I'm currently going through my first pregnancy and this thread has been a lifesaver! I'm only 28 weeks but already starting to stress about the timing of everything, especially after reading about these holiday delays. One thing I wanted to ask - has anyone had experience with claims getting processed faster if your employer proactively submits their portion early? My HR department mentioned they can submit employer verification as soon as I file my initial claim, rather than waiting for EDD to request it. I'm wondering if that helps speed things up at all, or if it just sits in their system until they get to processing the whole claim anyway? Also, for Zainab and others waiting - I know the financial stress is real, but it sounds like you'll definitely get your backdated payments once things process. The waiting is horrible but at least you won't lose any money! Keeping my fingers crossed that everyone starts seeing payments roll in early January! 🤞✨

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my pregnancy disability claim on December 12th and have been anxiously waiting for any updates. This thread has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that holidays actually pause the business day count for processing. I was getting really worried that something was wrong with my claim since it's been over two weeks now. The information about backdated payments is such a relief too. I've been stressing about missing out on money entirely if there were delays, but knowing that everything gets calculated from the actual disability start date makes me feel so much better about the timing. I also just set up those text alerts that someone mentioned earlier - what a game changer! I was checking my account like 5 times a day which was definitely not helping my stress levels. Now I can just wait for the notification and focus on other baby prep stuff. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm now expecting my first payment around January 8-10th instead of before New Year's. The wait is tough when you're trying to budget for baby expenses, but at least now I have realistic expectations. Thank you all for sharing your timelines and tips - this community is so much more helpful than the EDD website! 🙏

unpopular opinion: take all the time you can get. you'll never get these early months back with your kid. work will always be there, but your baby wont be tiny forever 💯

Hey Amara! Congrats on your little one! 🍼 I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago. Here's what helped me decide: I made a simple pros/cons list for taking it all at once vs. splitting: • All at once = consistent payments, full bonding time, but harder transition back • Split = flexibility for work emergencies, but potential payment delays between claims Since you mentioned being head of household, definitely calculate your exact benefit amount first. The new rates are pretty decent - I got about 68% of my regular pay. Also ask your employer if they offer any supplemental benefits during PFL. One thing that really helped me was setting up a small emergency fund before starting leave, even if it was just a few hundred bucks. Made the reduced income way less stressful. Whatever you choose, don't feel guilty about it! You're doing what's best for your family. Good luck! 💪

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right at 8 AM when they open - that's when I had the most success. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready before you call (claim number, social security number, the incorrect date you entered, and the correct date). The rep will need all of this info to make the change. One more tip - if you get disconnected (which happens way too often), don't give up! Keep trying. I know it's frustrating but it's really important to get this fixed before it affects your next payment. You've got this! 🙏

I dealt with this exact same situation a few months ago and it was such a headache! Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800-300-5616 number that others mentioned, but I also sent a detailed message through UI Online at the same time explaining the error. In the online message, I included my claim number, the incorrect date I had entered, and the correct back-to-work date. Make sure to be super specific about the dates. It took about a week to get a response online, but they were able to fix it without me having to stay on hold for hours. The key is to act fast though - the longer you wait, the more complicated it can get. Also, keep records of everything you submit in case you need to reference it later. Don't panic, this happens more often than you'd think and they're used to fixing these kinds of mistakes!

This is such a common issue that it's really frustrating EDD and Bank of America don't make the activation process clearer! I went through something similar with my disability payments last year. What worked for me was a combination of things - completing the hidden identity verification step (like @Ezra Collins mentioned), setting up the separate ATM PIN, AND waiting the full 48 hours. One thing I'd add is to screenshot everything in your app showing the available balance and any error messages you get. If you end up having to call customer service multiple times, having that documentation helps prove the issue isn't on your end. Also, once you do get access, consider setting up automatic transfers to your regular bank account for future payments so you don't have to deal with this again. So glad you got it sorted out!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! My card arrived yesterday and I can see my PFL funds but can't access them either. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea there were so many hidden steps in the activation process. I'm going to check for that identity verification step that @Ezra Collins mentioned and set up the separate ATM PIN. It's ridiculous that they don't explain any of this clearly in the materials they send with the card. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - this thread is more helpful than anything on the official EDD website!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently on PFL for baby bonding and was thinking about doing exactly what you did - using only part of my time now and saving some for later. Your experience is a great reminder to be extra careful with the dates. Quick question for anyone who's done this split approach: when you go to file for the remaining weeks later in the year, do you need to submit a completely new claim or is there a way to reactivate the existing one? I want to make sure I don't run into any issues when I'm ready to take the rest of my time.

This whole thread is so reassuring! I'm expecting my first baby in a couple months and have been trying to figure out the best way to split my PFL time. My plan was to take 4 weeks initially and save the other 4 weeks for when my partner goes back to work, but I've been super anxious about messing up the paperwork. Reading about everyone's experiences (especially the success stories!) makes me feel more confident. Definitely going to bookmark that Claimyr service just in case I run into phone issues. Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences - way more helpful than trying to decipher the EDD website!