I'm also new to this community and currently dealing with this exact nightmare! My baby bonding PFL was supposed to end next Tuesday but I just got approval to extend through April 25th. I've been absolutely stressed trying to figure out how to get this changed with EDD. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - I had no idea there were so many different approaches beyond just calling that impossible main EDD line! I've tried calling at least 18 times over the past two weeks with nothing but busy signals and disconnections. The online portal is also useless for me because of some weird glitch where it won't accept my address. Based on all the amazing advice shared here, I'm definitely going with the fax approach using 1-916-319-4576. I'll write a simple, direct letter with my claim ID, SSN, original return date, new return date (April 25th), and brief explanation, then follow up with that PFL-specific number (1-877-238-4373) in a few days to confirm receipt. This thread is incredible - thank you all for sharing real solutions that actually work! It's so overwhelming trying to navigate this system while sleep-deprived with a newborn, but knowing other parents have successfully gotten through this gives me hope. I'll definitely update once I hear back about my request. Fingers crossed! 🤞

I'm also new here and going through this exact same stressful situation! My baby bonding PFL was supposed to end this Thursday but my employer just approved extending it until April 30th. I've been in full panic mode trying to figure out how to get my return date updated before my benefits stop. Like everyone else, I've had absolutely zero luck calling EDD - I've tried at least 25 times over the past two weeks and either get busy signals, endless hold music, or sudden disconnections. The online portal won't work for me either because of some ID verification issue that keeps rejecting my information. This thread has been a complete game-changer! I had no clue about the fax option or that dedicated PFL phone number. Based on all the success stories shared here, I'm definitely going to fax my request to 1-916-319-4576 tomorrow morning. I'll keep it simple and direct like @Nathan Kim suggested - just include my claim ID, SSN, original return date vs new return date (April 30th), and a clear request for the change. The advice about following up with a call to 1-877-238-4373 to confirm receipt also sounds smart. And I'll definitely keep certifying for benefits while waiting for the change to process based on what @Amara Chukwu mentioned about maintaining continuous certification. Thank you all SO much for sharing what actually worked for you! It's incredibly overwhelming dealing with this bureaucracy while sleep-deprived with a newborn, but reading these real success stories gives me hope. I'll update once I hear back about my request! 🙏

I went through something similar a couple months ago! In my case, it turned out to be a combination of issues - EDD had processed the payment on a Friday afternoon, and my bank (Wells Fargo) doesn't process ACH deposits over the weekend. So even though EDD showed it as "issued" on Friday, it didn't actually hit my account until the following Tuesday. The 4-day delay had me panicking that something was wrong! One thing that helped me track it down was calling EDD's automated phone line (1-866-333-4606) and using the payment inquiry option - it gave me more specific timing info than what showed online. Also learned that if your payment gets issued close to a holiday or weekend, expect additional delays. Hope yours shows up soon!

I'm dealing with this same issue right now! My payment was issued 3 days ago according to the EDD portal, but nothing in my account yet. Reading through all these responses is super helpful - I had no idea there were so many potential causes for delays. I'm going to try calling my bank first thing tomorrow to check for holds, then verify my routing number is still current, and also try that automated EDD line someone mentioned. It's frustrating but at least it sounds like this is pretty common and usually resolves itself within a week. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is way more helpful than anything on the official EDD website!

Wow, reading all these responses makes me feel so much better knowing I'm not the only one stuck in PFL limbo! I filed my claim back in October and have been pulling my hair out wondering what's going on. The combination of advice here is gold - I'm definitely going to try William's email template first, then follow up with early morning calls like Vanessa suggested. If that doesn't work, contacting my local rep sounds like the nuclear option that actually works based on Olivia's experience. It's honestly insane that we have to become professional bureaucracy navigators just to get our own benefits, but this community support is everything right now. Thanks for creating this thread Katherine - sometimes just knowing others are fighting the same fight helps keep you sane! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my PFL claim in early September and it's been complete radio silence since then. This thread is honestly a godsend - I was starting to think I was the only one dealing with these crazy delays. I'm definitely going to try that email template from William first, then move on to the early morning calling strategy if that doesn't work. The idea of contacting my local representative is something I never even thought of, but after reading Olivia's success story, it might be worth a shot if all else fails. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to become expert system navigators just to get basic updates on our own cases, but at least we can help each other figure this mess out. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - knowing I'm not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare actually helps a lot! 🙏

I'm going through the EXACT same thing right now! Just got my denial letter yesterday for "full wage continuation" even though I was on completely unpaid leave for 6 weeks. Reading through everyone's advice here is giving me so much hope - it sounds like this is a super common EDD system error that gets resolved with proper documentation. I'm definitely going to follow the game plan that @Justin Trejo and @Keisha Taylor outlined: request my wage history from EDD first to see what bogus data they have, then get a detailed letter from payroll (not HR) confirming my $0 earnings during those exact dates. The tip about making sure all dates match perfectly is gold! @Marcus Marsh - hang in there! Based on all these success stories (5-6 weeks for appeals with full back pay), this is totally fixable. It's just EDD's broken system thinking we got paid when we literally didn't. We just need to be patient and thorough with the documentation. This community is amazing for sharing real experiences! 🙏

I'm going through this EXACT same situation right now! Just got denied for PFL last week with the "full wage continuation" reason, even though I was on completely unpaid leave for 7 weeks. It's absolutely infuriating when you know for a fact you didn't receive a single penny, but their system somehow thinks otherwise. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - I was starting to think I was going crazy! It's clear this is a widespread system glitch at EDD. I'm definitely going to follow the detailed game plan everyone's shared: 1. Request my wage history from EDD to see what bogus data they have 2. Get a letter from payroll (not just HR - great tip!) confirming $0 earnings for those exact dates 3. Gather all my pay stubs showing zero income 4. Make sure all dates match perfectly with my original claim @Marcus Marsh - don't give up hope! Based on all these success stories, it sounds like this gets resolved in 5-6 weeks with full back pay once you provide the right documentation. It's just a matter of proving to EDD that their system made an error. We've got this! 💪 Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with EDD's broken system!

I'm currently going through this process myself - 37 weeks pregnant and recently unemployed due to layoffs. Based on my research and what my doctor told me, definitely go with SDI first! I just submitted my DE2501 form last week and my OB was super helpful in explaining the timeline. She said most doctors are very familiar with the 4-weeks-before-due-date rule and will certify you without any issues at 36 weeks. One tip that really helped me: I called EDD's SDI line directly (not the main number) and spoke to someone who walked me through exactly what documentation I'd need. They were way more knowledgeable than the general customer service line. The number is 1-800-480-3287. Also, make sure you apply online if possible - the rep told me online applications are prioritized over mailed forms right now. Don't worry about UI at this stage - you can always apply for unemployment benefits later if needed after your PFL period ends and you're ready to job search again. Focus on securing your immediate income through disability and family leave first. The stress of juggling a job search while this pregnant just isn't worth it when you have better options available through SDI/PFL!

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - definitely go the SDI route first! I was in almost the exact same situation 8 months ago (lost my job at 35 weeks due to budget cuts) and I'm so glad I listened to advice like this. A few things that really helped me through the process: - Get your doctor appointment scheduled ASAP to start the DE2501 paperwork. Mine was booked out 2 weeks and I was panicking about timing. - When you meet with your doctor, bring a list of any pregnancy complications or discomforts you're experiencing (back pain, swelling, difficulty sleeping, etc.). This can help justify starting disability earlier than 38 weeks if needed. - Save all your recent pay stubs and tax documents in one folder - you'll need them for benefit calculations and EDD loves to ask for additional documentation. The whole process felt overwhelming when I was pregnant and stressed about money, but looking back it was actually pretty straightforward once I got that first SDI claim submitted. You'll get through this! And definitely don't feel guilty about not job hunting right now - no employer is realistically going to hire someone who's about to give birth anyway. Focus on securing your benefits and preparing for your baby. Congratulations! 🍼