idk if this helps but I had a similar issue. Turns out they needed additional proof of income. I uploaded my w2 and tax returns, and it got sorted within a week.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! This is so helpful. @Nina Fitzgerald that calling service sounds interesting but wow, $20 just to get through to them is nuts. @Makayla Shoemaker I'll check if they need additional income docs - that's a good point. Has anyone had luck with emailing their state representatives? I'm getting desperate here and might try that route next.

Congrats on your little one! I'm actually in a similar boat - just had my son 5 weeks ago and I'm on PFL right now. Everyone's advice here is spot on about the biweekly payments. One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand exactly when your certification periods are. Mine are every two weeks on Sundays, and I learned the hard way that if you miss your certification deadline, your payment gets delayed until the next cycle. Also, keep your phone handy when you're expecting payments because sometimes EDD will text you about payment status updates. The waiting can be nerve-wracking when you're budgeting for a new baby, but once you get into the rhythm it becomes pretty predictable!

Congratulations on your daughter! I'm currently navigating PFL for the first time too after having my baby 2 months ago. Just wanted to share that everyone here is absolutely right about the biweekly schedule. One additional tip - if you're using Bank of America (which is who handles the EDD debit cards), you can set up text alerts through their system too so you get notified the moment funds hit your card. Also, I found it helpful to screenshot my certification dates and set phone reminders because with newborn brain fog it's easy to lose track of deadlines! The payments have been pretty consistent for me so far, usually hitting my account on Tuesdays. Hope your experience goes smoothly!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this process recently! I'm a freelance photographer and enrolled in Elective Coverage when I was about 10 weeks pregnant. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that your benefit amount is calculated based on your REPORTED income, not what you actually earned. So if you're conservative with your income estimate (like I was), your benefits will be lower even if your actual business income ends up being higher. Also, keep really good records of all your business expenses and income from the moment you enroll. When you file your actual disability claim, having organized financial records makes the process SO much smoother. I used a simple spreadsheet to track everything monthly and it saved me hours of scrambling later. Good luck with everything - the timeline is tight but definitely doable if you move quickly! And congratulations on your little one on the way! 💕

Just to add to all the great advice here - I'm a self-employed web developer who went through this exact process in 2024. One crucial thing I learned: when you're calculating your projected income for the DE1378N form, be realistic but don't lowball yourself too much. I was overly conservative and reported way less than what I actually ended up making, which limited my benefit amount to about $200/week when it could have been closer to $400. Also, pro tip: once you get your Elective Coverage approval, you can make your quarterly payments online through EDD's e-Services portal. Much faster than mailing checks! And definitely keep copies of EVERYTHING - your enrollment form, approval letter, payment confirmations, etc. You'll need them when you file your actual claims later. The fact that you're being proactive about this now gives you a real shot at making it work. Most people don't even realize self-employed folks can get these benefits! Wishing you the best with your application and congrats again on the baby! 🍼

Great news! Glad to hear it worked out. Enjoy your baby bonding time!

Congratulations on your approval and your new baby! This is such helpful information for other parents going through the same process. 16 business days is definitely on the longer side but pretty typical for December applications with the holidays. It's frustrating that the online system doesn't update in real time - seems like that's a common issue with EDD. Thanks for sharing the Claimyr tip too, I've been seeing more people mention that service and it sounds like it really works for getting through to a human. Enjoy your bonding time with your little one!