I had this exact same issue when I filed for my baby bonding claim a few months ago! The EDD Customer Account Number is definitely confusing to find at first. Like others mentioned, it's usually in the top right corner of your letters, but I also want to add that if you received multiple pieces of mail from EDD, check ALL of them because sometimes the EDDCAN is more prominent on one letter than another. I found mine clearest on the "Notice of Computation" letter rather than the initial approval letter. Also, pro tip: once you find it and get your SDI Online account set up, bookmark that login page because the EDD website is a maze and finding the login again can be just as frustrating! Hope this helps and congratulations on your new baby!

I just went through this same struggle a couple months ago with my PFL claim! One thing that really helped me was knowing that the EDD Customer Account Number might also appear on your wage statement or any previous EDD correspondence if you've ever filed for unemployment or disability benefits before. It's the same number across all EDD programs. Also, if you're still having trouble after finding your EDDCAN, make sure you're using the correct birth date format when setting up your online account - I kept getting error messages because I was entering it wrong! The whole process is definitely overwhelming when you're sleep-deprived with a newborn, but once you get through the initial setup, managing your claim online is actually pretty straightforward. Hang in there!

Pro tip: if you can't get through on the phone, try reaching out on Twitter. Sometimes their social media team can help or at least escalate your case. Worth a shot! 🐦

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Been waiting 2 months for my PFL benefits and just found out about an offset from an old UI overpayment I didn't even know about. The frustrating part is they don't automatically notify you - I had to call and ask why my benefits weren't coming through. From what I've learned so far: - Request a detailed breakdown of the overpayment in writing - Ask about setting up a payment plan so they don't take 100% of your benefits - Check if the overpayment is even valid (sometimes there are errors) - Document everything! Has anyone had luck negotiating the offset amount so you can still get some benefits while paying back the overpayment? I really need these PFL payments and can't afford to have them completely withheld. 😰

Hi Laura! I'm a new member here but wanted to share some encouragement. I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago and was in a very similar situation - had to stop working due to pregnancy complications and was terrified about finances. Everyone here has given you really solid advice about applying for SDI immediately. I just wanted to add that when I called EDD directly, they were actually pretty helpful in walking me through exactly what I needed to do. The wait times are brutal (like 2+ hours sometimes), but once I got through, the representative was knowledgeable and patient. Also, don't feel guilty about not knowing about these benefits sooner. I'm a college graduate and consider myself pretty informed, but I had NO IDEA these programs existed until I desperately started googling when I couldn't work anymore. The system really doesn't make it easy to find this information when you need it most. You're being such a good mom already by researching this and advocating for yourself and your baby. The financial stress is real, but you WILL get through this. Wishing you all the best with your application and your pregnancy! 🤗

Hi Laura! I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in because I work as a benefits coordinator and see situations like yours all the time. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, and I want to emphasize how important it is to apply RIGHT NOW. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also look into whether you qualify for any local assistance programs while you're waiting for your EDD benefits to start. Many counties have emergency assistance for pregnant women, and some have specific programs for hyperemesis gravidarum since it's such a debilitating condition. Also, when you're gathering your documentation, include any pharmacy records showing anti-nausea medications - this helps establish the severity and timeline of your condition. And if you had any accommodations or medical notes from your November job, grab those too. You're doing everything right by researching this now. The stress of not knowing about benefits earlier is so common - I wish employers were required to better inform employees about SDI/PFL when they're hired. Hang in there, and feel free to ask if you have any questions about the application process!

I'm so glad you posted this question! I was in the exact same boat last year and the confusion is totally understandable. Everyone here is absolutely right - California PFL for baby bonding is still 8 weeks, no recent changes. Your coworker is probably thinking of the TOTAL leave time when you combine pregnancy disability + PFL bonding + any employer benefits, which can definitely add up to 12-16+ weeks. I had my baby in October and made the same transition from disability to PFL. Here's what I learned: definitely file your PFL claim about 2 weeks before your disability ends (like others have mentioned), and don't be afraid to split up those 8 weeks! I took 5 weeks right after my disability ended, then saved 3 weeks for later in the year when my childcare fell through unexpectedly. One tip that really helped me - I created a simple calendar showing exactly when each type of leave would start and end, including any employer benefits. It made everything so much clearer! The EDD website can be confusing, but once you understand that disability and PFL are two separate programs with separate applications, it gets easier. Hang in there - you've got this! 💪

As someone who just went through this exact situation a few months ago, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - California PFL for baby bonding is still 8 weeks, no changes! Your coworker is definitely mixing up the total leave time (which can be 14-18+ weeks when you combine disability + PFL + employer benefits) with just the PFL portion. I had my baby in December and was so confused about the same thing. What really helped me was calling it the "leave sandwich" - you get disability leave (the bread), then PFL bonding time (more bread), and sometimes employer benefits (the filling). Each piece is separate but they stack together! One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can actually overlap with your husband's PFL time, which is amazing for those first few weeks when you're both learning how to parent. We took 3 weeks together and it was honestly the best decision we made. Also, definitely take advantage of being able to split your 8 weeks - I used 6 weeks right after my disability ended, then saved 2 weeks for when my baby was 6 months old and going through a rough sleep regression phase. Having that flexibility was a lifesaver! Good luck with everything - you're going to do great! And don't stress too much about the EDD bureaucracy, it's confusing for everyone but it works out in the end. 😊

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation and was feeling really anxious about the whole process. Reading everyone's experiences and tips has made this seem so much more manageable. I especially appreciate the practical advice about calling in the afternoon, having all documents ready, and writing down your explanation beforehand. It's also really reassuring to hear that multiple people have gone through this successfully without any negative impacts on future claims. I'm planning to call tomorrow afternoon armed with all the tips from this thread. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing! 🙏

I just successfully canceled my PFL claim last week and wanted to share what worked for me! After reading through all the great advice in this thread, I decided to call at 2:30 PM on a Tuesday (thanks for that tip @Chloe Harris!) and got through after only a 15-minute hold - way better than the horror stories I'd heard about hour-long waits. I had everything prepared beforehand: claim number, SSN, dates, and a brief written explanation of why I needed to cancel (returning to work earlier than expected). The representative was super professional and understanding. She asked a few basic questions about my reason for canceling and whether I was certain about my decision, but the whole process was surprisingly straightforward. The call lasted about 12 minutes total, and I received email confirmation the next day. For anyone still hesitating - just do it! It's really not as scary as it seems, and having a plan based on everyone's advice here makes all the difference. Thanks to this amazing community for all the support and guidance! 🙌