I just went through this exact same situation last week! The combination of login issues and impossible phone wait times is so maddening when you're trying to care for a new baby. What finally worked for me was actually filing a complaint through the EDD website's "Contact EDD" form under the "Technical Issues" category - within 24 hours someone from their IT department called me back and walked me through resetting my account over the phone. It was much faster than trying to get through the regular phone lines. They also mentioned that if you've been locked out due to multiple password reset attempts, there's actually a 72-hour waiting period before you can try again (which they don't tell you anywhere!). If you haven't tried that route yet, it might save you the trip to Fresno. But honestly, having a backup plan with all those documents ready is smart too - this system is so unpredictable! Hope you get it sorted out soon mama! ❤️

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now - been trying to file my PFL claim for bonding leave for almost 3 weeks! The system keeps timing out when I try to submit my application, and when I call, I either get disconnected after an hour+ wait or get transferred to someone who can't help with PFL issues. Reading through all these suggestions is giving me so much hope though! I'm definitely going to try the Assembly member route first (had no idea that was even an option), then the technical support contact form, and the browser clearing tricks. It's honestly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this nightmare - the whole system seems designed to exhaust you into giving up. For anyone else in this boat, save screenshots of EVERYTHING - error messages, confirmation numbers, even the phone wait times. Having that documentation has been helpful when explaining the issues to anyone who will listen. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions! 🙏

Oh no, this is so frustrating! 😤 I'm actually going through the exact same thing right now - submitted my PFL application last week and it's nowhere to be found on the website even though I have the confirmation number. It's like it vanished into thin air! I've been checking obsessively every day hoping it'll magically appear. At least I'm not the only one dealing with this mess. The EDD system really needs a major overhaul. Hope we both get this sorted out soon! 🤞

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! 😔 I actually work as a customer service rep (not for EDD, but for another government agency) and system glitches like this are unfortunately more common than they should be. A few things that might help while you're waiting to get through on the phone: 1. Try accessing the site at different times of day - sometimes the servers are less overloaded early morning or late evening 2. Clear your browser cache and cookies completely before logging back in 3. If you have the confirmation email, forward it to yourself as backup documentation 4. Keep a detailed log of every call you make (date, time, who you spoke with, reference numbers) The fact that you have a receipt number is actually good news - it means your application DID go through on their end, even if their website isn't displaying it properly. Don't give up! The system is frustrating but your claim is in there somewhere. Sending you good vibes! ✨

I'm so sorry for your loss and the additional stress you're dealing with during this already difficult time. The complete lack of transparency in EDD's PFL caregiving appeal process is absolutely unacceptable - it's 2025 and they can't even provide a basic "appeal received" status update online? I went through something similar last year when my uncle was in his final stages in Texas. EDD initially denied my caregiving claim because his oncologist wasn't in California, even though I had all the proper documentation. The appeal process was a nightmare - weeks of complete silence with no way to check status online. What finally worked for me was getting my state assemblymember's office involved after about 5 weeks of no communication. Their constituent services team called EDD directly and suddenly my "lost" appeal was magically found and approved within 72 hours. It's ridiculous that it takes political intervention to get basic customer service, but that's the reality with EDD's broken system. Keep detailed records of every call you make and every document you submit. If you haven't heard anything by the 3-week mark, definitely consider reaching out to your local representative's office. They deal with EDD issues all the time and know exactly who to contact. The system is clearly designed to prioritize baby bonding claims over caregiving claims, which is infuriating when you're dealing with end-of-life care for a parent. You shouldn't have to fight this hard while you're grieving.

I'm really sorry for your loss and the bureaucratic nightmare you're dealing with on top of everything else. This thread has been incredibly informative about how broken the PFL caregiving system is compared to other EDD programs. I'm currently caring for my elderly father who has dementia, and thankfully his doctors are all in California, but reading these experiences makes me realize how lucky that is. The fact that EDD can quickly approve baby bonding claims with full online tracking but leaves caregiving claimants completely in the dark during appeals is honestly shameful. What strikes me most about your situation is that you have documentation from THREE different medical sources - that should be more than sufficient evidence. The hospice documentation alone should carry significant weight since hospice care requires serious medical certification regardless of what state it's in. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like persistence with phone calls is key, and the suggestion about involving your state representative after 3-4 weeks seems like solid advice. The fact that multiple people had their "lost" appeals suddenly found after political intervention really exposes how dysfunctional their internal processes are. Keep fighting for what you deserve - you were there for your father when he needed you most, and you absolutely deserve these benefits. The system is broken, not your claim.

I'm also new to this community and going through my first PFL claim! Mine just changed to "processed" yesterday, so I'm right at the beginning of this waiting period. Reading everyone's experiences here is so helpful - I had no idea what to expect with the timeline. It's reassuring to know that 7-10 business days is normal and that Money Network is usually pretty quick once it changes to "paid." I was starting to worry that something was wrong since I didn't see the money immediately. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and tips! This community seems really supportive. I'll try to be patient and not check my account every hour (though let's be honest, I probably still will 😅). Will definitely look into setting up those text alerts that Miguel mentioned!

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community and currently dealing with my first PFL claim. Mine has been showing "processed" for about 4 days now with Money Network, and I was getting pretty anxious about the timeline until I found this thread. Reading through all of your experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! It sounds like the 7-10 business day window from "processed" to actually receiving payment is pretty standard. I was definitely one of those people checking my account multiple times a day (guilty! 😅), but now I know that's totally normal behavior. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and tips - this community seems really supportive for those of us navigating the PFL process for the first time. I'm going to set up those text alerts through Money Network that were mentioned and try to be more patient. Fingers crossed we all see our payments soon!

I experienced this exact same issue last month! The VPN was definitely causing problems for me. What worked was: 1. Temporarily disable VPN and use your regular connection 2. Use Chrome in incognito mode 3. Save your progress frequently using the "Save Draft" button 4. Make sure you're clicking "Submit" AND then "Confirm Submission" on the final page The key thing I missed initially was that there are actually TWO final steps - you have to click submit, then on the next page click "Confirm Submission" to actually get it out of draft status. Once I did that properly, I got my confirmation number immediately and could upload the medical certification. Also, being out of country shouldn't disqualify you from PFL as long as you're caring for a qualifying family member. Just make sure you have all the proper documentation ready. Good luck!

I had this exact same problem a few weeks ago! The issue for me was definitely the VPN - EDD's system seems to flag international IP addresses and won't properly process the submission. Here's what finally worked: 1. Disconnect from VPN completely 2. Clear browser cache and cookies 3. Use Chrome or Firefox (Edge gave me issues) 4. Fill out the entire form in one session - don't save and come back later 5. After clicking "Submit" make sure you see a page with an actual confirmation number (not just "submitted successfully") The fact that you're caring for family in Colombia shouldn't disqualify you, but the VPN is likely the culprit. I also recommend calling EDD at 1-877-238-4373 and selecting the PFL option - they can see if there are any partial submissions stuck in their system under your SSN and clear them out. One more tip: try submitting between 6-8 AM PST when their servers have less traffic. That seemed to make a difference for me too. Hope this helps!