I made a similar mistake on my application a few months ago. Here's what worked for me: I called the SDI customer service line early in the morning (around 8 AM) when wait times are shorter. Have your confirmation number ready and clearly explain that you need to correct an error regarding the mandatory vacation policy. The representative was able to make a note in my file and told me to send a brief written statement via their secure message system confirming the correction. It took about 2 weeks to process, but they updated my application without any issues. Don't stress too much - honest mistakes happen and they deal with these corrections regularly!

I went through something similar last month! Don't panic - this is actually a pretty common mistake and the SDI office is used to handling these corrections. I called their main line and was able to get it sorted out over the phone. The key is being persistent but polite. They had me send a follow-up email confirming the correction we discussed, which helped create a paper trail. The whole process took about 10 business days from start to finish. One thing that helped me was having my employee handbook ready when I called, just in case they had questions about my actual company policies. Hang in there - it'll get resolved! 💪

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your wife's employer offers any supplemental benefits during the transition. Some companies will "top up" the difference between her full salary and the SDI/PFL payments. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to update your health insurance beneficiaries and look into whether you need to adjust any automatic bill payments during this period. The consistent payment amount is great, but it's still usually less than full salary so budgeting adjustments might be needed. Good luck with everything!

This thread has been super informative! As someone who's currently 7 months pregnant and trying to plan ahead, I'm relieved to hear the payment amounts stay the same during the transition. One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if there are any restrictions on working part-time during PFL bonding leave? My employer mentioned I might be able to do some remote work occasionally during my bonding time, but I want to make sure that won't affect my PFL benefits or cause any issues with EDD.

I'm a new mom who just went through this exact process a few months ago! I was also panicking about timing and ended up doing a hybrid approach similar to what you're planning. A few additional tips from my experience: - When you make copies, scan everything to your phone/computer too as a digital backup - If you drop off at the EDD office, try to go early in the morning (I went right when they opened at 8am and there was no line) - Ask for a timestamp receipt if possible - some offices will give you one, others won't, but it's worth asking - Double-check that your doctor filled out EVERY section of the DE2501. Missing info is the #1 reason for delays Also, don't stress too much about the 2-week timeline. I submitted mine literally the day before my last day of work and everything worked out fine. The system is definitely frustrating but most claims do get processed eventually. You're being super proactive by handling this at 36 weeks - I waited until 38 weeks like an idiot! Sending you positive vibes for a smooth process and healthy delivery! 🤞

As someone who works in a medical office that handles A LOT of disability paperwork, I wanted to chime in with some insider perspective on the electronic vs paper filing situation. The reality is that many medical practices, especially smaller ones, are hesitant to switch to SDI Online because there's a learning curve for staff and they're worried about making mistakes that could delay patients' claims. However, once offices DO make the switch, they usually love it because it's actually faster and reduces their paperwork burden. For your immediate situation, I'd definitely recommend the drop-off approach since you confirmed your local office has a drop box. But here's a pro tip: when you drop it off, take a photo of yourself putting it in the drop box with a timestamp. I know it sounds paranoid, but we've had patients whose forms got "lost" and having that photo evidence helped them when they had to escalate their case. Also, since you mentioned this is your first pregnancy - start thinking now about your PFL claim for baby bonding. You'll need to file that separately after delivery, and it's a completely different form (DE2508). The sooner you understand the two-step process, the less stressful it'll be when you're dealing with a newborn! Best of luck with everything - you've got this! 💪

I'm going through the exact same waiting period right now! Got approved about 10 days ago and have been checking my account daily (okay, maybe hourly 😅). This thread has been absolutely incredible - way more helpful than any official resource I've found. The 2-3 week timeline everyone keeps mentioning is really reassuring. I was starting to worry something was wrong when nothing showed up after the first few days. I tried the early morning calling strategy yesterday and actually got through in about 35 minutes at 8 AM - way better than my previous attempts that ended in busy signals. The rep confirmed my claim is "in processing" which apparently means payment should hit within the next week or so. She also reminded me to double-check that my direct deposit info is current, which I'm glad I did because I had moved recently. One thing I'll add that hasn't been mentioned much - if you're using a credit union or smaller bank, sometimes larger deposits can take an extra business day to fully process compared to major banks. Just something to keep in mind if you're at the edge of that timeline! Thanks Max for starting this discussion - it's amazing how much community support helps with the stress of waiting. We're all in this together! 🤞

Just adding to this helpful thread! I went through the exact same waiting period a few months back and totally understand the anxiety. After getting approved, I waited almost exactly 3 weeks before seeing the money in my account - right at the edge of that 2-3 week timeline everyone's been mentioning. One thing that really helped me was setting up account alerts with my bank so I'd get a text notification for any deposits over a certain amount. That way I could stop obsessively checking and just wait for the notification. Way better for my mental health! 😅 Also wanted to mention that when I finally called (using that early morning strategy), the rep told me that even though my claim showed "approved" online, there was still a routine employer verification step happening in the background that added a few extra days. Might be worth asking about that specifically when you call. The waiting is absolutely the worst part, but based on all the experiences shared here, it really does seem like the money comes through eventually. Hang in there Max - you're definitely not alone in this! This community support has been amazing to read through 🙏

So relieved to see your update! This is exactly why I always tell people to call EDD when claims are pending too long - there's usually something specific holding it up that only they can see and fix. Employer verification issues are incredibly common, especially with intermittent claims where HR has to respond multiple times throughout the year. Many employers just don't prioritize these requests or understand the tight deadlines. Glad you got your 11 days confirmed and the March payment released! That's cutting it close to your 12-month deadline but at least now you know exactly where you stand.

This is such a common issue with intermittent PFL claims! I went through something very similar when my son was born in 2022. The key things that helped me were: 1) Keep a personal spreadsheet tracking each claim period and workdays used - don't rely on EDD's system alone, 2) Always follow up with your employer's HR after submitting each claim to make sure they received and processed EDD's verification request, and 3) If a claim sits pending more than 10 business days, call immediately. The 12-month deadline is firm and EDD won't extend it even if the delays were on their end. So glad to see from the updates that you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this - intermittent PFL is totally doable but requires more proactive communication with both EDD and your employer than continuous leave.