the whole UI system. anyone know more about this? maybe itll fix some of these issues

I'm going through something similar right now! My 2504RE has been pending for about 3 weeks with zero movement. What's really frustrating is that there's no way to check the status or get any kind of timeline. I've been considering trying that claimyr service that @Ravi Kapoor mentioned - seems like actually talking to a human might be the only way to get answers. Has anyone had luck with the EDD chat feature, or is calling really the only option?

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed my PFL paperwork 3 weeks ago and haven't heard a peep from them. It's so stressful when you're counting on those benefits. I've been trying the phone number daily but keep getting the "call volume is too high" message. Really considering trying that in-person visit someone mentioned - might be worth the drive if it actually gets results. Hang in there Connor, sounds like we're all dealing with the same broken system right now.

Two weeks feels like forever when you're waiting for benefits you need! I went through something similar earlier this year - submitted my PFL paperwork and didn't hear back for almost 3 weeks. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: I called the 1-877-238-4373 number every single morning at exactly 8:01 AM (set an alarm!), and I also sent a follow-up fax with copies of everything I'd already submitted plus a cover letter explaining the delay. The fax number is on their website. I know it's frustrating but don't lose hope - they're just incredibly backed up. Your benefits will come through, it's just a matter of persistence. Keep checking your online account too, sometimes updates show up there before you get any other notification.