I just went through this process a few months ago and had the same confusion! I ended up calling my HR department to ask what they officially called it, and they said "Salary Differential Pay." That's what I put on my DE2501 form and it was approved without any issues. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure to get in writing from HR exactly how much they'll be paying and when, because you'll need those details for your bi-weekly certifications later. Also, ask them if they report this payment directly to EDD or if you need to report it yourself. Good luck with your claim!

I work in HR and deal with these forms regularly. The most universally accepted terms are "Supplemental Disability Benefits" or "Wage Continuation Program." Both clearly indicate to EDD that your employer is providing additional compensation during your disability leave. I'd recommend calling your HR department first to see what they officially call the program in your benefits documentation - using their exact terminology can help avoid any confusion if EDD needs to verify details with your employer later. Also, make sure you understand whether your company pays the supplement directly to you or if they coordinate payments through EDD, as this affects how you'll need to report it during your ongoing certifications.

I'm currently going through this exact same nightmare! Had my baby 18 days ago and submitted my delivery date verification 11 days ago through the online portal. My claim has been stuck on "pending" ever since and I'm starting to panic because rent is due next week. I've called that useless number from the notification probably 15 times with zero callbacks. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (knowing I'm not alone) and infuriating (that this is such a widespread problem). I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy with the main disability number tomorrow using the script that worked for others. It's absolutely ridiculous that new parents have to deal with this bureaucratic mess when we should be focusing on our babies and recovery. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. I'll update once I hopefully get through to someone who can actually help!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress with a newborn! This exact same thing happened to me in November. After reading through all these responses, I want to add one more tip that really helped me: when you do get through to EDD (and you will!), ask the representative to verify that your uploaded documents are actually readable in their system. Sometimes the files get corrupted during upload or their system can't open certain formats, but they won't automatically tell you this. In my case, my PDF was "received" but couldn't be opened, so I had to resubmit as a JPEG. Once I did that and called back to confirm they could access it, my payment was processed within 3 business days. Also, keep screenshots of your online account showing when you submitted everything - it can be helpful proof if there are any disputes about timing. The whole system is definitely broken, but don't lose hope! You WILL get your payments eventually, including all the back pay you're owed.

Just a heads up, make sure you have some savings to fall back on. Even after approval, it can take a couple weeks for the first payment to come through. Learned that the hard way 😅

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm actually dealing with a similar situation - submitted my PFL application about 10 days ago and it's been radio silence since then. The waiting game is brutal when you're depending on that income. I did apply online like you did, so hopefully that helps with processing time. One thing I found helpful was signing up for text alerts through the EDD portal - at least you get notified when there's any status change instead of obsessively checking the website every few hours (guilty as charged 😅). Hang in there, hopefully we both hear back soon!

Based on my experience with EDD's Paid Family Leave claims, I recommend taking these specific steps: 1. Contact your father's doctor's office and request: - Confirmation number from their submission - Exact date they submitted the DE2501F form - Verification of how they listed your father's name 2. Call EDD using the timing suggestions others mentioned (8:00-8:30am) and have your claim confirmation number ready 3. If your claim is still pending after 30 days, you have the right to file a formal inquiry through your state representative's office. Their constituent services can often expedite EDD issues. For your upcoming second leave period, you can actually combine it with your current claim if it's within the same 12-month period for the same care recipient. This requires less paperwork than filing a completely new claim.

I'm so sorry you're going through this during such a difficult time with your father. I went through something similar last year when my grandmother was in hospice care. The lack of transparency in the PFL system is honestly heartbreaking when you're already emotionally and financially strained. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of every attempt to contact EDD - dates, times, reference numbers, and what happened. When I finally got through to someone, having that documentation ready actually seemed to help the agent take my case more seriously. Also, if your dad's oncologist office has a patient advocate or social worker, they might be able to help navigate this. Mine was familiar with EDD's system and knew exactly what to ask for when following up on submissions. Thinking of you and your father during this tough time. The system shouldn't add this much stress to families already dealing with so much. ❤️

Quick question for those who've been through this before - do they backpay from the date you submitted the claim, or only from when they approve it?

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - submitted my PFL claim 5 weeks ago and it's still showing "pending" with no updates. I've been checking the portal daily but nothing changes. The financial stress is real! From what I'm reading here, it sounds like persistence with calling is key, even though it's a nightmare to get through. @Toot-n-Mighty your suggestion about contacting a state representative is interesting - I hadn't thought of that. Has anyone actually tried that route and seen results? Also wondering if there are specific times of day that work better for calling? Like early morning or late afternoon when they might be less busy?