Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- 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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I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 10 weeks and counting with no payments. It's absolutely ridiculous how broken this system is. I've tried everything mentioned here: calling (never get through), checking online portal (just says "pending"), even sent written requests. The stress of not knowing when/if you'll get paid while dealing with family issues is just brutal. Has anyone had luck with filing a complaint with the state ombudsman? I'm at my wit's end here.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this too! 10 weeks is absolutely unacceptable. I haven't tried the state ombudsman yet, but that's a really good idea - I'm going to look into that option. This whole situation is so stressful when you're already dealing with family stuff and need the financial support. Have you considered reaching out to any local news stations? Sometimes media attention can light a fire under these agencies. Hang in there - we shouldn't have to fight this hard for benefits we're entitled to! 💪
This is absolutely maddening - I'm in week 8 of waiting myself and it's like screaming into the void. The fact that we're all here sharing horror stories of 2-4+ month delays just shows how completely broken this system is. I've been documenting everything like others suggested, but honestly shouldn't have to become a detective just to get benefits we've paid into. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - has anyone tried contacting their local assemblymember's office? I heard they sometimes have staff who can help navigate state agency issues. At this point I'm willing to try anything. The financial stress on top of dealing with family medical issues is just crushing. We deserve so much better than this bureaucratic nightmare! 😤
Yes! Contacting your assemblymember's office is actually a great suggestion - I wish I'd thought of that sooner. My cousin had success with that approach for a different state agency issue. They have constituent services staff who are specifically trained to help with these kinds of bureaucratic roadblocks. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access benefits we've literally paid into through our paychecks. The system is clearly overwhelmed and understaffed, but that doesn't make it any less stressful when you're depending on that money. I'm definitely going to try the assemblymember route too - thanks for sharing that tip! 🙏
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Miguel, congratulations on your upcoming addition! I just went through this process when my son was born in February. Here's what I learned that might help: You absolutely cannot apply before birth - the system requires proof of the child's birth as part of the application. BUT here's what you CAN do now to make the process smoother later: 1. Set up your EDD SDI Online account today - seriously, do it now while you have mental bandwidth 2. Gather all your employment/wage info and save it somewhere easily accessible 3. Talk to your hospital about their birth certificate turnaround time - mine took 5 business days which felt like forever when you're eager to get benefits rolling When baby arrives, apply within the first week if possible. The 12-month deadline is real, but EDD processing times are unpredictable right now. Mine took 2.5 weeks to approve, which wasn't too bad compared to some horror stories I've heard. One thing I wish I'd known: you can actually start your leave before your claim is approved. You just won't get paid until it processes. So if you need to be home with baby immediately, don't feel like you have to wait for EDD's wheels to turn. Also bookmark the EDD customer service phone number now, just in case. The earlier in the day you call, the better your chances of getting through. Good luck!
Thanks Luca! That's really reassuring to know I can start my leave before the claim is approved - I was worried about having to wait for EDD's approval before I could actually take time off. The tip about calling early in the day is gold too. I'm definitely setting up that SDI account this weekend, and I'll check with the hospital about their birth certificate timeline. It's so helpful hearing from people who just went through this recently. Sounds like being proactive with all the prep work now will save me a lot of stress later when I'm running on no sleep!
Hey Miguel! Congrats on the upcoming baby! Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I went through this process - make sure you understand the difference between "intermittent" and "continuous" leave when you apply. You can take your 8 weeks of baby bonding leave all at once (continuous) OR you can break it up into smaller chunks (intermittent) over that 12-month period. For example, you could take 4 weeks right after birth, then save the other 4 weeks for later - maybe when your wife goes back to work, or around holidays, etc. The intermittent option is really flexible but you have to specify this when you apply. If you apply for continuous leave initially, it's harder to change it later. Just something to think about now while you're planning! Also echoing what others said about screenshots - I literally took photos with my phone of every screen during the application process. EDD's system crashed on me twice and having that documentation saved me hours of re-entering information. You've got this! The prep work you're doing now will definitely pay off later.
This is super helpful Omar! I hadn't really thought about the intermittent vs continuous option. That flexibility could be really useful - maybe I could take a few weeks right after birth and then save some time for when my wife goes back to work. Do you know if there are any restrictions on how you can break up the intermittent leave? Like minimum chunks of time or anything like that? And thanks for the screenshot tip - seems like everyone who's been through this recommends documenting everything with EDD's system!
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I'm currently going through this exact same nightmare! My hyphenated name is 18 characters and I've been stuck with paper everything for my maternity leave. Reading through all these responses is giving me hope though. I'm definitely going to try calling at 8:05 AM sharp tomorrow with all my paperwork ready. Quick question for those who successfully got online access - were you able to upload documents through the online portal after getting access, or do you still have to mail everything? I have some medical forms I need to submit and I'm really hoping I won't have to keep dealing with the postal service delays!
I had the same question when I got my online access set up! Unfortunately, even with online access, document uploads can be hit or miss. Some forms like continued claim forms can be submitted online, but medical documentation often still has to be mailed or faxed. I was able to upload my doctor's return-to-work form through the portal, but when I tried to upload additional medical records, the system kept giving me errors. Ended up having to fax them to 1-866-401-2849 (the EDD medical fax line). Still way better than regular mail though - at least you get confirmation that they received the fax! Good luck with the 8:05 AM call strategy - fingers crossed you get through quickly!
Ugh, I feel your pain with the hyphenated name issue! I'm in the exact same boat - filed on paper because my 15-character hyphenated name was "too long" for their ancient system. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I called the disability line at 1-800-480-3287 right at 8:05 AM (thanks to everyone who suggested that timing!) and when I got through, I specifically asked for the DE1326C form that allows them to set up online access for paper filers. The rep was actually familiar with this form and was able to process it over the phone instead of mailing it to me. Within 48 hours I had online access and could see all my payment history. Still had to mail my PFL transition paperwork, but at least I can track everything online now instead of waiting for those slow paper notices. Definitely worth the early morning wake-up call!
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Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been dealing with this nightmare too! I've been trying to reach EDD for my PFL claim for about 3 weeks now and it's absolutely maddening. Reading through all these comments makes me feel both better (I'm not alone!) and worse (this is clearly a systemic issue). I've tried the usual suspects - calling first thing in the morning, different times throughout the day, online portal, emails - you name it. The most frustrating part is that automated message telling you to use the website when the website doesn't actually help with specific claim issues! I'm seriously considering trying that Claimyr service that Emma mentioned, even though $20 feels steep. At this point, I've probably spent 20+ hours on hold or trying to get through, so maybe it's worth it? Has anyone else here actually used it successfully? Also going to give the fax method a shot - never thought I'd be hunting down a fax machine in 2024 but here we are! 📠 Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and tips. It really helps to know we're all fighting the same battle together. Will definitely update if I manage to breakthrough!
Hey Javier! I totally feel your frustration - 3 weeks is way too long to be dealing with this. I'm new to this whole situation too and honestly, reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and alarming. It's crazy that in 2024 we're all talking about fax machines and paid services just to access benefits we're entitled to! I've been following the discussion about Claimyr and it seems like several people have had success with it, though I understand the hesitation about the cost. When you think about it though, 20+ hours of your time is definitely worth more than $20, plus the stress and anxiety this whole process causes. The fax idea is wild but honestly at this point I'm willing to try anything! If you do end up trying either method, please keep us posted on how it goes. We're all learning from each other's experiences here and it's really helpful to know what actually works. Good luck and hang in there - hopefully you'll get through soon! 🤞
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been trying to reach someone about my PFL claim for over a week with zero success. It's honestly mind-boggling how difficult they make it to get basic help. I've been reading through all the suggestions here and I'm planning to try the 8:01 AM sharp calling strategy tomorrow - seems like that's worked for a few people. Also considering the Claimyr service even though paying for something that should be free feels wrong. But at this point, my sanity is worth $20! Thanks for posting this Connor, it's weirdly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this bureaucratic maze. Will definitely share if I have any breakthrough moments! 🤞
Welcome to the struggle, Elliott! 😅 It's honestly both comforting and depressing how many of us are dealing with the exact same issue. A week might feel like forever but you're still in the "early days" compared to some folks here who've been at it for months! The 8:01 AM strategy does seem to be the most consistently mentioned tip, so definitely worth a shot. And yeah, paying for something that should be free is frustrating, but sometimes you gotta do what works for your peace of mind. I'm new to this whole PFL process too and this thread has been super helpful for learning what to expect and what might actually work. Definitely keep us posted on your progress - we're all rooting for each other here! Good luck tomorrow morning! 🤞
Simon White
I'm dealing with a similar upload issue right now! One thing that helped me was trying the upload process using Safari browser instead of Chrome - apparently EDD's system has weird compatibility issues with certain browsers. Also, if you're still stuck, try logging in at exactly midnight or very early morning when their servers have less traffic. I've heard from others that the upload buttons sometimes reappear during these low-traffic windows. It's ridiculous that we have to work around their technical problems like this, but hopefully one of these workarounds helps you get that birth certificate uploaded!
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Oliver Brown
•Thanks for the browser tip! I've been struggling with Chrome too and didn't realize Safari might work better. The midnight upload strategy is interesting - I never thought about server traffic affecting these basic functions, but it makes sense given how outdated their system seems to be. It's wild that we have to become IT troubleshooters just to submit basic documents to a government agency. Definitely going to try the Safari + late night combo tonight!
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Liam McGuire
I had this exact same issue with my PFL claim last month! The upload button just completely vanished after I submitted my initial application. What ended up working for me was a combination of things: First, I tried logging in using Microsoft Edge browser (weird, I know, but their system seems to hate Chrome and Firefox sometimes). Second, I logged in during off-peak hours around 6 AM when the system is less congested. The upload option magically reappeared! If that doesn't work, you can also try calling their document upload hotline at 1-866-333-4606 - it's specifically for technical issues with uploads, not general claims questions. They can manually process your documents over the phone. Also, make sure your birth certificate file is under 5MB and in PDF format - I found out the hard way that their system is super picky about file types and sizes. Don't give up, your claim is definitely still in their system even if the website isn't showing it properly!
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StarSailor}
•This is incredibly detailed and helpful! I had no idea about the document upload hotline - that's exactly the kind of specific resource that can make all the difference. The Microsoft Edge tip is interesting too since I've been banging my head against the wall with Chrome. Your point about file size and format is crucial - I bet a lot of people run into issues because of that without realizing it. The 6 AM strategy seems to be working for multiple people here, so I'm definitely setting my alarm early tomorrow. Really appreciate you sharing the specific phone number and all these technical details. It's frustrating that we need to become EDD system experts just to submit documents, but posts like yours make the process so much more manageable!
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