Also remind your son that when he activates the card, he should create a unique PIN - not something obvious like a birth date or 1234. And he should NOT keep the PIN written down anywhere near the card. That's another way fraud happens. When the money transfers to his regular bank, it'll be much safer than sitting on that EDD card.

Congratulations on becoming a grandparent! 🎉 I went through this exact same situation when my daughter had her baby bonding leave approved last year. The fraud concerns are 100% real - I personally witnessed horror stories in this community and decided to be proactive. Here's what worked perfectly for us: As soon as her EDD card arrived, we immediately set up automatic transfers through the Bank of America EDD portal (NOT the EDD website). The setup takes maybe 10 minutes and then it's completely hands-off. Every time a payment hits the card, it automatically moves to her checking account within 1-2 business days. I also highly recommend your son: - Set up mobile alerts with his regular bank for deposits over $100 - Keep the physical card in a safe place even after transfers are set up (he'll need it to access the BofA portal later) - Never write down his PIN anywhere The peace of mind is worth it! With a newborn, the last thing he needs is dealing with fraud recovery. Better to spend 10 minutes setting up transfers than potentially months fighting to get stolen money back.

I'm in a similar situation right now - filed my PFL claim about 4 weeks ago and just got my Notice of Computation this week. Still no payment though! The waiting is killing me because I really need this money to help with my mom's care. I've been trying to call but can barely get through. Has anyone had success with calling at specific times of day? I heard early morning might be better but not sure if that's true. Also wondering if the Notice of Computation means we're basically approved and it's just a matter of waiting for payment processing? Would love to know what others have experienced with timing after getting that notice!

Going through something similar right now! I filed my PFL claim about 5 weeks ago and just received my Notice of Computation last week. Still waiting on the actual payment to come through. The financial stress is real when you're already dealing with family issues that require the leave in the first place. I've been checking the online portal obsessively but it just shows "claim processed" without giving a clear timeline for payment. One thing I learned from calling (took me 47 tries to get through!) is that the Notice of Computation basically means your claim is approved and they've calculated your weekly benefit amount. The rep told me payments typically start 2-4 weeks after that notice, depending on their processing backlog. She also mentioned that if you don't see payment by week 6 total from your initial filing, definitely call back. Hang in there - we're all in this frustrating waiting game together! 💪

I'm so sorry your family is going through this difficult time. As someone who recently navigated PFL for my own family situation, I want to reassure you that your husband absolutely qualifies for Paid Family Leave to care for your hospitalized daughter. The fact that he's splitting his time between providing direct care at the hospital and managing childcare at home actually strengthens his case - this shows he's an essential part of your daughter's care team. When he applies using form DE2508F, make sure to document both his hospital visits and how the family caregiving responsibilities have been divided between you two. One tip: when the doctor completes the medical certification, ask them to be specific about why your daughter needs family support during her recovery. Phrases like "requires assistance with daily activities" or "benefits from family emotional support during hospitalization" can help establish the medical necessity. Also, don't let his HR department's misinformation delay the application. PFL has covered family caregiving since 2004 - it's definitely not just for new parents! The sooner he applies, the sooner you'll have some financial relief during this stressful time.

I'm so glad you found all this information helpful! Your family's situation really highlights how important PFL is for real caregiving emergencies like this. One additional tip that might help: when your husband submits his claim, he should include a brief written statement explaining the care arrangement - something like "I provide direct care to my hospitalized adult daughter during evening visits while alternating childcare responsibilities with my spouse to ensure continuous family support during her recovery." This helps EDD understand the full scope of his caregiving role. Also, if your daughter's condition requires ongoing care after discharge, the doctor can extend the PFL certification. Many people don't realize that PFL can continue even after the initial hospitalization if she still needs family assistance during recovery at home. Wishing your daughter a speedy recovery and hoping the PFL application process goes smoothly for your family. Don't hesitate to keep pushing back against any misinformation from his employer - you have the law on your side here.

Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! I'm feeling much more confident now that I'll likely get the higher 2025 rate for my baby bonding portion. I'll make sure to submit my PFL claim as soon as my SDI ends in January. Keeping my fingers crossed everything transitions smoothly!

Just wanted to add my experience from last year - I had a similar situation where my SDI ended in early January 2024 and PFL started right after. They were definitely treated as separate claims with different claim numbers. The transition was pretty smooth once I submitted the DE2508 form, though it did take about 2-3 weeks to get my first PFL payment. Make sure you have all your documents ready (birth certificate, etc.) before your SDI ends so you can file immediately. Good luck with your new baby!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my uncle who had a traumatic brain injury. The information everyone has shared here is incredibly helpful! I wanted to add that if you're still having trouble getting through to EDD even after following all these steps, you might want to try contacting your local State Disability Insurance (SDI) office directly. They sometimes have separate phone lines that aren't as overwhelmed as the main EDD number. Also, I learned that some hospitals have patient advocates or social workers who are familiar with disability paperwork and can help you navigate the process. They might even have direct contacts at EDD for medical emergency situations. One more thing - document EVERYTHING. Keep a log of every call attempt, every form submitted, and every person you speak with. If there are any delays in processing your claim, this documentation can help prove you did everything correctly and on time. Best of luck to everyone going through this stressful process!

I'm a case worker at a disability advocacy organization and see this situation frequently. One additional option that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're still having trouble even with the POA documentation, you can request an "Administrative Review" through EDD's Appeals Office. This is typically used when there are extenuating circumstances that don't fit the standard process. You would need to submit a written request explaining that your mother is medically incapable of signing due to her stroke, attach all your POA documentation, and include the doctor's certification of incapacity. The Appeals Office has more flexibility to approve non-standard situations. Also, many people don't realize that EDD has regional offices that sometimes have less busy phone lines than the main number. Try calling the Sacramento regional office at (916) 464-3343 or the Los Angeles office at (213) 744-2084. Ask specifically to speak with a PFL specialist about a medical incapacity situation. The key phrase to use is "medical incapacity accommodation" - this signals that you're dealing with a disability-related issue that requires special handling under ADA guidelines.