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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.
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Just wanted to add that you should also download the EDD mobile app if you haven't already! It makes it super easy to check your payment status and certify for benefits right from your phone. Really helpful when you're dealing with a newborn and don't always have time to sit at a computer. Plus you can set up push notifications so you'll know immediately when there are updates to your claim. Congrats on your little one!
That's a great tip about the mobile app! I had no idea EDD had one. I'll definitely download it - you're right that it'll be much easier to manage everything from my phone while taking care of the baby. Thanks for the suggestion and the congratulations!
Congrats on your little one! I'm actually in a similar boat - just had my son 5 weeks ago and I'm on PFL right now. Everyone's advice here is spot on about the biweekly payments. One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand exactly when your certification periods are. Mine are every two weeks on Sundays, and I learned the hard way that if you miss your certification deadline, your payment gets delayed until the next cycle. Also, keep your phone handy when you're expecting payments because sometimes EDD will text you about payment status updates. The waiting can be nerve-wracking when you're budgeting for a new baby, but once you get into the rhythm it becomes pretty predictable!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who's currently going through the same thing. I'll definitely pay close attention to those certification deadlines - that's such an important detail that could easily be missed. And good to know about the text updates too! It sounds like once you get the hang of the system it becomes more manageable. How are you finding the whole PFL experience overall? Is the benefit amount helping cover your expenses during leave?
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This is amazing timing! I'm currently dealing with EDD for the first time (just had my baby 3 weeks ago) and was dreading the whole process based on horror stories from friends. But seeing that I can actually track my claim status online is such a relief! Just submitted my baby bonding PFL application yesterday and I can already see it's "under review" with an estimated processing time of 2-3 weeks. This is SO much better than the old system where you'd just submit paperwork into the void and pray. One question though - for those who've been through this recently, how accurate are those estimated processing timelines? Should I expect it to actually take 2-3 weeks or is that just a rough estimate? I'm trying to plan my finances around when the payments might start coming in. Also really appreciate all the tips about checking mail/email even with the online system and making sure to file the PFL claim before disability ends. This community is incredibly helpful for navigating all this bureaucracy!
Congrats on your new baby! 🎉 From my experience filing in January, the processing timelines are actually pretty accurate now - much better than the old system. Mine took exactly 2.5 weeks from submission to first payment, which was right in their estimated range. One tip: set up direct deposit if you haven't already! It cuts down the wait time by a few days compared to waiting for a check in the mail. You can do this through the online portal in the payment preferences section. Also, even though you can track everything online now, I'd still recommend calling if you hit the 3-week mark without any movement. Sometimes there are small documentation issues that can hold things up, and a quick call can resolve them faster than waiting for a letter. Good luck with everything!
Wow, this thread is giving me so much hope! I'm due in May and have been absolutely dreading dealing with EDD based on all the horror stories I've heard from mom friends. The fact that they finally have a functioning online system feels like a miracle. Quick question for everyone - I work for a small company (only 8 employees) and my HR person has never dealt with PFL claims before. She's kind of freaking out about the whole process. Has anyone had experience with smaller employers who aren't familiar with the system? Are there any resources or guides that might help her understand what she needs to do on the employer side? Also, I'm planning to take my full 8 weeks of baby bonding leave right after my pregnancy disability ends. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like timing the transition is crucial. Should I submit my PFL application before I even give birth, or wait until I'm ready to transition from disability to bonding leave? Don't want to mess this up! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info that's impossible to find on the official EDD website! 🙏
Hey @Yara Nassar! I totally understand your HR person's stress - I went through this with a small company too (only 6 employees). Here's what helped us: For your HR person, the EDD website actually has an employer section with step-by-step guides now. The main things she needs to know: she doesn't have to "approve" your PFL claim (that's between you and EDD), but she may need to provide wage verification if EDD requests it. Most small employers get nervous thinking they have to manage the whole process, but really EDD handles almost everything directly with you. As for timing - definitely wait until after you give birth to submit your PFL application! You can't file for baby bonding leave before the baby arrives. The key is to submit it during your last week or two of pregnancy disability, not before you go on disability. That way there's no gap between your disability ending and bonding leave starting. The online system makes this SO much easier to coordinate now. You can literally see when your disability claim is ending and time your PFL submission perfectly. Would have saved me so much stress last year when I had to guess at everything! Good luck with everything - sounds like you're way more prepared than most! 🍀
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I just wanted to add my experience as someone who had a very similar dual-job situation last year! One thing that really saved me stress was creating a "PFL prep checklist" that included things like gathering all my wage statements, scheduling the doctor appointment early, and even preparing a simple one-page summary for my doctor about both jobs and their physical requirements. Another tip that helped me: I actually called both of my employers' HR departments before I filed anything, just to let them know my timeline and ask about any company-specific policies. My main job had a supplemental benefit I didn't even know about, and my part-time job was super accommodating about flexible deadlines during my final weeks of pregnancy. The process seems overwhelming at first, but you're already on the right track by asking questions and planning ahead. The key is just staying organized and being completely transparent about your work situation on all the forms. You've got this, and congratulations on your upcoming little one! 🍼
This checklist idea is so smart! I love the idea of preparing a one-page summary for my doctor about both jobs - that will definitely help her understand exactly what I can and can't continue doing. I hadn't thought about calling HR at both jobs proactively, but that makes total sense to do before filing anything. It would be amazing if my retail job has some supplemental benefits I don't know about! I'm feeling so much more prepared now thanks to everyone's advice. Going to spend this weekend getting organized with the spreadsheet, checklist, and gathering all my documents. Thank you for the encouragement - I'm actually feeling excited instead of overwhelmed now!
I'm jumping in as someone who just completed this exact process 3 months ago with twins! What really helped me was creating a dedicated email folder for all EDD correspondence and taking screenshots of everything I submitted online. The system can be glitchy and having your own digital trail is a lifesaver. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: when you transition from PDL to PFL after birth, there's sometimes a gap where you might not receive payments for a week or two while they process the new claim. Plan your budget accordingly! Also, your PFL benefits might be calculated differently than your PDL benefits depending on your base period wages, so don't assume they'll be the same amount. The fact that you're planning this out so thoroughly at 36 weeks shows you're going to navigate this successfully. Just remember to be patient with the system - it's not perfect, but the benefits are definitely worth the paperwork hassle. You're doing everything right by asking these questions now rather than scrambling at the last minute!
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I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! My claim has been stuck on "pending medical provider form" for about 3 weeks. What's really frustrating is that I called EDD and they told me the form was never received, but when I called my doctor's office, they swear they faxed it weeks ago. I ended up asking my doctor for a copy of the completed form so I could fax it directly myself - that way I know for sure it gets to them. The fax number for EDD medical forms is 1-916-464-3200 if that helps anyone else in this situation. Also, @Cole Roush for the direct deposit switch, log into your online account and look under "Payment Information" or "Profile" - there should be an option to update your payment method. It took about 5 business days to take effect for me, but it's so much better than dealing with that clunky debit card system. Hang in there everyone, this bureaucratic nightmare will eventually sort itself out! 🤞
@Diego Chavez Thank you so much for sharing that fax number! I ve'been searching everywhere for it. It s'crazy that we have to become detectives just to get basic information from EDD. I m'definitely going to try the same approach - getting a copy from my doctor and faxing it myself. At this point, I don t'trust anyone else to handle it properly. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it gives me hope that there s'light at the end of this tunnel! 🙏
I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been stuck on "pending medical provider form" for almost a month. What's really helped me is keeping a detailed log of every interaction - dates I called, who I spoke with, confirmation numbers, etc. One thing that worked for me was calling EDD and asking them to give me the EXACT date and time they show the form was supposed to be received. Then I took that info back to my doctor's office and had them check their fax logs. Turns out there was a transmission error on their end that they didn't even know about! Also pro tip: if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right at 8:00 AM sharp. I set multiple alarms and called the second it hit 8 - got through on the second try. For the direct deposit, once you're in your online account, look for "Benefit Payment Preferences" - it might be buried in the settings menu. The whole interface is pretty clunky but it's definitely doable. Stay strong everyone, we'll get through this bureaucratic maze eventually! 💪
Dylan Mitchell
This thread has been super helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation with my partner who has about 10 days of PFL left that expires soon. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the Mon-Fri strategy can definitely work, but the key seems to be: 1. Getting employer approval first (as @Giovanni Marino mentioned) 2. Being crystal clear on the claim forms about normal work schedule 3. Calling EDD ahead of time to confirm the certification process 4. Keeping detailed records of exact dates taken One question I have - for those who successfully did this, did you find EDD payments came through on the normal schedule, or were there any delays because of the intermittent nature? I'm worried about potential processing hiccups that might delay payments. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical info that's so hard to find in the official EDD documentation!
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Paolo Conti
•Great question about payment timing! I'm new to this community but going through something similar with my wife's remaining PFL days. From what I've been reading here and researching, it seems like the intermittent payments can sometimes be delayed compared to regular consecutive leave, mainly because the certification process is more complex. @Amara Okonkwo mentioned they did this successfully - did you notice any payment delays with your intermittent schedule? And @Liam O Sullivan,'since you seem really knowledgeable about the process, do you know if intermittent PFL claims typically process slower than standard ones? I m'also wondering - for the employer approval part that @Giovanni Marino brought up, is there a specific form the employer needs to fill out, or is it just a matter of them agreeing to the schedule? My wife s HR'department has been helpful but they seem unfamiliar with intermittent PFL arrangements. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is a goldmine compared to trying to navigate the EDD website!
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Jean Claude
•Hey @Dylan Mitchell and @Paolo Conti! I m'also navigating PFL for the first time and this thread has been incredibly helpful. Just wanted to add my experience so far - I m'currently in the middle of taking intermittent PFL days Mon-Wed (only to) stretch out my remaining benefits. Regarding payment timing - I did experience about a 5-7 day delay on my first payment compared to when I took consecutive weeks earlier. My EDD rep finally (got through after using that Claimyr service @Dylan Hughes mentioned explained) that intermittent claims sometimes need manual review, which can slow things down initially. For the employer approval question @Paolo Conti asked - there isn t a'separate form, but your wife s employer'does need to complete the employer section of the DE 2508 form accurately. The key is making sure they understand and properly document her normal work schedule and that they re approving'the specific intermittent dates she s requesting.'One tip I learned the hard way: keep screenshots/copies of everything you submit online. My first certification got lost in "their" system and having documentation made it easier to resolve. Has anyone else noticed EDD being more strict about intermittent schedules in 2025 compared to previous years? Just curious if that s been'others experience too.'
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Amy Fleming
This is such valuable information! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where I have about 12 days of PFL remaining that expire in early 2026, and I was wondering if I could do something like this. Reading through everyone's experiences, it seems like the consensus is that yes, you can take Mon-Fri only to stretch benefits, but the certification process requires extra attention to detail. I'm particularly interested in @Liam O'Sullivan's point about the DE 2508 form being updated for 2025 - that's good to know! One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned yet: if your husband takes intermittent days like this, does it affect his ability to take any additional family leave later if needed? Like if there's a family emergency or something? I know there are annual limits on PFL, but I'm not sure how intermittent scheduling impacts that. Also, @ThunderBolt7, please keep us updated on how it goes for your husband! It would be really helpful to hear about the actual experience once he goes through the process. Thanks to everyone sharing their real-world experiences - this kind of practical advice is so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official EDD guidelines alone!
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Laila Prince
•Hi @Amy Fleming! I'm new here but have been following this discussion closely since I'm in a very similar boat with my husband's remaining PFL time. Regarding your question about annual limits - from what I understand, PFL has a maximum of 8 weeks per year for bonding with a new child, regardless of how you schedule it (consecutive or intermittent). So if your husband has already used some of his 8 weeks earlier, the remaining days count toward that same annual limit whether taken all at once or spread out. For family emergencies, that would fall under a different category of PFL (caring for a seriously ill family member), which has its own separate limits. So taking baby bonding days intermittently shouldn't impact your ability to use family care PFL later if needed. That said, I'd definitely recommend confirming this with EDD directly since the rules can be complex. The Claimyr service @Dylan Hughes mentioned seems like it might be worth trying to get through to an actual representative. @ThunderBolt7, I m'also really hoping you ll'update us on how this works out! It would be so helpful to have a real success story to reference. Good luck with getting your husband s'schedule approved!
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