I just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to EDD? If your rent is due very soon and you're still waiting, you might want to consider asking your landlord for a short extension and explaining the situation. Many landlords would rather give you a few extra days than deal with finding new tenants, especially if you can show documentation of the pending PFL claim. Also, if you're able to make a partial payment, that often goes a long way toward goodwill while you wait for the full benefit to arrive.

That's such great news that you finally got through and figured out what was holding up the claim! The ID verification issue not showing up online is so typical of EDD's system - it's like they have these hidden requirements that claimants have no way of knowing about. I'm glad your landlord was understanding too. Hopefully other people reading this will know to specifically ask about identity verification when they get through to an agent. Keep us updated on when the payment actually hits your account!

I'm going through something very similar right now! Had my baby in April and I'm still dealing with this nightmare gap between disability and PFL. After reading all these responses, I realize I made the same mistake - I thought the birth certificate upload would automatically transition me to PFL. Nobody tells you that you need to file a completely separate DE2508 form! The worst part is trying to reach someone at EDD. I've been calling for weeks and either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours just to get disconnected. It's absolutely maddening when you have a newborn and bills to pay. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences here - at least now I know what forms I need to file and that I can potentially get backpay for this gap period. Going to try that Claimyr service mentioned above because I'm desperate to talk to an actual human being who can fix this mess. Anna, please do update us when you get this resolved! It would give the rest of us hope that there's light at the end of this EDD tunnel.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant and planning to go on disability leave soon, but after reading all of this I'm terrified I'm going to end up in the same payment gap situation. Can someone walk me through exactly what I should do to avoid this mess? It sounds like I need to: 1. File for disability when my doctor says I need to stop working 2. Have my baby and report the birth to EDD 3. File a separate DE2508 form for PFL BEFORE my disability ends 4. Make sure my doctor properly closes my disability claim Is that right? And when exactly should I file the PFL form - like how many weeks before my disability is supposed to end? I want to be proactive about this since it seems like such a common problem. Thanks for sharing all your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that EDD should be providing but obviously doesn't!

Update: Just got my first payment today! It came exactly 9 days after my claim was approved, and it looks like I'll be getting the rest every two weeks. Thanks everyone for your help. The timing works out pretty well for my bills. Setting calendar reminders now for those certification forms!

That's awesome that you got your first payment so quickly! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - make sure to keep track of your certification deadlines because if you miss one, it can really mess up your payment schedule. I almost missed my third certification and had to wait an extra week for that payment. Also, if you're planning to return to work before your full 8 weeks are up, you'll need to let EDD know or they might overpay you and then want it back later. Learned that one from a coworker who had to deal with that headache!

Has anyone had luck with the EDD's online chat feature? I've heard mixed things but wondering if it's worth a shot.

I'm going through the same thing right now! Been waiting about 3 weeks for my PFL award letter and getting really anxious about it. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying 😅 I think I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy that @Jamal Brown suggested, and maybe check out that online chat option too. Has anyone had success getting their letter faster by submitting any additional documentation, or is it really just a waiting game once you've filed everything?

One thing nobody has mentioned yet - you should apply for your Pregnancy Disability Leave first (using form DE2501), which gives you 4 weeks before your due date and 6-8 weeks after delivery (depending on vaginal vs c-section delivery). THEN you transition to PFL baby bonding for 8 weeks using form DE2508. Both are available to part-time workers who have paid into SDI. Your HR department is either confused about company benefits vs. state benefits, or they're deliberately misleading you. Either way, go directly through EDD's website to apply. Also, document all conversations with HR in case you need to file a complaint later.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress during your pregnancy! Your HR department is absolutely wrong about part-time workers not qualifying for California PFL benefits. I work in employment law and see this misinformation all the time - employers often confuse their own company policies with state-mandated benefits. Since you've been paying into SDI (which you confirmed), you're entitled to both Pregnancy Disability Leave AND Paid Family Leave regardless of your part-time status. Here's what you need to know: - Apply directly through EDD, not through your employer - Your company cannot block or deny your state benefits - Start with Pregnancy Disability Leave (Form DE2501) for birth/recovery - Then transition to PFL (Form DE2508) for baby bonding - Total you could get up to 16-18 weeks of benefits For job protection, since you have 35+ employees and worked 1,250+ hours, you should qualify under CFRA too. I'd recommend contacting the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) if your employer continues to provide false information or retaliates. Don't let them intimidate you - these are YOUR rights!