I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! My claim has been stuck on "pending medical provider form" for about 3 weeks. What's really frustrating is that I called EDD and they told me the form was never received, but when I called my doctor's office, they swear they faxed it weeks ago. I ended up asking my doctor for a copy of the completed form so I could fax it directly myself - that way I know for sure it gets to them. The fax number for EDD medical forms is 1-916-464-3200 if that helps anyone else in this situation. Also, @Cole Roush for the direct deposit switch, log into your online account and look under "Payment Information" or "Profile" - there should be an option to update your payment method. It took about 5 business days to take effect for me, but it's so much better than dealing with that clunky debit card system. Hang in there everyone, this bureaucratic nightmare will eventually sort itself out! 🤞

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been stuck on "pending medical provider form" for almost a month. What's really helped me is keeping a detailed log of every interaction - dates I called, who I spoke with, confirmation numbers, etc. One thing that worked for me was calling EDD and asking them to give me the EXACT date and time they show the form was supposed to be received. Then I took that info back to my doctor's office and had them check their fax logs. Turns out there was a transmission error on their end that they didn't even know about! Also pro tip: if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right at 8:00 AM sharp. I set multiple alarms and called the second it hit 8 - got through on the second try. For the direct deposit, once you're in your online account, look for "Benefit Payment Preferences" - it might be buried in the settings menu. The whole interface is pretty clunky but it's definitely doable. Stay strong everyone, we'll get through this bureaucratic maze eventually! 💪

Hey OP, just curious - how far in advance are you trying to change your return date? I had to do this once and they told me there was a minimum notice period required.

I went through this exact situation last month! The key is to call early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) and have your employer documentation ready. When I called, I explained that my employer had a scheduling conflict and I needed to extend my leave by a few days. The rep was actually pretty understanding once I had all my paperwork in order. Make sure you get a confirmation number for any changes they make - I learned that the hard way! Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to says they can't help - sometimes asking to speak to a supervisor works better. The whole process took about 20 minutes once I got through. You got this! 💪

This thread has been so helpful! I'm planning ahead for when my baby arrives in a few months and had no idea you could split up the PFL. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me a much better understanding of the process. A couple questions for those who've been through this: 1) When you file that second claim online, do you reference your original PFL claim number anywhere, or is it treated as completely separate? 2) Does the one-week waiting period apply to the second claim too, or just the first one? Thanks for creating such a supportive space to share info - dealing with EDD is stressful enough without having to figure it all out alone! 🙏

I'm currently going through this process right now and wanted to share what worked for me! I had my baby in October, took 6 weeks initially, and just successfully got approved for my remaining 2 weeks. Here's what I learned: The online application is definitely the way to go - I got it processed in about 10 days vs the horror stories I heard about phone wait times. When filling it out, be specific about why you're splitting the leave (I mentioned needing to coordinate with my partner's return to work). One thing nobody warned me about - make sure to submit your application at least 2-3 weeks before you actually want to start your leave. The processing time + waiting period can really add up, and you don't want to be stuck without income during your leave period. Also, keep screenshots of everything! The EDD system can be glitchy and having proof of what you submitted has saved me multiple times. Good luck @Kendrick Webb - you've got this! The system is frustrating but your benefits are there waiting for you. 💪

ugh, the EDD (assuming youre in CA) is such a clown show 🤡 I've been waiting on a claim for months. solidarity, friend

I went through something similar last year! The key thing is to be really specific when you call - don't just say "I didn't get paid." Tell them exactly: "I was on approved FMLA leave from 2/10-2/16, submitted my PFL claim properly, but received zero payment for those dates." Also ask them to check if your claim was processed at all or if it got stuck somewhere in the system. Sometimes they'll say it was "under review" and never actually got processed. If the first person can't help, politely ask to speak with someone who handles PFL claim discrepancies specifically. You got this! 💪

Hey OP, just wondering - have you tried creating a new account with a different email? Sometimes that works if your old account has been inactive for a while.

I went through this exact same situation last year! What finally worked for me was using the ID.me verification process. Go to the EDD website and look for the "Verify Identity" option - it should let you verify who you are using your phone and ID, then you can update your email address associated with the account. It took about 30 minutes to complete the verification, but once I did that, I was able to reset my password and change my email to one I could actually access. Way easier than waiting on hold for hours or mailing documents. Hope this helps!