I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been trying to reach EDD for over a week about my PFL transition and it's absolutely maddening. What's really frustrating is that they make this process so complicated when you're already exhausted from having a newborn. One thing I discovered is that the SDI Online messaging system sometimes works better if you categorize your message as "Urgent - Benefit Payment Issue" rather than just general inquiry. I got a response in 5 days instead of the usual 10+ days when I resubmitted with that category. Also, try sending your message on Monday mornings - seems like they process weekend backlog first. Really hoping you get through soon! The financial stress on top of everything else is just too much. Keep us posted on what works for you - we're all learning from each other's experiences with this broken system.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD phone system is absolutely brutal when you're already dealing with a newborn! I went through something similar with my PFL claim last year. One strategy that worked for me was using a combination of approaches: I'd call the direct PFL number (1-877-238-4373) right at 8:00 AM sharp while also having the Claimyr service call on my behalf as backup. The overlapping dates issue you described is super common - they need to adjust your PFL start date to be the day after your pregnancy disability officially ends, not your baby's birth date. Also, since you mentioned rent is due next week, you might want to contact your local 211 service (dial 2-1-1) for emergency financial assistance resources while you're waiting for EDD to get their act together. Some counties have emergency funds specifically for situations like this where government benefits are delayed. Keep documenting every call attempt with dates and times - if this drags on much longer, your assembly member's office can really help cut through the red tape. Hang in there, mama! The benefits are retroactive so you'll get everything you're owed once they fix the dates.

So relieved to see your update! This is exactly why I always tell people to call EDD when claims are pending too long - there's usually something specific holding it up that only they can see and fix. Employer verification issues are incredibly common, especially with intermittent claims where HR has to respond multiple times throughout the year. Many employers just don't prioritize these requests or understand the tight deadlines. Glad you got your 11 days confirmed and the March payment released! That's cutting it close to your 12-month deadline but at least now you know exactly where you stand.

This is such a common issue with intermittent PFL claims! I went through something very similar when my son was born in 2022. The key things that helped me were: 1) Keep a personal spreadsheet tracking each claim period and workdays used - don't rely on EDD's system alone, 2) Always follow up with your employer's HR after submitting each claim to make sure they received and processed EDD's verification request, and 3) If a claim sits pending more than 10 business days, call immediately. The 12-month deadline is firm and EDD won't extend it even if the delays were on their end. So glad to see from the updates that you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this - intermittent PFL is totally doable but requires more proactive communication with both EDD and your employer than continuous leave.

I'm currently going through this process myself - 37 weeks pregnant and recently unemployed due to layoffs. Based on my research and what my doctor told me, definitely go with SDI first! I just submitted my DE2501 form last week and my OB was super helpful in explaining the timeline. She said most doctors are very familiar with the 4-weeks-before-due-date rule and will certify you without any issues at 36 weeks. One tip that really helped me: I called EDD's SDI line directly (not the main number) and spoke to someone who walked me through exactly what documentation I'd need. They were way more knowledgeable than the general customer service line. The number is 1-800-480-3287. Also, make sure you apply online if possible - the rep told me online applications are prioritized over mailed forms right now. Don't worry about UI at this stage - you can always apply for unemployment benefits later if needed after your PFL period ends and you're ready to job search again. Focus on securing your immediate income through disability and family leave first. The stress of juggling a job search while this pregnant just isn't worth it when you have better options available through SDI/PFL!

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - definitely go the SDI route first! I was in almost the exact same situation 8 months ago (lost my job at 35 weeks due to budget cuts) and I'm so glad I listened to advice like this. A few things that really helped me through the process: - Get your doctor appointment scheduled ASAP to start the DE2501 paperwork. Mine was booked out 2 weeks and I was panicking about timing. - When you meet with your doctor, bring a list of any pregnancy complications or discomforts you're experiencing (back pain, swelling, difficulty sleeping, etc.). This can help justify starting disability earlier than 38 weeks if needed. - Save all your recent pay stubs and tax documents in one folder - you'll need them for benefit calculations and EDD loves to ask for additional documentation. The whole process felt overwhelming when I was pregnant and stressed about money, but looking back it was actually pretty straightforward once I got that first SDI claim submitted. You'll get through this! And definitely don't feel guilty about not job hunting right now - no employer is realistically going to hire someone who's about to give birth anyway. Focus on securing your benefits and preparing for your baby. Congratulations! 🍼

Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently navigated this - all the advice here is spot on! I'll add one more tip that saved me: if you're having trouble with the EDD website being slow or timing out (which happens A LOT), try accessing it early in the morning like 6-7 AM or late evening after 8 PM. The site seems way less congested during off-peak hours. Also, once you do find and download the DE 2525FX form, take a few minutes to read through it completely before filling it out - some sections require documentation you might not have on hand, so it's better to gather everything first. The process can be overwhelming but this community is proof that we're all here to help each other through it! 💪

Adding to all the great advice here - another trick that's helped me is to use the EDD's main search bar at the top of their homepage. Just type "DE 2525FX" directly in there and it usually brings up the form as one of the first results. Also, if you're planning to submit the form online, make sure you create your EDD account ahead of time because that process can take a while to verify. And definitely keep a printed copy for your records - I learned the hard way that having a physical backup is super helpful if there are any questions about your submission later. The whole PFL process can feel overwhelming at first, but once you get the right forms and know where to find them, it gets much easier!

Congrats on your baby and glad to hear your claim finally went through! I'm a new parent myself and just submitted my PFL baby bonding claim last week. Reading through all these experiences is both reassuring and nerve-wracking - it sounds like the 3-4 week wait is pretty standard right now despite what their website says. One question for anyone who's been through this recently - did you get any kind of confirmation or notification when your status changed from pending to approved, or do you just have to keep checking the portal daily? I'm trying to figure out if I should set up some kind of daily reminder to check or if they'll actually let me know when something changes. Also @Malik Jackson thanks for mentioning the Claimyr service - I hadn't heard of that before but might be worth trying if mine gets stuck too long. The regular EDD phone line seems impossible to get through on.

I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my PFL baby bonding claim to process after my little one was born last month. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly such a relief - I was starting to panic that I'd done something wrong with my application! It's so frustrating that the EDD website still claims 14 days when clearly everyone is experiencing 3-4+ weeks. I've been checking the portal obsessively every morning hoping to see a status change. My SDI pregnancy benefits ended right before I submitted the PFL claim, so like many others here, I'm in that stressful income gap period. One thing I noticed that might help others - when I submitted my claim, I made sure to keep screenshots of everything showing my documents were "received" in the portal. After reading about some people having issues with document uploads, I'm glad I have that backup proof just in case. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips! It helps knowing this is just how slow the system is right now and not a problem with individual claims. Will definitely keep the Claimyr service in mind if I hit the 3-week mark with no movement.