Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
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- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
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- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Am I the only one who thinks its ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get benefits we're entitled to? The whole system needs an overhaul smh
Preach! 🙌 It's like they make it complicated on purpose
Careful what you wish for. Last time they "overhauled" the system in my state, it was down for weeks 😅
I had a similar issue but with my spouse's middle name spelled wrong on my PFL claim. The key is to act fast - I called the 1-877-238-4373 number first thing in the morning (they open at 8 AM) and got through in about 30 minutes. The rep was actually pretty helpful and said minor corrections like wrong initials are common. They put in a request right away and it was fixed within 10 business days. My payments weren't delayed at all. Just have your claim number ready when you call and explain exactly what needs to be corrected.
Just wanted to add my experience too - I had a typo in my child's name (not just initial) and was panicking. Called that same number around 8:15 AM and surprisingly got through pretty quick. The rep told me that as long as the SSN and other identifying info is correct, name/initial errors are usually just cosmetic and don't hold up payments. Still got it fixed though just to be safe. Took about a week for the correction to show up in the system. Don't stress too much @Paolo Ricci - sounds like you re'on the right track!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I was getting really anxious about this whole thing. I'll definitely try calling first thing tomorrow morning with that number. Did they ask for any specific documentation when you called, or just your claim number and explanation of the error?
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I'm in the exact same boat right now! Just got my letter yesterday and I've been anxiously googling what it could mean. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so reassuring though - sounds like it's usually just verification stuff rather than anything scary. I'm planning to call first thing Monday morning with all my paperwork organized. Has anyone had success with specific times of day? I keep seeing people mention calling right when they open, but I'm wondering if there are any other "sweet spots" during the day when the hold times might be shorter. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this community is such a lifesaver! 🙏
Hey @Tobias Lancaster! I totally get the anxiety - I was in the same spot a few weeks ago when I got my letter. From what I've learned lurking in this community, early morning (right at 8am when they open) seems to be the golden hour. I've also heard some people have luck around lunchtime (12-1pm) when maybe fewer people are calling? But honestly, the morning strategy seems most reliable. One thing that helped me was writing down all my questions beforehand so I wouldn't forget anything once I finally got through. You've got this! Keep us posted on how it goes 💪
Just want to add my experience to help ease your nerves @Alexander Zeus! I got one of these letters about 6 weeks ago and was totally panicking thinking something was wrong with my claim. Turns out they just needed to verify some employment info and confirm a detail about my leave dates. The actual call was super straightforward - the rep was patient and walked me through exactly what they needed. My biggest tip is to have everything organized before you call: your claim number, employer info, medical certification details, and any previous correspondence from EDD. Also, don't be afraid to ask the rep to repeat information or clarify next steps if you're unsure about anything. They're used to people being confused about the process. My payments were back on track within about a week after the call. The waiting and uncertainty is definitely the worst part, but once you get through it's usually much simpler than expected. You've got this! 🙌
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Just wanted to add something important about the timing - you mentioned your UI benefits run out around $2500 left. Make sure to calculate how long that will last you at your current weekly benefit rate. If there's going to be a gap between when UI ends and when you can start disability (which might not be until May), you'll want to plan for that financially. Some people in similar situations have had to find temporary part-time work to bridge that gap, but obviously that depends on your pregnancy and what your doctor advises. Also, keep all your documentation organized - EDD will want to see everything is properly timed and there's no overlap between the different benefit types.
This is such a good point about the timing gap! I hadn't really thought about how long my remaining UI will last. At my current weekly rate, I probably have about 6-8 weeks left, but if I can't start disability until May, there could definitely be a gap. I'm not sure I could handle part-time work in my third trimester, but I guess I need to start planning for that possibility. Thanks for the reminder about keeping all documentation organized too - I've been pretty scattered with my paperwork lately.
I went through this exact transition last year and wanted to share a few things that might help! First, regarding the wage requirements - they are similar to UI but use a different base period, so even if you qualified for UI, double-check your eligibility for disability. Second, I found it really helpful to create a timeline working backwards from my due date to figure out exactly when to stop UI and file for disability. One thing that caught me off guard was that there can be a processing delay of 2-3 weeks for the first disability payment, so budget for that gap. Also, make sure your doctor is familiar with the DE2501F form - some aren't used to filling out the medical certification section. I ended up having to go back twice because they didn't complete it properly the first time. The good news is that once you're in the system, the transition from disability to PFL is much smoother. Keep copies of everything and don't hesitate to follow up if payments seem delayed!
This is incredibly helpful - thank you so much for sharing your experience! The 2-3 week processing delay is definitely something I need to plan for financially. I'm glad you mentioned the doctor needing to be familiar with the DE2501F form because mine is pretty young and might not have done many of these. I'll make sure to bring it up at my next appointment and maybe even bring a copy of the form to show them what's required. Creating a timeline working backwards from my due date is such a smart idea - I'm going to sit down this weekend and map everything out. It sounds like even though the process is complicated, it's definitely doable with the right planning. Thanks again for taking the time to share all these details!
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Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through a similar situation recently! I was also laid off early in my pregnancy and had to navigate this maze of benefits. One thing I learned that might help you: when you're on UI between SDI and PFL, make sure you're genuinely available and actively looking for work. Don't just go through the motions because you're planning to take PFL later - EDD can review your job search activities retroactively if they suspect you weren't truly available. Also, if you do find a job before you take your PFL, you might be able to take it intermittently while working (depending on your employer's policies). Just something to keep in mind as another option! The timing you're planning sounds reasonable - waiting until baby is 4-5 months old for bonding time can actually be really nice because they're more interactive by then. Best of luck with everything!
This is such great advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about the fact that they could review my job search activities retroactively. I'll make sure I'm genuinely putting in effort during my UI period and documenting everything properly. The point about intermittent PFL is really interesting too - I'll definitely keep that in mind if I do find work before I planned to take my bonding time. And you're right about babies being more interactive at 4-5 months - that's actually one of the reasons I was hoping to delay it a bit! Thanks for sharing your experience - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually been through this process!
I'm in a really similar situation right now - also had my baby recently and trying to figure out the best way to handle the transition between benefits! This thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my own research: make sure to keep copies of ALL your paperwork from each benefit program. When I transitioned from SDI to UI, having my SDI award letter helped speed up the UI process since they could see my previous earnings history. Also, if anyone else is reading this and in a similar boat - the 12-month window for PFL starts from your baby's birth date, NOT from when your SDI ends. So even if you take a few months of UI in between, you still have that full year to use your bonding time. @Mateo Hernandez your plan sounds really solid! I'm probably going to follow a similar approach. It's so stressful trying to navigate all this while also being a new parent, but knowing other people have successfully done this exact thing makes me feel much more confident. Good luck with the job search and congratulations on your new baby! 🍼
@Zoe Kyriakidou Thank you so much for the congratulations and for adding those important details! You re'absolutely right about keeping all the paperwork - I ll'make sure to save everything. And the clarification about the 12-month window starting from birth date not (SDI end is) really reassuring. It really is overwhelming trying to figure all this out as a new parent! But this whole thread has given me so much confidence that this approach can work. I hope your situation works out smoothly too - sounds like we re'both in very similar boats. Best of luck to you as well! 🙏
Anastasia Popov
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to fill out the form now but wait until about 10 days before my SDI ends to send it in. I'll make triple sure all my info matches exactly and that I put 3/16 as my start date. Fingers crossed for a smooth transition!
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Sean Murphy
•Smart plan! Also, take pictures of everything before you send it - I learned that the hard way. And congrats on your little one!
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Sunny Wang
Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - when you fill out the form, use blue or black ink only (no gel pens!) and write clearly. EDD can be picky about handwriting legibility and I've heard of forms being rejected for messy writing. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks of bonding leave, make sure you specify that clearly on the form. Some people accidentally put shorter timeframes and then have to file additional claims later. Good luck with your transition!
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Omar Farouk
•This is such great advice about the pen and handwriting! I never would have thought about that but it makes total sense that they'd be strict about legibility. Quick question - do you know if there's any advantage to typing the form if it's a fillable PDF, or is handwritten actually preferred? I want to make sure I do whatever gives me the best chance of smooth processing!
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