I went through this exact same situation with my PFL claim a few months ago - the system errors, endless phone holds, everything! What finally worked for me was a combination approach: I contacted my Assembly member's office (like Diego suggested) AND tried the browser clearing trick (like Chloe mentioned) at the same time. The Assembly office caseworker was amazing - she actually stayed on a three-way call with me and the EDD tech person to get my account unlocked. It took about a week from when I first contacted them, but they followed up regularly and kept me updated. In the meantime, the browser clearing did help me see different error messages that were more specific, which I was able to screenshot and send to the caseworker. If those don't work and you do have to go in person, I'd recommend calling the Fresno office first thing in the morning (around 8am) to ask about their current wait times - sometimes they can give you a heads up if it's going to be an especially busy day. Don't give up - the system is absolutely broken but there are people who will help you navigate it!

I just went through this exact same situation last week! The combination of login issues and impossible phone wait times is so maddening when you're trying to care for a new baby. What finally worked for me was actually filing a complaint through the EDD website's "Contact EDD" form under the "Technical Issues" category - within 24 hours someone from their IT department called me back and walked me through resetting my account over the phone. It was much faster than trying to get through the regular phone lines. They also mentioned that if you've been locked out due to multiple password reset attempts, there's actually a 72-hour waiting period before you can try again (which they don't tell you anywhere!). If you haven't tried that route yet, it might save you the trip to Fresno. But honestly, having a backup plan with all those documents ready is smart too - this system is so unpredictable! Hope you get it sorted out soon mama! ❤️

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD phone system is absolutely brutal right now. I had a very similar experience last year when I moved to Washington state but kept my California job. After weeks of failed phone attempts, I ended up using the paper application route and it was honestly a lifesaver. A few things that might help based on my experience: When you fill out the DE2501F form, make sure to attach a brief letter explaining your situation and why you couldn't file online (out-of-state address issue). Also, since your baby is 3 weeks old, you can actually backdate your leave start date - PFL allows you to claim up to 6 weeks retroactively from when you actually stopped working to bond. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: you can also try reaching out to your state representative's office. Many of them have staff who specialize in helping constituents with federal and state agency issues. My friend in Oregon got help this way when she was stuck with unemployment issues. It might be worth a shot while you're waiting for the paper application to process. Hang in there - you've paid into this system for 10 years and you absolutely deserve these benefits. The paper route takes longer but it does work!

I'm going through something very similar right now! Moved to Florida last month but still working remotely for my California employer. My son was born 2 weeks ago and I'm hitting the exact same brick wall with the online system requiring a CA address. The phone situation is absolutely maddening - I've called probably 75+ times over the past week and get that same "maximum callers" message every single time. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though. I'm going to try the paper DE2501F route based on everyone's advice here. @Royal_GM_Mark and @Matthew Sanchez - thank you for the detailed instructions about the forms and mailing address. I had no idea there was a specific out-of-state process. @Anthony Young - definitely try that 619 number someone mentioned, and the Tuesday 8 AM timing tip from @Olivia Garcia. I'm going to give that a shot tomorrow while I'm waiting for my employer to complete their section of the paperwork. We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops for benefits we've been paying into, but at least there seem to be workarounds. Keep us posted on how your paper application goes!

I went through this exact situation two years ago! The key thing to remember is timing - you want to apply for State Disability Insurance (SDI) about 4 weeks before your due date, not wait until after the baby is born. I made that mistake and lost out on some pre-birth benefits. Also, make sure your doctor knows they need to be specific about your disability dates on the DE2501 form. Some doctors are vague about the timeline which can cause delays in processing. Ask them to clearly state when you became unable to work due to pregnancy complications or when you'll need to stop working. One more tip - if you're having trouble reaching EDD by phone (and you probably will), try calling right when they open at 8am. I had better luck getting through early in the morning. Good luck with everything, and congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

I'm in a similar boat - my unemployment just ended and I'm 32 weeks pregnant! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful. I didn't realize I could apply for SDI benefits before giving birth. I've been panicking about having no income for the next few months, but it sounds like there's actually a pathway here. Quick question for those who've been through this - when you apply online at edd.ca.gov, do you apply under "Disability Insurance" or is there a specific "Pregnancy" section? I want to make sure I'm filling out the right forms. Also, has anyone had experience with how long it takes to get approved once you submit everything? I'm trying to figure out if there will be any gap in payments. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been a lifesaver!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been dealing with this nightmare too! I've been trying to reach EDD for my PFL claim for about 3 weeks now and it's absolutely maddening. Reading through all these comments makes me feel both better (I'm not alone!) and worse (this is clearly a systemic issue). I've tried the usual suspects - calling first thing in the morning, different times throughout the day, online portal, emails - you name it. The most frustrating part is that automated message telling you to use the website when the website doesn't actually help with specific claim issues! I'm seriously considering trying that Claimyr service that Emma mentioned, even though $20 feels steep. At this point, I've probably spent 20+ hours on hold or trying to get through, so maybe it's worth it? Has anyone else here actually used it successfully? Also going to give the fax method a shot - never thought I'd be hunting down a fax machine in 2024 but here we are! 📠 Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and tips. It really helps to know we're all fighting the same battle together. Will definitely update if I manage to breakthrough!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Been trying to reach someone about my PFL claim for over a week with zero success. It's honestly mind-boggling how difficult they make it to get basic help. I've been reading through all the suggestions here and I'm planning to try the 8:01 AM sharp calling strategy tomorrow - seems like that's worked for a few people. Also considering the Claimyr service even though paying for something that should be free feels wrong. But at this point, my sanity is worth $20! Thanks for posting this Connor, it's weirdly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this bureaucratic maze. Will definitely share if I have any breakthrough moments! 🤞

I've been dealing with E324 errors too and it's incredibly frustrating! One thing that helped me was making sure my browser was completely up to date - apparently some older browser versions don't play well with the EDD system. Also, if you're using any ad blockers or privacy extensions, try disabling them temporarily as they can sometimes interfere with the form submission process. I know it sounds basic, but sometimes it's the simple fixes that work. Another tip: try copying your info into a text document first so you don't lose everything if the page crashes again. Good luck, and don't give up - we'll all get through this eventually! 🤞

I'm having the exact same E324 error! It's been driving me crazy for the past few days. I tried all the basic troubleshooting - clearing cache, different browsers, etc. - but nothing worked. Reading through these comments gives me some hope though. @Emily Thompson, I'm definitely going to try disabling my ad blocker and updating my browser. @Jamal Harris, the incognito mode idea is something I hadn't considered either. Has anyone had success with submitting the claim via phone instead of online? I'm wondering if it's worth skipping the online system entirely at this point and just going straight to calling, even if it means waiting on hold for hours. This whole process is so stressful when you're already dealing with family leave issues! 😩