I'm so glad you're helping your sister navigate this - having family support during such a difficult time makes all the difference! One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet: if your sister does approach the 52-week maximum, she might also want to look into whether she qualifies for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if her complications are expected to last longer than a year. These are federal programs separate from EDD benefits. Also, make sure she keeps detailed records of all her medical appointments, treatments, and how her condition affects her daily activities. This documentation could be crucial if there are any disputes about her continued eligibility. The stress of dealing with benefits while recovering from serious complications is incredibly overwhelming. Encourage her to focus on her health first - the paperwork and phone calls can wait if she's having a particularly difficult day. Her recovery is the most important thing right now. 💙

I'm a new mom dealing with postpartum anxiety and depression after a difficult pregnancy, and reading through this thread has been so reassuring! I had no idea that mental health conditions resulting from pregnancy complications could potentially qualify as a separate disability claim. My situation is a bit different - I only used about 16 weeks total for my pregnancy/delivery/recovery, but now I'm struggling with severe postpartum depression that my psychiatrist says could require months of treatment and time off work. I've been afraid to even ask about extending my leave because I thought I was "done" with my benefits. Based on what @Miguel Castro shared about their doctor classifying postpartum depression as a separate condition, it sounds like I should talk to my psychiatrist about this approach. Has anyone else successfully used mental health complications as grounds for continued or new disability claims after using standard maternity leave? Sofia, I hope your sister gets the answers and support she needs. It's clear she's lucky to have you advocating for her during such a challenging time. This whole experience really shows how much the system needs to better support families dealing with pregnancy complications! 💕

I'm going through this exact situation too - filed my PFL application almost 4 weeks ago and still radio silence from EDD. It's beyond frustrating when you're already dealing with a family situation that qualifies you for leave AND now you're stressed about money on top of it. I've tried the early morning calling strategy multiple times with no luck. What's really helped me is keeping a detailed log of everything - screenshots of my application confirmation, dates/times of call attempts, any emails or correspondence. I also contacted my local assembly member's office last week and they said they'd look into it, though haven't heard back yet. One thing I learned is that sometimes the delay can be on the employer's side if they haven't submitted their portion properly - might be worth double-checking with your HR department if that applies to you. The whole system is so broken, but hang in there - from what I've read here and elsewhere, people do eventually get their benefits, it just takes way longer than it should. We really need better support during these difficult times! 💙

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! Applied for PFL about 2.5 weeks ago and my account is still completely empty - no status updates, no acknowledgment that they even received my application. It's so nerve-wracking when you're already dealing with a family situation and now have to worry about finances too. I've been trying all the strategies mentioned here: calling at 8am sharp (still get busy signals), checking spam folders, documenting everything. What's really frustrating is that there's no way to just confirm they received your application without going through the phone gauntlet. I'm seriously considering reaching out to my assembly member's office based on the advice here. It shouldn't be this hard to get basic information about an application when people are already going through tough times with their families. The whole system feels designed to exhaust people into giving up. Hang in there Omar - sounds like persistence is key even though it's exhausting! 😓

Whatever you do, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Every call, email, form you submit. Trust me, it'll save you headaches later if there are any disputes.

I'm going through the same thing right now! Just wanted to add that you should also check if your state has any additional protections beyond what your employer offers. California's PFL program through EDD sometimes has different rules than company policies. I called the EDD directly and they were actually pretty helpful in explaining what I was entitled to vs. what my HR department was telling me. Don't just rely on your company's interpretation - double check with the state agency too!

Great question about the timing! PFL bonding leave must be taken within the first 12 months after your baby's birth (or placement for adoption). So your husband could technically wait up to a year, but practically speaking most people take it within the first few months. There's no requirement that both parents take their leave consecutively or even close together. When I took my PFL about 6 months after my wife's leave ended, EDD didn't give me any trouble at all. Just had to provide the birth certificate and fill out the DE2508 form like normal. The key is that each parent's 8-week clock is independent - so even if there are gaps between when you each take leave, you're still entitled to your full 8 weeks as long as it's within that first year. One tip: if you're planning to space out the leaves, keep copies of all your documentation handy since you might need to reference dates and details months later when the second parent files their claim!

One thing to keep in mind with twins - while California doesn't give you extra PFL weeks for multiples, you might want to consider the practical aspects of caring for two newborns when planning your leave schedule. I have twin boys (now 18 months) and honestly, those first few months were intense! My husband and I initially planned to take our PFL back-to-back, but we ended up overlapping for about 2 weeks because managing twins alone was really challenging, especially with feeding schedules and sleep deprivation. If your budget allows for some unpaid time or if you have vacation days, you might want to build in a little buffer. Also, stock up on all your paperwork ahead of time - with twins, you'll have even less time to deal with EDD forms and calls. Good luck with your March arrivals!

Plot twist: what if we all showed up at the EDD office dressed as clowns? Maybe then they'd take us seriously 🤡

Hey Connor! I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago. The blank benefit amount online is super common when transitioning from DI to PFL - it's like their system gets confused. Since you already got the notice of computation in the mail, that's actually a good sign! It means they've calculated your benefits. The online portal just takes forever to update sometimes. I'd definitely try calling first thing in the morning like Keisha suggested, but also keep checking your mail for any follow-up requests. In my case, it took about 3-4 weeks total but once it went through, I got all the backpay. Hang in there! 🤞