One last tip - once your claim is approved and you start receiving payments, double-check the benefit calculation. EDD sometimes calculates the weekly benefit amount incorrectly. It should be approximately 60-70% of your average weekly wages during your highest-earning quarter in the base period (the 5-18 months before your claim started). If it seems low, don't hesitate to contact them to verify the calculation.

Hey Paolo! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago with my daughter. Started my bonding leave while my claim was still pending and it worked out perfectly - got all the retroactive pay once approved. A few things that really helped me: 1) Keep detailed records of every day you're off work, 2) Screenshot your claim submission confirmation, and 3) Don't panic if your online portal shows "pending" for weeks - that's totally normal. The hardest part is honestly just the financial stress of waiting for that first payment. But once it comes through, you'll get a lump sum for all those back weeks. In my case, I started leave on a Monday and got my first payment about 5 weeks later covering everything from day one. Also - since your baby is 3 months old, you're still well within the window (you have until they turn 1), so no worries there. Just make sure your start date on the DE2508 matches when you actually begin missing work days. Good luck with everything!

Does anyone know if theres a maximum amount you can receive on PFL? I make decent money and I'm worried about taking a big pay cut if I need to use it.

@Arjun Kurti Since you started in November, you should definitely check your earnings history from any previous jobs too! California PFL looks at your earnings in the base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). If you had another job before November, those earnings might help you qualify even if your current job hours alone aren't enough. You can check your earnings online through the EDD website - they should have all your reported wages on file. Also, make sure to apply as soon as you know you'll need the leave, since there can be processing delays. Good luck! 🤞

wait so did u do the pregnancy disability first and now ur doing the baby bonding? im confused about how that works... im pregnant now and trying to figure out what to do when baby comes in august

Quick update based on the comments - if your UI Online account shows "Paid" with $0.00, that's actually good news. It means your claim is approved and payment is processing. You'll likely see the actual payment amount appear within 2-3 business days, and then funds in your account 1-2 days after that if you have direct deposit set up. One thing to note - for your first payment, they sometimes include multiple weeks at once, so don't be surprised if the amount is larger than you expected (that's a good surprise!).

Hey, former EDD employee here. Don't stress too much about this mistake. It's pretty common. When you get through to someone, ask them to submit a 'Claim File Update' to correct the application type. Make sure they note it was an honest mistake. Good luck!

Don't panic! I made this exact same mistake last year. Here's what worked for me: I called the EDD PFL line first thing in the morning (around 8:02 AM) and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep was super helpful and explained that they can switch your application type pretty easily if you catch it early. She submitted a correction form on her end and told me to watch for an email confirmation within 3-5 business days. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes once I got someone on the phone. Your benefits won't be affected as long as you get it corrected soon. Hang in there! 💪

Just a heads up, there's been some changes to the PFL policy recently. Make sure you're looking at the most up-to-date info on the official website. I almost messed up my application because I was using old guidelines 😅

I'm in the same boat right now - applied about 10 days ago and still waiting for that callback! The anxiety is real 😰 I've been checking my online account daily but no updates yet. Reading through these comments is actually making me feel better knowing I'm not alone in this. @Zainab Abdulrahman your checklist is gold, I'm definitely going to start keeping a log. Has anyone tried calling the main number directly or is it always just endless hold times?