I feel your pain!!! We just went through this with my wife's claim. She had pregnancy disability then tried to transition to baby bonding. Took FOREVER and we nearly drained our savings waiting. The ONLY thing that worked was having my wife's mother (who works for the county) contact someone she knows at EDD directly. Regular people like us just get ignored. The system is totally rigged against normal families.

This is absolutely unacceptable! I'm dealing with something similar - submitted my baby bonding claim by mail 6 weeks ago and have heard nothing. What's really frustrating is that EDD doesn't even have a proper tracking system for mailed applications. You send important documents into a black hole and just have to hope for the best. I've started keeping a detailed log of every attempt to contact them because at this point I'm wondering if I'll need to file a complaint with the state. The fact that people are waiting 2+ months for basic communication about claims that should be processed within weeks is ridiculous. Has anyone had success reaching out to the governor's office or filing complaints with other state agencies? This system is failing California families when we need support the most.

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble after checking online, you can also try the EDD mobile app - sometimes it loads faster than the website, especially during peak hours. I've noticed that payment dates usually show up 1-2 days before the money actually hits your account, so don't panic if you see a date but don't get paid immediately. Also, if your claim shows "pending" for more than a few weeks, that's when I'd definitely try calling or reaching out to your assembly member like others mentioned. The system is definitely frustrating but most people do eventually get their payments sorted out!

Hey Isabella! I went through this exact same thing a few months ago and I totally feel your stress. Here's what helped me figure out my payment timeline: If you log into your EDD account, look for a section called "Claim Status" or "Payment Information" - it should show you if your payments are "Issued," "Pending," or if there are any holds on your account. One thing that really helped me was setting up text notifications through the EDD portal. They'll send you updates when your payment status changes, which saved me from obsessively checking the website every hour (guilty as charged lol). Also, if you're on Paid Family Leave specifically, payments usually come on the same day of the week that you first got approved, but it can take 2-3 business days to actually show up in your bank account after EDD says it's "issued." Don't lose hope - I know the waiting is absolutely brutal, but most people do get their payments eventually. The system is just super backed up. Keep checking your account and definitely try some of the other suggestions people posted here. You got this! 💪

As someone who just went through this whole process 6 months ago, I totally feel your stress! The paperwork is overwhelming but you're asking all the right questions. A few things that helped me: 1) Download the DE2501 form now and bring it to your next OB appointment - having it ready made things smoother 2) Set up your SDI Online account this week if you haven't already (seriously, don't wait!) 3) Keep a simple calendar/checklist of deadlines so you don't miss anything The good news is that once you get the disability claim rolling, the transition to PFL baby bonding is much more straightforward. And honestly, even if there are small hiccups, the system does work - you will get your benefits! One thing I wish someone had told me: if your claim gets stuck or you need to speak with someone at EDD, don't give up after the first few busy signals. Keep trying different times of day. Early morning (like 8am) worked best for me. You're going to be an amazing mom and you've got this whole benefits thing figured out! ✨

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - you're asking all the right questions! I went through this process last year and the key things that saved me stress were: 1) Getting my SDI Online account set up early (like others mentioned, the verification takes time) 2) Having my doctor pre-fill their portion of the DE2501 at my 37-week appointment 3) Filing the disability claim literally the day after my last day of work (May 1st in your case) One thing I didn't see mentioned yet - make sure you understand your employer's policy on using accrued vacation/sick time during your leave. Some employers require you to exhaust paid time off first, others let you save it for when you return. This can affect your benefit amounts and timing. Also, don't worry too much about the "gap" between your last paycheck and when benefits start. EDD disability benefits are retroactive to your first day of disability, so you won't actually lose money - you just might have to wait a bit for that first payment. The whole system really is needlessly complicated, but thousands of women go through this every month and it does work out! You're being so proactive by asking these questions now. 🤗

Everyone here is PARTIALLY right but missing some details. For PFL baby bonding: 1) No weekly certifications needed 2) You MUST file the claim within 41 days of your baby's birth or you risk losing benefits 3) There's a 7-day waiting period if you didn't already serve it for SDI 4) Benefits come bi-weekly automatically AFTER your claim is approved. I work in HR and see employees mess this up constantly. Also, be prepared for your first PFL payment to take 2-3 weeks to process after approval, so have some savings ready for that gap.

Just went through this exact transition 6 months ago! The biggest thing that helped me was keeping all my documents organized in one folder - birth certificate, doctor's clearance letter, and the DE2501F form. I submitted my PFL claim 3 days before my SDI ended and it was seamless. One thing nobody mentioned - make sure your employer knows about the transition too because they might need to adjust your leave status in their system. The automatic bi-weekly payments are SO much better than those weekly certifications. Good luck with your little one!

UPDATE: Finally got through to EDD this morning! Turns out there WAS an issue with the birth date vs. application date like someone here suggested. The agent said my claim got flagged because I applied before my son was born, and it got stuck in some review queue. She manually updated it with the birth certificate info and said I should see payment within 7-10 days. They're going to backpay for the 3 weeks I was off work. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions! This process is way more complicated than it needs to be.

Congrats on getting it resolved! This is such a helpful thread for other dads going through the same thing. I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - applied for PFL in late December and still waiting. Based on what you shared, I'm going to call tomorrow and specifically ask about the birth date vs application date issue. It's ridiculous that this is such a common problem but EDD doesn't warn people about it upfront. The fact that your wife's disability was approved so quickly while your paternity leave took over a month really shows how broken the system is for fathers trying to bond with their newborns.