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.
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- 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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Hey Sarah! I just went through something similar earlier this year - had to change my PFL start date from planned to immediate due to unexpected childcare issues. The good news is that EDD really doesn't care about your employer's feelings or convenience, they only care about whether you qualify for the benefit and have your paperwork in order. Since you already have your birth certificate submitted and you're within the bonding window (baby born in June), you should be totally fine. The key things are: 1) Make sure you and your employer report the same actual start date on all forms, 2) Don't file your claim until after you've actually started your leave, and 3) Keep documentation of HR approving the date change. I had zero issues with my payments even though I changed my date with literally one day notice. Your employer might be annoyed but that's their problem, not EDD's! You're entitled to this benefit and sometimes life happens. Don't stress too much about it - focus on your family and let the system work as it's supposed to.
Thank you so much Ava! This is exactly what I needed to hear. It's such a relief to know that others have been through this exact situation and it worked out fine. I was really spiraling thinking EDD would reject my claim over the date change. I'm definitely going to get that email confirmation from HR and make sure all the dates match up perfectly. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience - it's helping me sleep better tonight!
I went through the exact same thing last year when my babysitter quit with zero notice! Had to switch my PFL start date from my planned date to immediate. I was so worried EDD would give me problems, but honestly they processed everything normally. The only thing that mattered was making sure my employer submitted their portion with the correct new start date that matched what I put on my claim form. Got my first payment right on schedule. Your childcare emergency is totally valid - that's exactly the kind of situation PFL is meant to help with! Don't let HR make you feel bad about it, you're using a benefit you've earned.
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Reading through all these responses has been so helpful! I'm currently 6 weeks postpartum and in almost the exact same situation - toxic workplace that I'm dreading returning to after my leave ends. What I'm gathering from everyone's experiences is that the key distinction is between disability (where you're certified unable to work) and PFL baby bonding time (where you can actively job search without issues). @Miguel Alvarez and @Sofia Martinez really clarified this for me. I'm planning to wait until I transition to PFL before starting my job search, but it's reassuring to know that so many others have successfully navigated this transition. The timeline that @Yara Khoury shared sounds ideal - use the PFL period for job searching, give notice a couple weeks before leave ends, and start the new job shortly after. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here had to deal with their employer trying to "win them back" when they gave notice they weren't returning? My company has a history of making counter-offers or promises about improving conditions when people try to leave. I'm worried they might try to guilt me about taking maternity leave and then not coming back, even though I know legally I'm protected. Also want to echo what others have said about the anxiety of job searching during what should be precious bonding time. It's such a mental load on top of everything else new parents are dealing with! But ultimately creating a better future for our families is worth the temporary stress. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - it's giving me the confidence to move forward with this plan! 💪
@Eleanor Foster I m'so glad this thread has been helpful for you too! You re'absolutely right about the key distinction between disability and PFL - that was a major lightbulb moment for me as well. Regarding employers trying to win "you back -" I didn t'experience this personally, but I ve'heard stories! The important thing to remember is that you don t'owe them anything beyond fulfilling your legal obligations. If they were truly committed to improving conditions, they would have done so before you felt the need to leave. Don t'let them guilt you about taking legally protected leave - that s'exactly the kind of toxic behavior that probably contributed to your decision in the first place! If they do make counter-offers, really think about whether the underlying culture and management issues that made the workplace toxic have actually changed, or if they re'just trying to avoid the inconvenience of replacing you. Most of the time, people who accept counter-offers end up leaving within 6 months anyway because the fundamental problems persist. You re'absolutely doing the right thing by prioritizing your family s'long-term wellbeing. A healthier work environment will benefit not just you, but your ability to be present and happy as a parent. The temporary stress of job searching is definitely worth it for a better future! Best of luck with your transition - you ve'got this! 🍀
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! 💕
@Daniel Price Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It s'incredibly reassuring to hear from someone who successfully navigated this exact situation just 6 months ago. The timeline you described starting (job search around 10 weeks postpartum during PFL sounds) very reasonable and gives me a concrete plan to work with. I really appreciate you mentioning the relief you felt not having to return to that toxic environment - I think I ve'been underestimating how much that workplace stress has been weighing on me, even while I m'on leave. You re'absolutely right that securing a healthier work situation will ultimately make me a better parent because I won t'be carrying that constant anxiety. The point about being upfront with potential employers about availability is something I was wondering about. It s'good to know that most hiring managers are understanding when you explain you re'finishing up maternity leave. I m'definitely going to follow your advice about keeping good documentation and following proper procedures. Did you have any issues with the transition process when you ended your PFL claim early, or was it pretty straightforward with EDD? Thanks again for the encouragement - hearing success stories like yours gives me so much confidence that I can make this work! 🙏
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I actually just went through this exact same thing last week! What finally worked for me was going to a physical EDD office. I know it's a pain, but they were able to update my direct deposit info on the spot. Took about 2 hours total including wait time, but way better than being stuck in phone hell. You can find office locations and hours on their website. Bring your ID, bank routing/account info, and a voided check or bank statement just to be safe!
This is actually super helpful! I didn't even know you could do it in person. There's an office about 30 minutes from me, so that might be worth the drive if I can't get the online thing sorted out. Thanks for the tip! @StarSailor did they need any other documents besides what you mentioned?
I had this exact same issue a few weeks ago! What ended up working for me was switching to a different device entirely. I was trying on my phone and laptop with no luck, but when I borrowed my roommate's desktop computer it went through immediately. Something about the way different devices handle the verification process I guess? Also make sure you're not using any browser extensions or ad blockers - those can interfere with the bank verification. Worth a shot before you have to deal with calling or going in person!
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Ive been dealing with this for 6 months now. its a nightmare. dont let them ghost you keep calling!!!
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my PFL claim 3 weeks ago and still nothing. The waiting is so stressful, especially when you really need that income. I tried calling a few times but keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold forever. Has anyone had luck getting through during specific times of day? Maybe early morning or late afternoon? Really hoping we both get some movement on our claims soon! 🤞
Freya Christensen
Since you mentioned you're expecting in March 2025, I wanted to add one more thing: California expanded PFL benefits from 8 weeks to 10 weeks starting January 2025. If you do decide to apply later, you'd be eligible for the expanded benefit period. Just FYI!
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Ravi Malhotra
•Oh wow, I hadn't heard about the expansion! That's really good to know. Thank you for mentioning it!
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AstroAlpha
•wait WHAT?? they expanded it again?? is this confirmed? OMG i might have another baby just for this LOL jk jk... kinda
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Luis Johnson
Hey Ravi! Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this decision last year. You're absolutely right that you don't have to file for PFL - it's completely optional. I ended up taking my full 12 weeks of bonding leave through my company's policy without filing for state benefits, and it was totally fine. One thing I'd suggest is getting your HR's policies in writing so you're crystal clear on what documentation they need for job protection vs. what EDD would need if you changed your mind later. Also, congrats on the upcoming arrival! March babies are the best (totally not biased as a March baby myself 😊). You sound like you've really thought this through and have your finances sorted - trust your instincts!
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