California Paid Family Leave

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Final update: Success! The psychiatrist completed both the EDD supplemental certification and my employer's continuous leave form. He documented that my condition has been ongoing since the original certification expired. HR has confirmed my job protection stays intact with no need to use PTO. Now just waiting on EDD to process the payment for those gap weeks. Thank you everyone for your help!

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So glad to hear this worked out! For anyone else reading this thread in the future, this is why documentation from healthcare providers is so critical during pregnancy disability and PFL claims. Always get paperwork that clearly covers any potential gaps, and don't be afraid to ask your provider to specifically note that a condition was continuous even if there were appointment delays.

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This is such valuable information for other new parents dealing with similar situations! I'm currently 7 months pregnant and this thread is making me realize I should proactively discuss potential documentation gaps with my OB before my maternity leave starts. It sounds like having a backup plan for continuous certification is really important, especially with how backed up mental health providers can get. Does anyone know if there are specific questions I should ask my doctor now to avoid these kinds of gaps later?

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Has anyone else noticed that these issues seem to happen more at the end of the fiscal year? I wonder if it's related to budget stuff on their end.

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Omg yes! I thought I was the only one who noticed this pattern. You might be onto something there.

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Same boat here! Been waiting 3 weeks now for my timesheet to process. What's really frustrating is that they don't give you any timeline or status updates - just radio silence. I've started keeping a spreadsheet tracking all my submissions and follow-ups because honestly, at this point I don't trust their system to keep track of anything properly. Really hoping this gets sorted out soon because bills don't wait for bureaucracy! 😤

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Oh wow, 3 weeks is brutal! 😬 I'm only at about 10 days and already losing my mind. The spreadsheet idea is actually genius though - I should definitely start doing that too. You're so right about the complete lack of communication, it's like they want us to just forget about our money. Have you tried any of the suggestions people mentioned above, like calling first thing in the morning or checking if there's an online status portal?

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Three weeks is absolutely insane! I'm dealing with a similar situation - going on 2 weeks now with zero updates. The spreadsheet tracking idea is brilliant, I'm definitely stealing that! It's so maddening that we have to become our own case managers just to get paid for work we've already done. I tried the early morning calling tip someone mentioned above and actually got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep was helpful but basically said "it's in the system" with no timeline. At least it was confirmation they have it I guess? 🤷‍♀️ Hang in there!

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I'm a new mom who just went through this same situation and wanted to share my experience! I received SDI for maternity leave from May-August last year and was also completely confused about the tax implications. After reading through all these helpful comments and doing some research, here's what I learned: - SDI benefits are NOT federally taxable (no 1099G needed) - SDI benefits ARE taxable for California state taxes - You can find your total SDI payments in your EDD online account under payment history (look for "DI" payments) - Report the total on your CA state return as "other income" I was also obsessively checking my mail for a 1099G that was never going to come! The EDD online account has everything you need. Don't stress about the federal return - you're all set there. Just make sure to include it on your California state taxes. Hope this helps other confused new moms! This thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding all this tax stuff. 💕

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Thank you so much Sofia for sharing your experience! As another new mom navigating this for the first time, it's so helpful to see the step-by-step breakdown. I was also checking my mail constantly waiting for that 1099G! 😅 I just logged into my EDD account and found all my DI payments right there in the payment history. It's such a relief to finally understand that I don't need to report anything on federal taxes but do need to include the total on my CA state return. This whole thread has been amazing - wish I had found it weeks ago instead of stressing out! Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences. 🙏

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I'm a new mom who received SDI benefits for maternity leave last year and was in the exact same situation! I was so stressed about whether I needed a 1099G form and kept checking my mail obsessively. After going through this process, here's what I learned that might help you: 1. SDI (State Disability Insurance) for maternity/pregnancy is NOT federally taxable - so no 1099G form will be sent 2. SDI benefits ARE taxable for California state income tax purposes 3. You can find all your payment details in your EDD online account under "Payment History" - look for payments marked as "DI" 4. For your CA state tax return, you'll report the total SDI amount as "other income" I was panicking about missing tax documents, but it turns out I didn't need to wait for anything in the mail! Just log into your EDD account and you'll have all the information you need for state filing. Don't stress about the federal return - you're completely fine there since SDI isn't federally taxable. The confusion is totally understandable as a first-time mom dealing with all these benefits. You've got this! 💪

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Carmella, thank you so much for this clear breakdown! As someone who's new to all this, it's incredibly reassuring to hear from other moms who've been through the exact same experience. I was definitely in that obsessive mail-checking phase too! 😅 I just logged into my EDD account like you suggested and found all my DI payments listed there - it's such a relief to see everything laid out clearly. The fact that I don't need to worry about federal taxes at all takes such a weight off my shoulders. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and help other confused new moms like me. This whole community has been amazing! 🙏

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I'm dealing with a very similar situation! My name is 16 characters long and I've been stuck with the E324 error for about two weeks now. This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no idea there were so many different workarounds that people have discovered through trial and error. Based on all the excellent advice shared here, I'm planning to take a multi-step approach: first submit the online contact form to request a name variance (huge thanks to @Alexander Zeus for that tip!), then try the Firefox private browsing method during those optimal 6-7 AM hours that @Liam O'Reilly mentioned. I'm also going to implement that crucial 10-15 minute cooldown period between attempts instead of frantically retrying immediately. If the online contact form takes too long, I'll definitely try @Logan Scott's suggestion about reaching out to my local assembly member's office - that 2-3 day turnaround sounds much better than waiting weeks! It's honestly absurd that in 2024 we need to become EDD system experts just to file basic unemployment claims, but this community has turned what felt like an impossible situation into a manageable process with clear steps to follow. @Natasha Volkova, don't lose hope - between all these proven strategies, one of them is bound to work for you! We're all in this bureaucratic nightmare together but at least we're figuring out solutions as a team.

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@Emma Bianchi I m'new here but this thread has been incredible to follow! It s'like watching a community solve a puzzle together piece by piece. Your multi-step strategy sounds really solid - combining the online contact form approach with the Firefox early morning method, plus having the assembly member escalation as backup. The fact that you re'planning to implement the cooldown period shows you ve'really absorbed all the lessons learned here. It gives me so much confidence knowing that if I ever face similar issues, there s'this whole playbook of solutions that actual people have tested and proven to work. @Natasha Volkova this thread is proof that persistence combined with the right strategies really does pay off - you ve got'an amazing toolkit to work with now thanks to everyone s shared'experiences!

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I'm going through the exact same nightmare with my name being 15 characters long and hitting that E324 error constantly! This thread has been a absolute goldmine of solutions - I had no idea there were so many workarounds people have figured out through sheer determination. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the winning combination is: 1) Submit the online contact form for a name variance (thanks @Alexander Zeus!), 2) Use Firefox in private browsing mode on desktop during those 6-7 AM hours when servers are less stressed (@Liam O'Reilly's tip), and 3) Wait 10-15 minutes between attempts instead of immediately retrying (@StarSeeker's cooldown advice). If that doesn't work fast enough, the assembly member escalation route that @Logan Scott mentioned sounds like a great backup plan for getting the variance request prioritized. It's ridiculous that we need to become EDD system hackers just to file basic claims, but this community has basically reverse-engineered the whole broken system! @Natasha Volkova, you've got an incredible toolkit of proven strategies to work with now - don't give up, one of these approaches is going to break through for you!

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@Diego Vargas I m'completely new to this community but have been reading through this entire thread - it s'honestly amazing how everyone has crowdsourced such a comprehensive solution guide! Your step-by-step breakdown is perfect and really synthesizes all the best advice that s'been shared. I love how you ve'organized it into a clear 1-2-3 approach with backup plans. It s'wild that we need to become system experts just to access basic government services, but seeing how this community has turned frustration into actionable solutions gives me so much hope. @Natasha Volkova between all these proven strategies from people who ve actually'succeeded, you re definitely'going to get through this - the collective wisdom here is incredible!

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I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation with your daughter's health complications again. As someone who's navigated PFL multiple times for my own family medical situations, I can definitely relate to the confusion around eligibility timing. Based on everything you've described and what others have shared here, you should absolutely be eligible for a fresh 8-week PFL benefit period. Since your first claim started in March 2024, your 12-month benefit period ended in March 2025, which means you qualify for a new cycle regardless of when you used those June 2024 benefits. A few practical tips from my experience: - Call EDD first to confirm your specific situation before making work arrangements - When you get the DE2501F completed, ask your daughter's doctor to be very specific about the duration and type of care you'll need to provide - Consider applying as soon as you have the paperwork ready, even if the surgery is a few weeks out - processing times can vary - Don't forget to coordinate FMLA paperwork with your employer for job protection The whole system can be overwhelming when you're already stressed about your child's health, but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions and getting great advice here. Wishing your daughter a successful surgery and smooth recovery! 💙

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience with multiple PFL claims! It's incredibly reassuring to hear from someone who's actually navigated this process several times. Your confirmation about the March 2024 start date meaning I'm eligible for a fresh cycle really puts my mind at ease. I love your practical checklist - I'm definitely going to follow that exact order. Calling EDD first before making any work commitments is such smart advice, and you're absolutely right about applying early rather than waiting until the last minute. I've learned from this thread that processing times can be unpredictable, so better to be prepared. The tip about being very specific with the doctor about duration and type of care is also really helpful. I'm planning to meet with her pulmonologist this week to go over the DE2501F form and make sure they understand exactly what EDD needs to see. It's so comforting to know there are people in this community who've been through similar challenges and are willing to share what actually works. Thank you for the kind words about my daughter too - your support means everything during such a stressful time! 💙

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I'm really sorry to hear about your daughter's ongoing health challenges - having a child with respiratory issues that require hospitalization is so incredibly stressful, and then having to worry about finances on top of that just makes everything worse. From everything I've read in this thread and my own experience with PFL, you should definitely be eligible for a new 8-week benefit period! Since your first claim started in March 2024, your 12-month period ended this past March, which means you qualify for fresh benefits now regardless of when you used those 4 weeks in June. I had a somewhat similar situation with my mom's care last year and made the mistake of overthinking the timing rules. What really helped was calling EDD directly and having them look up my specific claim history - they were able to confirm exactly what I was eligible for and when. It took forever to get through (definitely try that Claimyr service someone mentioned if you get frustrated with the hold times), but having that official confirmation gave me so much peace of mind. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here: make sure you keep detailed records of everything throughout this process. I learned the hard way that EDD sometimes has delays or issues with their systems, and having copies of all your paperwork and confirmation numbers saved you a lot of headaches if anything gets lost in their system. Sending you and your daughter all the best for her upcoming surgery. You're being such a good parent by making sure you can be there for her recovery! 💙

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