I'm currently waiting for my PFL check too and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My claim was approved 6 days ago and I'm starting to get anxious about when it will arrive. Reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that it should be coming soon. I especially appreciate the tip about USPS Informed Delivery - just signed up and it's already giving me peace of mind knowing I'll get advance notice. For anyone else in the same boat, it seems like the key takeaways are: watch for status change to "paid" in the portal, expect 7-10 days total from approval, and secure your mailbox. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - this community is amazing for getting real-world experiences instead of just generic government website info!

I'm also waiting for my PFL paper check and this thread is exactly what I needed to find! My claim was approved 4 days ago and I've been checking the portal obsessively. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should see the status change to "paid" in the next day or two, then expect the actual check within a week after that. The USPS Informed Delivery recommendation keeps coming up - definitely going to set that up today. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money, but reading all these real timelines from people who've been through it recently is really helping manage my expectations. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this is way more helpful than the generic EDD website info!

First of all, huge congratulations on winning your appeal! That's such a relief after all the stress you've been through. I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my PFL claim was initially denied due to "insufficient documentation" even though I submitted everything they asked for. Reading through all the advice here, it sounds like you definitely need to pursue those retroactive payments - $2,800 is a significant amount that your family deserves. I know you're exhausted from the whole process (I totally get that feeling), but based on what everyone's saying, EDD won't automatically handle the weeks you didn't certify for. One thing I wanted to add - when you do call, try calling right when they open at 8 AM. I've had better luck getting through earlier in the day rather than later. Also, if you get disconnected (which happens way too often), don't give up! Sometimes it takes multiple attempts. You've already done the hardest part by winning your appeal. Now it's just about following through to get what you're owed. Your experience gives me hope for my own upcoming hearing - thank you for sharing the details about how it went!

Congratulations on winning your appeal, Ellie! That's fantastic news and such a relief after going through all that stress. I went through something very similar last year with my PFL claim. I was initially denied for baby bonding benefits and won my appeal, but like you, I had missed certifying for several weeks during the confusion. Here's what I learned: You absolutely should pursue those retroactive payments! $2,800 is a lot of money, especially when you have a new baby and all the expenses that come with that. Don't let EDD's bureaucratic maze discourage you from getting what you're legally entitled to. For the weeks you missed certifying, you'll definitely need to call and request the DE 2501F form that Diego mentioned. I had to do the same thing. The key is being very specific when you call - have your exact dates ready and your appeal case number. One tip that helped me: when I finally got through to someone, I asked them to email me a confirmation of our conversation with the details of what forms they were sending me. Most reps will do this if you ask, and it's great documentation in case anything gets "lost" later. The whole process took about 6 weeks from my call to actually receiving the back payments, but it was totally worth it. Don't give up - you've already done the hard part by winning your appeal!

I had a similar issue with my PFL application getting stuck in draft status! In my case, it turned out to be a combination of browser issues and some required fields that weren't clearly marked as mandatory. Here are a few things that helped me: 1. Try using a different browser (Chrome worked best for me) and clear your cache/cookies 2. Disable your VPN temporarily when submitting - the EDD system can be finicky with international IP addresses 3. Double-check that all required fields are completed, especially the employment information section 4. Try submitting during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) If none of that works, definitely call the EDD directly. The tech support line can see exactly where your application is getting hung up in their system. Hope this helps!

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 just went through this same situation a few months ago with my twins! Here's what I learned that might help: 1. Yes, you'll need to file separate DE2508 forms again - treat it like a completely new claim even though it's for the same baby. 2. You CANNOT file early for PFL baby bonding (unlike disability claims). I made this mistake and had to resubmit everything. File on your exact first day of leave - set phone reminders! 3. Make sure both you and your husband coordinate with your respective HR/payroll departments about the exact transition date. When my husband's leave started the day after mine ended, there was initially some confusion about overlapping vs consecutive claims. 4. Processing times are definitely longer for second claims right now - mine took almost 3 weeks vs 5 days for my initial claim. Budget for this delay! 5. Pro tip: Take screenshots of your online submission confirmations and save all confirmation emails. EDD's system has been glitchy since their updates and having this documentation saved me when my claim temporarily "disappeared" from their system. The whole process is worth it though - enjoy your extended bonding time with your little one! 💕

As someone who just went through this exact process last month, I can confirm what others have said - you'll need new DE2508 forms and unfortunately cannot file early for PFL baby bonding (I tried and got rejected too!). One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to make sure you both check your EDD online accounts before filing to ensure all your personal information is still current. My address had changed since my first claim and I didn't realize it until my payment got delayed because the mail went to my old address. Also, when you file on your respective start dates, do it early in the morning if possible. The EDD online system tends to be slower/glitchier during peak hours. I filed mine at 6 AM on my first day and it went through smoothly. Your plan to have your husband start immediately after you sounds perfect - that's exactly what we did and it worked great for maximizing family time while ensuring income continuity. Just make sure you both communicate those exact dates to your employers clearly to avoid any payroll coding issues. Good luck with your bonding time! It's such a special period and worth all the paperwork hassle. 🍼

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago and can confirm what others have said - you definitely need to file a separate PFL claim for baby bonding. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have all your documents ready ahead of time. The hospital will give you temporary paperwork showing the birth, but I found it helpful to also request a certified copy of the birth certificate as soon as possible since some people have had issues with temporary documents. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks of baby bonding leave, you can actually start your PFL claim to begin the day after your disability ends - there's no mandatory gap between the two benefits. Good luck with everything!

Just wanted to add one more helpful tip from my recent experience - when you file your PFL claim online, there's a section where you can choose your start date. Make sure to select the date that's immediately after your pregnancy disability ends (so if your disability ends on a Friday, start your PFL on the following Monday). I made the mistake of leaving a few days gap thinking I needed "recovery time" between the two benefits, but that just meant I lost those days of pay! EDD doesn't automatically connect the dates for you, so you have to be intentional about making them seamless. Also, keep copies of everything you submit - I screenshot each page of my online application just in case there were any issues later. The whole process took about 10 days from submission to first payment, which was faster than I expected. You've got this!