
California Paid Family Leave
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So frustrated right now! I just ended my pregnancy disability yesterday and am trying to file for baby bonding PFL. My SDI payments were coming through direct deposit no problem for 6 weeks. But when I tried entering the EXACT SAME banking info for my PFL claim, I keep getting an error message saying "cannot verify banking information." I've triple-checked my account number and routing number and everything is correct. Has anyone else dealt with this weird glitch when transitioning from disability to PFL? Did you have to get paper checks instead? I really don't want to wait for mail delivery with a newborn at home!
I'm currently on pregnancy disability leave that transitions to PFL baby bonding on November 15th. I have two separate employers and I'm wondering if this is allowed: Can I return to work at my part-time job (8 hours/week remote consulting) while still collecting disability/PFL benefits for my full-time position (45 hrs/week in healthcare)? The part-time work is completely computer-based that I can do from home, but my full-time job involves being on my feet all day and heavy lifting that I definitely can't handle yet after my C-section. My doctor supports me returning to just the remote work. Will EDD consider this fraud or will it affect my benefits? My disability claim is only based on my full-time job's wages.
To answer your question about the certification form - there's actually a specific section where you report work and earnings. You'll enter the hours worked and wages earned for each specific day of the certification period. In the additional information section, you can clarify that these earnings are from a different employer than the one your claim is based on. Be extremely precise with dates and amounts. When you transition to PFL baby bonding, the same rules apply - you must report any part-time earnings. The main difference is that disability is based on your medical inability to perform your regular work, while PFL is about bonding time with your child. As long as you're still using most of your time for bonding and only working minimally, and reporting all earnings, you should be okay. I recommend getting written clarification from EDD about your specific situation before proceeding.
Just wanted to add my experience from 2022 - I was in almost the exact same situation with a remote consulting job while on maternity leave from my main employer. The key thing that saved me was having my doctor write a very specific note that said I was "unable to perform the essential functions of [main job title] due to physical limitations from cesarean delivery, but medically cleared for sedentary computer work not exceeding 10 hours per week." I also kept detailed records of every hour worked and every dollar earned from the part-time job, and reported it all on my certifications. EDD did reduce my weekly benefit amount based on the part-time earnings, but I never had any issues or overpayment notices. The reduction formula they use is actually pretty reasonable - you get to keep most of your benefits plus the part-time income. One tip: when you call EDD, ask them to note your file that you discussed working part-time for a different employer while on leave. Having that conversation documented in their system can help if any questions come up later.
Hey everyone, I'm having some issues with my paid family leave benefits. I sent in my paperwork about two weeks ago and still haven't heard anything back. Has anyone else experienced delays like this? I'm getting a bit worried since my last payment was on the 6th. Any advice on what I should do next?
Pro tip: if you can, go to your local office in person. I know it's a pain, but I got my issue resolved in one day after weeks of no response online/phone.
Two weeks is definitely frustrating, but unfortunately pretty normal these days. I'm dealing with a similar situation - submitted my continuation forms 3 weeks ago and radio silence. What I've been doing is checking my EDD online account daily and documenting everything with dates. Also try calling the 1-877-238-4373 number first thing in the morning around 8am - that's when I've had the most luck getting through. Don't give up! Your benefits are coming, the system is just painfully slow right now.
Hey everyone, I'm dealing with a benefits overpayment issue and need to set up an offset. Has anyone gone through this process before? What should I expect when I call the EDD about this?
Here's a detailed breakdown of what to expect when setting up an offset for benefits overpayment: • First, gather all relevant documents: overpayment notice, past benefit statements, and any correspondence with EDD. • When you call, you'll need to provide your Social Security number and confirm your identity. • The rep will explain the reason for the overpayment and the total amount owed. • You can then discuss repayment options. An offset means they'll reduce your future benefits to recoup the overpayment. • You have the right to negotiate the amount of the offset. They can't take more than 25% of your weekly benefit. • If you disagree with the overpayment, you can request an appeal or apply for a waiver. • Make sure to get a confirmation number or case number for your offset agreement. • Ask for a written statement of the agreement to be mailed to you. Remember, stay calm and polite, but be firm about your rights and needs. Good luck!
One thing I'd add - if you're currently receiving benefits and they want to start the offset immediately, you can ask for a hardship deferral if the reduced payments would cause financial distress. I had to do this when my offset would have dropped my weekly benefit below what I needed for rent. They approved a temporary delay while I got my finances sorted. It's not guaranteed, but worth asking about if you're in a tight spot financially.
Im freaking out because I just realized that I never received PFL baby bonding benefits last year after having my baby!! I got my regular disability (SDI) payments while I was recovering from childbirth for about 6-8 weeks, but I think I never filed for the additional 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave for bonding with my baby. It's been almost exactly a year now since I gave birth (my little one's birthday is next week!).\n\nDoes anyone know if I can still apply for those benefits retroactively? Or am I completely out of luck because it's been a year? I'm kicking myself because that's probably like $8000 I missed out on and we really struggled financially after the baby came. My HR department never mentioned anything about the two different benefits and I thought the disability payments were the only thing I qualified for.\n\nHas anyone been in this situation or know if there's a time limit to apply for PFL after birth?? Really appreciate any help!
I'm so glad you found out about this in time! I went through something similar last year - I had no idea PFL bonding leave was separate from disability until a coworker mentioned it when my baby was 10 months old. I was able to file retroactively and got approved, but it took about 6 weeks to process since it was a late claim. One thing that really helped my case was getting a letter from my doctor's office confirming the dates of my disability period, which clearly showed when I would have been eligible to start PFL. Also, if you have any emails or documentation showing that your HR department only gave you SDI paperwork without mentioning PFL, include that too - it really strengthens your case that you weren't properly informed. The whole system is so confusing and poorly communicated. You shouldn't have to be a benefits expert just to get what you're entitled to! Rooting for you - hope you get every penny you deserve!
Dmitry Smirnov
I'm currently going through this same frustrating issue right now! Just finished my pregnancy disability last week and trying to file for PFL, but keep getting that "cannot verify banking information" error even though my direct deposit worked perfectly for SDI. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and infuriating - it's crazy that this is such a widespread known problem that EDD just hasn't bothered to fix. I'm going to try calling that 1-800-480-3287 number that @Carter Holmes mentioned at 8 AM sharp tomorrow. If that doesn't work out, I might have to bite the bullet and use the Claimyr service since sitting on hold for hours with a 2-week-old doesn't sound feasible. Thank you all for sharing your solutions - it's such a relief to know I'm not alone in dealing with this technical nightmare during an already stressful time!
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Scarlett Forster
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this too! As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been. I'm currently pregnant with my first baby and will be going through the SDI to PFL transition in a few months, so reading about everyone's experiences with this banking verification glitch is both eye-opening and frustrating. It's absolutely ridiculous that EDD has such a well-documented system bug that affects so many new parents during an already overwhelming time. The fact that they can fix it in 5 minutes once you get through to an agent just proves how preventable this whole mess is. I really hope the phone number @Carter Holmes shared works for you! And honestly, the Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth every penny to avoid the stress of endless hold times with a newborn. Please update us on what ends up working - I m'sure other expecting parents following this thread would benefit from knowing the most effective solution. Wishing you the best of luck getting this resolved quickly!
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Chloe Harris
This is such a frustrating but unfortunately common issue! I'm dealing with the exact same banking verification error right now after transitioning from pregnancy disability to PFL. It's so stressful when you're already sleep-deprived with a newborn and need those payments to come through. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it's both reassuring to know this isn't just me and infuriating to see how widespread this known glitch is. I'm definitely going to try calling EDD at 8 AM using that number @Carter Holmes shared, and if that doesn't work, the Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth the cost to avoid hours on hold with a crying baby. Thanks to everyone who shared their solutions - this community is such a lifesaver during these stressful transitions!
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QuantumQuasar
I'm so glad I found this community! I'm new here but currently dealing with this exact same banking verification nightmare. Just had my baby 2 weeks ago and trying to transition from SDI to PFL, but getting that same frustrating error message even though my direct deposit worked perfectly during pregnancy disability. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both a relief (knowing I'm not alone) and incredibly frustrating (seeing how common this glitch is that EDD refuses to fix). The fact that they can resolve it in 5 minutes once you get through to an agent just shows how preventable this whole mess is! I'm definitely going to try that 8 AM call strategy with the number @Carter Holmes provided. If that doesn t'work, the Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth every penny to avoid sitting on hold for hours with a newborn. Thank you all for sharing your solutions - this thread has been a lifesaver during what s'already such an overwhelming time!
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