idk if this helps but I had luck emailing them through the contact form on their website. took like a week to get a response but at least I didn't have to deal with the phone nightmare

I had a similar issue last year and what finally worked for me was calling the 833-978-2511 number (the disability insurance line) instead of the main PFL number. For some reason it was easier to get through, and they were able to transfer me to the right department. Also, try calling right at 8 AM sharp - I literally had my phone ready to dial at 7:59:59 AM. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops, but sometimes you gotta work the system. Hope this helps!

Okay, but can we talk about how messed up it is that we even have to jump through all these hoops? The system is broken, y'all. 🤡

Hey Zoe! I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. The key thing is to be super clear with EDD that your severance is a one-time separation payment, not ongoing wages. When I called, I specifically said "This is a lump-sum severance payment for separation, not continuation of salary" and had my severance letter ready to reference. Also, make sure your former employer coded it correctly on their end - they should report it as severance, not regular wages. If there's any confusion, ask for a corrected form from HR. One more tip: if the first EDD rep doesn't seem to understand, politely ask to speak with someone else or a supervisor. Some agents are more familiar with these situations than others. You've got this! 💪

I just went through this whole process (my baby is 4 months old now). You're getting good advice here about doing SDI first and then PFL. One thing to be prepared for - when you transition from SDI to PFL, you might get some confusing notices. I received a letter saying my SDI claim was "closed" which briefly sent me into a panic thinking I'd done something wrong. It's just their normal process when one benefit ends and another begins. Also, if you need to speak with someone at EDD about your benefits (which you likely will at some point), set aside a full day for calling. Their phone lines are ridiculously busy, especially in the morning. I found slightly better luck calling around 3-4pm.

This is such helpful information! I'm also expecting my first baby via C-section in a few weeks and had the same confusion about the timing. Reading through everyone's experiences has really clarified things for me. A couple of follow-up questions based on what I've read here: 1) Should I notify my employer about this SDI-to-PFL transition timeline, or do they automatically get notified by EDD? 2) For those who had the payment gap between SDI and PFL, was it exactly 1-2 weeks or did some people experience longer delays? I'm trying to plan my budget accordingly. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this is way more helpful than anything I've found on the official EDD website!

Sending positive vibes your way, OP! Dealing with EDD while on maternity leave is the last thing you need. Hope it gets sorted out quickly! 💖👶

I went through something similar a few months ago! One thing that really helped me was getting a written statement from HR that clearly breaks down exactly what they're paying vs what EDD should be covering. Make sure it includes specific dollar amounts and dates. Also, if you have direct deposit, screenshot your bank statements showing the actual amounts you're receiving from your employer - this helped prove my case when EDD kept insisting I was getting full salary. The whole process took forever but having that documentation made all the difference. Hang in there mama! 💪

I work for a benefits consulting firm and we see this EDD name truncation issue ALL the time! Here's what I tell my clients: First, try using periods after each initial if your name is hyphenated (like Mary-Ann becomes M.A. instead of MA). Second, if you have a middle name you normally include, try submitting without it initially - you can always update it later once your account is established. Third, and this is key - screenshot EVERYTHING when you're having these issues. The EDD reps are actually pretty understanding about technical glitches if you can show them what happened. I've had clients get their applications backdated to when they first attempted to apply online, so you won't lose time. Also, pro tip: if you do end up talking to someone, ask them to add notes to your file about the name issue so future reps will see the context. The system is definitely broken, but there are workarounds! 🙂

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm new to this community and currently dealing with my own EDD nightmare - though mine is a different issue (stuck in pending status for weeks). Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions gives me so much hope that there are actually ways to navigate this broken system. The collective knowledge here is amazing! @Jasmine Quinn your comprehensive list of troubleshooting steps is gold, and @Yuki Kobayashi thanks for sharing the professional insider perspective. I'm bookmarking this entire conversation for future reference. It's frustrating that we have to become experts in workarounds just to access benefits we're entitled to, but I'm grateful for communities like this where we can help each other out. Keep fighting the good fight everyone! 💪