I'm currently going through a name change with EDD myself and wanted to share what I've learned! The most important thing is to be consistent with your current legal name across all documents. Since you've already updated Social Security and your employer has your married name, definitely use that on your SDI claim. Here's what worked for me: I called EDD at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday morning and got through in about 25 minutes (way better than the horror stories!). The representative was actually really helpful and updated my name in their system immediately. She told me that as long as I filed my claim with my current legal name and provided supporting documentation, there wouldn't be any issues. For the DE 2501 form, use your married name and in the additional information section, just mention that your previous EDD account was under your maiden name. Upload your marriage certificate as supporting documentation. The rep I spoke with said they see this situation frequently and have processes in place to handle it smoothly. Don't stress too much about creating timing issues - you're being super proactive by addressing this now! The fact that you've already updated your address and contacted your doctor's office shows you're on top of things. Focus on getting ready for your little one instead of worrying about the paperwork. You've got this! 💕

I'm going through pregnancy disability leave planning right now too and wanted to add something I learned from my HR department that might help! When you update your name with EDD, make sure you also notify your employer's payroll/HR team about the potential name discrepancy. My HR rep told me that sometimes there can be delays in wage verification if the names don't match exactly between EDD's records and what the employer has on file. Since you mentioned your work already has your married name, you should be good, but it's worth double-checking that they'll report your wages under your married name when EDD requests verification. Also, if you have direct deposit set up from your old unemployment claim, make sure that bank account is still active and under the right name! I almost forgot about that detail. Wishing you the best with your claim and congratulations on your upcoming little one! 🍼

I missed an EDD call too about 6 months ago and was totally panicked! Here's what worked for me: I sent a secure message through my EDD online account explaining that I missed their call and asking what they needed. They responded within 3 business days with exactly what documents were missing from my application. Turned out it was just a clearer copy of my doctor's certification form. Sometimes the missed call is just a routine follow-up, not necessarily a major issue with your case. Also, make sure your voicemail is set up and not full - they might try calling again! Keep us posted on how it goes! 🤞

Been in your shoes before! First thing - don't panic, missed calls from EDD are super common and usually not a disaster. Here's what I'd recommend: 1) Check your EDD online portal ASAP for any status updates or messages, 2) Look through all your email folders (including spam) for any correspondence, 3) Try calling the main PFL line early in the morning when wait times are shorter, and 4) If you can't get through by phone, send a secure message through your online account explaining you missed their call and asking for next steps. In my experience, they're pretty understanding about missed calls since their phone system is notoriously difficult to navigate. Keep all your paperwork handy in case they need to verify something. You've got this! 👍

First of all, huge congratulations on winning your appeal! That's such a relief after all the stress you've been through. I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my PFL claim was initially denied due to "insufficient documentation" even though I submitted everything they asked for. Reading through all the advice here, it sounds like you definitely need to pursue those retroactive payments - $2,800 is a significant amount that your family deserves. I know you're exhausted from the whole process (I totally get that feeling), but based on what everyone's saying, EDD won't automatically handle the weeks you didn't certify for. One thing I wanted to add - when you do call, try calling right when they open at 8 AM. I've had better luck getting through earlier in the day rather than later. Also, if you get disconnected (which happens way too often), don't give up! Sometimes it takes multiple attempts. You've already done the hardest part by winning your appeal. Now it's just about following through to get what you're owed. Your experience gives me hope for my own upcoming hearing - thank you for sharing the details about how it went!

Congratulations on winning your appeal, Ellie! That's fantastic news and such a relief after going through all that stress. I went through something very similar last year with my PFL claim. I was initially denied for baby bonding benefits and won my appeal, but like you, I had missed certifying for several weeks during the confusion. Here's what I learned: You absolutely should pursue those retroactive payments! $2,800 is a lot of money, especially when you have a new baby and all the expenses that come with that. Don't let EDD's bureaucratic maze discourage you from getting what you're legally entitled to. For the weeks you missed certifying, you'll definitely need to call and request the DE 2501F form that Diego mentioned. I had to do the same thing. The key is being very specific when you call - have your exact dates ready and your appeal case number. One tip that helped me: when I finally got through to someone, I asked them to email me a confirmation of our conversation with the details of what forms they were sending me. Most reps will do this if you ask, and it's great documentation in case anything gets "lost" later. The whole process took about 6 weeks from my call to actually receiving the back payments, but it was totally worth it. Don't give up - you've already done the hard part by winning your appeal!

As someone who went through this exact situation, I can tell you that you're absolutely fine waiting until 37-38 weeks! I was also job hunting while pregnant and delayed my SDI start until 37.5 weeks. My doctor had no problem certifying that date on the DE2501 form - she said the timing should be based on when you actually feel disabled by pregnancy, not some arbitrary government deadline. The key things that worked for me: 1) I coordinated with my OB early about my planned start date, 2) I made sure to stop my UI claims the day before SDI kicked in (super important!), and 3) I kept detailed records of everything in case EDD had questions later. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're gaming the system - you're entitled to finish your job search if you're still able to work! I actually ended up landing a great position during that time and was able to negotiate a post-maternity start date. Wishing you the best of luck with both your interviews and your upcoming little one! 🤞

I'm currently 33 weeks and in a very similar situation - was laid off 6 weeks ago and have been on UI while job searching. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea you could wait past 36 weeks to start SDI. I'm actually in final round interviews with two companies right now and was stressing about having to choose between finishing the process or starting disability benefits. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much better about waiting until 37-38 weeks. Definitely going to talk to my OB at my next appointment about certifying a later start date. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - it's amazing how much support and practical advice is in this community! Hoping we all land great jobs before our babies arrive! 🤞👶

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The duplicate submission worry is totally valid - I was stressed about the same thing. When I called EDD to cancel my online claim, the rep told me that as long as you get it canceled before they start processing it, you're good to go. They gave me a cancellation confirmation number which I kept in my records (definitely write that down!). One thing I wish I had known - make sure your doctor knows they need to use BLACK ink only for their signature and any handwritten parts. My doctor used blue ink the first time and EDD sent it back, which delayed everything by another 2 weeks. Also, if you're mailing it in, I'd recommend using a tracking service so you know exactly when it arrives. The peace of mind is worth the extra few bucks! Hope this helps and good luck with your claim! 🤞

Wow, this thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I need to switch from online to paper submission for my PFL claim. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me a much clearer game plan. One question I have - for those who successfully made the switch, did EDD give you any kind of timeline for when the online claim would be fully canceled from their system? I'm paranoid about there being some overlap or confusion on their end. Also, has anyone had issues with their doctor's office charging extra fees for filling out the paper forms? My doctor's office mentioned something about an "administrative fee" which caught me off guard. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with EDD's maze of bureaucracy! 🙏