It sounds like there's some confusion about your work schedule in your PFL claim. The denial reason suggests EDD thinks you're not regularly employed during the weekends you're trying to claim benefits for, despite you working full-time Monday-Friday and being on-call every other weekend. This is likely a misunderstanding about your employment situation. PFL benefits are designed for people who need to take time off from work they would otherwise be performing. Since you're regularly on-call every other weekend as part of your normal work schedule, you should be eligible to claim PFL for those periods. You definitely have grounds for appeal. For your appeal, gather documentation that clearly shows: - Your full work schedule including the on-call weekend rotation - Proof that being on-call is part of your regular employment (like your employment contract) - Documentation showing you're regularly paid for these on-call weekends When filing the appeal, specifically address the misunderstanding about your "normal contractual employment period" by explaining that your regular work includes these on-call weekends, and you're seeking PFL only for time you would otherwise be working. The EDD likely misinterpreted your work schedule, thinking you were trying to claim benefits for days you wouldn't normally be working. This is a relatively common misunderstanding with non-traditional schedules.

Hey Ana! I just wanted to chime in as another sleep-deprived mom who's been through the EDD maze. I'm so glad you found your remaining 3 weeks - that's such a relief! I had a similar situation last year where I thought I'd used all my PFL time but discovered I had 2 weeks left hiding in my claim history. One thing that really helped me was setting up text alerts through my EDD account so I'd get notifications about any claim updates or payment processing. It saved me from constantly checking the website wondering if my paperwork went through. Also, since you mentioned your husband's work stress, I'd definitely encourage you to look into whether he's eligible for his own PFL time - California allows both parents to take bonding leave, and even if his employer isn't super supportive, they legally can't deny him the right to use it. The coordination between both of your leaves could really help during this tough period. You're doing an amazing job juggling everything - new parenthood is no joke, especially when you're dealing with bureaucratic nightmares on top of it all!

Ana, congratulations on your little one and I'm so glad you were able to find your remaining PFL balance! As someone who also navigated the EDD system as a new parent, I completely understand the frustration with their phone system - it's absolutely terrible. Since you discovered you still have 3 weeks available, I wanted to share a tip that really helped me: consider keeping a simple calendar or planner specifically for tracking your PFL usage and deadlines. I marked down when I took each week, when I submitted forms, and set reminders for important dates like the one-year deadline. It helped me stay organized when my brain was total mush from sleep deprivation! Also, since you mentioned struggling with childcare and your husband's work stress, you might want to look into local parent groups or mom groups in your area - they're often great resources for childcare recommendations, emergency babysitting swaps, and just general support during those overwhelming early months. The fact that you can use those remaining weeks flexibly throughout the year is such a blessing - you'll figure out the perfect timing for your family's needs. You're doing great mama, even when it doesn't feel like it!

Update: We finally got through to EDD this morning! Turns out there was a document missing that they never notified us about. They needed my husband's ID verification even though he submitted all the other documents correctly. The rep was able to push it through and said payment should process within 48 hours. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This is such a perfect example of why the EDD system is so frustrating - they required additional ID verification but never sent any notification about it. I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my own PFL claim (different reason though) and this gives me hope that calling persistently will eventually work. Did you try calling right at 8am like others suggested, or did you get through at a different time? Always trying to figure out the best strategy for actually reaching a human there!

Hey OP, just a heads up - make sure you have all your paystubs and any documentation about your time off ready when you call. It'll make the process smoother if you have everything on hand.

This happened to me too! When I called, they told me to submit a "Request for Reconsideration" form (DE 1000M) along with documentation showing the correct dates I was off work. You can download it from the EDD website. It took about 10-14 business days to get the backpay once they approved the correction. Also, if you're really struggling with rent, see if your landlord will accept a partial payment with proof that you're waiting on the EDD correction - some are understanding about government benefit delays.

Just wanted to add some clarification about why this happens: - For birth mothers: You transition from SDI (State Disability Insurance) pregnancy claim to PFL baby bonding. The system links these because they're related to the same pregnancy/birth event. - For non-birth parents: You only qualify for PFL baby bonding (not SDI), so each period is treated as a separate claim event in their system. It's confusing but actually works correctly once you understand the distinction. Just have your husband complete the DE2508 form again and make sure to note the previous claim period when asked.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My partner took his first 4 weeks of bonding leave in January and we're trying to file for his remaining weeks. His EDD account shows absolutely nothing from his previous claim, which had us panicking that something went wrong. Reading through everyone's responses is such a relief - sounds like this is totally normal for non-birth parents. We were worried we'd have to start from scratch and potentially lose out on the remaining time. Going to have him file a new claim today and make sure to check that box about previous leave for the same child. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! This community is a lifesaver when the EDD system is so confusing.