I'm dealing with almost the exact same Kaiser situation right now! My baby is 2 weeks old and I've been going in circles with this supplemental certification thing. What finally worked for me was calling Kaiser's central appointments line and saying "I need to speak with someone about completing EDD State Disability paperwork - specifically form DE2501." They transferred me to what they called the "Disability Services Unit" and those people actually knew what I was talking about! The person I spoke with explained that Kaiser doctors often submit their own internal disability notes, but EDD has very specific requirements for their DE2501 form that need to be filled out exactly right - things like specific diagnosis codes, exact dates when you became unable to work, and detailed treatment plans. She told me to bring both the EDD notification letter AND a printed copy of the blank DE2501 form to my next appointment, then sit there while my doctor fills it out completely. Don't leave until you see them submit it through the right system! For your husband's PFL timing - we're planning the exact same thing! He's taking 2 weeks right after birth, then saving the other 6 weeks for when I go back to work in a few months. The EDD rep I spoke with confirmed this is totally allowed as long as it's within 12 months and split into no more than 2 periods. Hang in there - the paperwork nightmare does eventually get sorted out! 💙

I'm going through this exact Kaiser/EDD paperwork mess right now too! Just had my baby 3 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for my SDI benefits because of missing documentation. What I've learned from calling around is that you need to ask Kaiser specifically for their "Medical Review Department" - they handle all third-party medical forms including EDD paperwork. Regular OB offices and even some disability coordinators don't always know the specific EDD requirements. When you call, be super specific: "I need form DE2501 completed for California State Disability Insurance, and EDD has requested supplemental medical certification." Then email them the exact notification you received from EDD so they can see what's missing. Also, definitely push for an in-person appointment to get this done rather than trying to handle it over the phone. I wasted 2 weeks trying to explain what was needed via phone calls before finally going in person with all the paperwork. For your husband's PFL - that flexibility is amazing! We're doing something similar where he took 1 week initially and is saving the other 7 weeks for when I go back to work. Just make sure he keeps good documentation of when he notifies his employer about the timing changes. This whole system is so unnecessarily complicated for new parents who already have enough to deal with! But you'll get through it - just be persistent with Kaiser about getting the right people involved. Good luck! 🍀

I'm currently on maternity leave and planning to transition to PFL for bonding in a few weeks. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the digital version being available in the UI Online account before the physical letter arrives - that's such a game changer. My HR department has already been asking me about documentation for the bonding leave, so knowing I can potentially get something from my online account 3 days earlier will definitely help with the transition. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines. It's so much better than trying to navigate EDD's confusing website on your own!

This is such a comprehensive thread! As someone who's about to start this process myself, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and timelines. The tip about checking the UI Online account for digital documentation 3 days before the physical letter arrives is gold - definitely bookmarking that for when I apply next month. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Apply about a week before disability ends to avoid gaps, 2) Expect the approval letter (DE 429D) within 7-14 days, 3) Check online account for digital version first, and 4) Screenshot everything in case the website is glitchy. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share detailed info - this is way more helpful than anything on EDD's actual website!

Miguel, congratulations on your upcoming addition! I just went through this process when my son was born in February. Here's what I learned that might help: You absolutely cannot apply before birth - the system requires proof of the child's birth as part of the application. BUT here's what you CAN do now to make the process smoother later: 1. Set up your EDD SDI Online account today - seriously, do it now while you have mental bandwidth 2. Gather all your employment/wage info and save it somewhere easily accessible 3. Talk to your hospital about their birth certificate turnaround time - mine took 5 business days which felt like forever when you're eager to get benefits rolling When baby arrives, apply within the first week if possible. The 12-month deadline is real, but EDD processing times are unpredictable right now. Mine took 2.5 weeks to approve, which wasn't too bad compared to some horror stories I've heard. One thing I wish I'd known: you can actually start your leave before your claim is approved. You just won't get paid until it processes. So if you need to be home with baby immediately, don't feel like you have to wait for EDD's wheels to turn. Also bookmark the EDD customer service phone number now, just in case. The earlier in the day you call, the better your chances of getting through. Good luck!

Hey Miguel! Congrats on the upcoming baby! Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I went through this process - make sure you understand the difference between "intermittent" and "continuous" leave when you apply. You can take your 8 weeks of baby bonding leave all at once (continuous) OR you can break it up into smaller chunks (intermittent) over that 12-month period. For example, you could take 4 weeks right after birth, then save the other 4 weeks for later - maybe when your wife goes back to work, or around holidays, etc. The intermittent option is really flexible but you have to specify this when you apply. If you apply for continuous leave initially, it's harder to change it later. Just something to think about now while you're planning! Also echoing what others said about screenshots - I literally took photos with my phone of every screen during the application process. EDD's system crashed on me twice and having that documentation saved me hours of re-entering information. You've got this! The prep work you're doing now will definitely pay off later.

This is such a relief to read! I'm 8 months pregnant and my partner has been stressing about the PFL application process after hearing horror stories. Bookmarking this thread - the Trusted Referee number and paper form backup plan are game changers. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions! It's crazy that we have to crowdsource these workarounds when the system should just work properly in the first place.

Wow, what a journey! I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved. As a new parent myself (my daughter is 6 months old now), I know how stressful it is to deal with bureaucratic nightmares when you're already sleep-deprived and financially stretched. The fact that we have to jump through so many hoops and rely on community knowledge-sharing just to access basic benefits is absolutely maddening. For anyone else dealing with ID.me issues, I'd also recommend documenting EVERYTHING - screenshots, call logs, reference numbers, etc. I learned this the hard way when dealing with my own PFL claim. Having that paper trail saved me when there were discrepancies later in the process. Also, don't forget that the PFL clock starts ticking from when you first become eligible, not when you finally get through the system. So even if there are delays in processing, you should still receive retroactive payments for the full period you're entitled to. Congratulations on your new daughter, Ravi! Hope you get to enjoy some quality bonding time with her once all this administrative chaos is behind you.

I'm a case worker who helps families navigate EDD benefits, and I want to add some important details to what's already been shared. You're absolutely right that you can extend your baby bonding PFL from 4 to 8 weeks without filing a new claim. The most reliable method is calling EDD directly - online submissions sometimes get lost in the system. When you call, mention that this is a "medically necessary extension" due to your daughter's jaundice requiring ongoing care. This framing often helps prioritize your request. Also, if you haven't already, ask your pediatrician to document that you specifically need to be home for her care - while baby bonding doesn't require medical documentation like disability claims do, having it can prevent any potential questions. The 8:01 AM call time others mentioned is spot-on - that's when the phone lines reset and you'll have the best chance of getting through quickly. Your situation is very common, and EDD handles these extensions routinely. You should have no gap in benefits if you call this week!

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! My 6-week-old daughter has been dealing with persistent jaundice and we're on week 2 of home phototherapy. I originally filed for 6 weeks of PFL but realized I'm going to need the full 8 weeks. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - I had no idea that extending baby bonding claims was relatively straightforward compared to other EDD processes. The advice about calling at 8:01 AM and having your claim information ready is invaluable. I'm planning to call tomorrow morning with my claim number, current end date, and benefit amount ready. It's such a relief to know there shouldn't be any gap in payments if I submit the extension request in time. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it makes such a difference knowing other parents have successfully navigated this same situation!