I'm so sorry you're going through this - the waiting is absolutely brutal when you need that money for bills! I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago and what finally worked for me was a combination of things: I called my state assembly member's office and they actually have staff who specialize in helping with EDD issues. They can't magically speed things up, but they can at least get you real information about what's holding up your claim. Also, make sure you check that your employer submitted their portion correctly - that was actually my holdup and nobody told me for weeks! In the meantime, if you're really struggling with bills, see if your local 211 has any emergency assistance programs. Hang in there - it WILL come through eventually, even though the system is absolutely broken right now. 💪

I'm dealing with a similar delay right now - going on 4 weeks with my PFL claim. What's really helped me is keeping detailed records of every interaction and submission. I created a simple spreadsheet with dates, times, and what I submitted or who I spoke with. Also, if you haven't already, try contacting your local state senator's office in addition to assembly members - they often have constituent services that can help with state agency issues. I know it's incredibly stressful when bills are piling up, but from what I've seen in this community, persistence really does pay off. Keep pushing and don't give up! 💪

As someone who just went through this exact situation 6 months ago, I want to reassure you that what you're considering is completely normal and legal! I was also in a toxic work environment and made the decision not to return after my maternity leave. Here's what I learned: You can absolutely job search during your PFL period (the baby bonding portion). The key is waiting until you're no longer on pregnancy disability and have transitioned to PFL. During disability, you're certified as unable to work due to your medical condition. But during PFL, you're taking time to bond with your baby - there's no restriction on looking for future employment opportunities. I started my job search around 10 weeks postpartum when I felt more mentally ready to handle interviews alongside caring for my newborn. I was upfront with potential employers about my availability date and most were very understanding. I ended my PFL claim early when I accepted a position and started my new job about 2 weeks after my leave officially ended. The relief of not having to return to that stressful environment was incredible, and it actually made me a better parent because I wasn't constantly anxious about work. Don't feel guilty about using this time to secure a better future for your family - that's exactly what these benefits are meant to help you do! Make sure to keep good documentation of everything and follow proper procedures for ending your benefits when you start your new position. You've got this! 💕

I'm currently 7 weeks postpartum and facing the exact same dilemma! My workplace became incredibly toxic during my pregnancy (new management, unrealistic expectations, several good colleagues quit), and I've been dreading the thought of going back. Reading everyone's experiences here has been SO validating. I was worried that job searching while on leave might somehow be unethical or risky for my benefits, but it sounds like many people have successfully done this during their PFL period. @Sofia Martinez and @Yara Khoury - your timelines and advice are incredibly helpful! I love that you both emphasized waiting until the PFL portion to actively interview. That makes perfect sense from both a benefits perspective and a practical standpoint. @Demi Lagos - thank you for the HR perspective! The point about documenting everything is so important. My company has been making "restructuring" decisions while I'm on leave that feel pretty suspicious timing-wise. I think I'm going to follow the approach several of you recommended: transition to PFL in a couple weeks, start my job search around 8-10 weeks postpartum, and aim to give notice about 2 weeks before my leave ends. The idea of starting fresh somewhere new instead of returning to that stressful environment honestly sounds amazing right now. Has anyone dealt with guilt about "using" maternity leave to job search? I keep having to remind myself that prioritizing my family's long-term wellbeing (including having a mentally healthy parent) is exactly what I should be doing right now! Thank you all for sharing your stories - this community is amazing! 💕

Hey OP, what documents did you submit? Make sure you didn't miss anything important. I thought I had everything in order but turns out I was missing a form and that's why my claim was held up.

I feel your pain! I went through the exact same thing last month. What finally worked for me was calling the disability insurance number (1-800-480-3287) instead of the main PFL line - they handle PFL claims too and the wait times are usually shorter. Also, try calling around 2-3 PM on weekdays when it's less busy. Don't give up - once you get through, they can actually see your claim status and give you real updates. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're absolutely in the clear regarding EDD benefits! I was in a nearly identical situation last year. I had pregnancy complications that kept me on SDI for 10 weeks, then did the full 8 weeks of PFL bonding, and ended up switching to a completely different company afterward. Like others mentioned, the state benefits are insurance that YOU paid for through your paycheck deductions. There's zero requirement to return to your previous employer to keep those benefits. I was so paranoid about this that I actually called EDD (took forever to get through!) and they confirmed that as long as your leave was legitimate - which yours clearly was - the benefits are yours regardless of where you work next. The only thing to watch out for is any employer-provided supplemental benefits. In my case, my company had topped up my state benefits to 80% of salary for part of my leave, and their policy required repayment if I didn't return for at least 60 days. But even that was only about $2,400 compared to the $15,000+ I had received from the state programs. That new job sounds amazing - a 35-minute daily commute savings plus better hours will be such a game changer with a new baby. Don't let fear of something that won't actually happen keep you from making the best choice for your family! Congratulations on your little one!

This thread has been such a relief to read! I'm currently 7 months pregnant and starting to think seriously about what life will look like after maternity leave. My current job has a pretty intense schedule and requires being in the office most days, but I've been wondering if I might want something more flexible once the baby arrives. Reading all these experiences has been so educational - I had absolutely no idea that the state benefits we receive are actually insurance we've been paying into all along! Like others have said, the insurance analogy makes it crystal clear - of course we shouldn't have to pay back benefits just because we make a career change afterward. @cb53ba43b0d6 I really hope you went with that new opportunity! A 10-minute commute vs 45 minutes sounds incredible, especially when you're dealing with all the logistics of having a baby. That's over an hour of your day back to spend with your family. I'm definitely going to review my employee handbook this week to understand any potential employer supplemental benefits and their requirements. This thread has made me realize it's so much better to know these details ahead of time rather than trying to figure it out when you're sleep-deprived with a newborn! Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this kind of practical advice from people who've actually navigated these situations is invaluable. The government websites are so confusing, and hearing actual success stories makes all the difference for those of us trying to plan ahead!

when i had my baby last year i went thru EXACTLY this!!! i got checks when i wanted the card too and it was such a pain! i ended up just keeping the checks cuz by the time i got thru to someone on the phone it was like halfway thru my claim anyway lol. but def update your address online ASAP and also set up mail forwarding with usps! also congrats on the new baby and good luck with ur move!!

UPDATE: I used Claimyr this morning and got through to EDD in about 12 minutes! The representative was super helpful and processed both my address change and switched me to the debit card for future payments. She said the card should arrive at my new Colorado address in 7-10 business days. Just wanted to update in case anyone else runs into a similar situation. Thank you all for the advice!