I went through something very similar when my FMLA ended earlier than expected! The key thing is to act fast and be completely honest with EDD about your return date. A few things that helped me: - I called EDD at exactly 8:01 AM on a Tuesday and only waited about 45 minutes (much better than the 2+ hours!) - When I got through, I explained I was returning to work early and needed to update my claim. They were actually really helpful and understanding - They told me to make sure my next certification accurately reflected my return date and that I was working again Don't stress too much about EDD being "mad" - they deal with people returning to work early all the time. Job protection and PFL benefits are separate, so your employer can absolutely require you back even if you have unused PFL time remaining. The most important thing is just being accurate on your certifications going forward. If you've already certified for days after your return date, definitely call to fix that ASAP. But if you haven't certified yet, you should be fine just reporting everything correctly on your next form. You're doing great handling this situation - it's so hard balancing everything with a newborn and toddler!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation while managing two little ones! I actually work in HR and see this scenario fairly often - you're definitely not alone in having your job protection end before your planned PFL time. A few quick tips from what I've seen work well: 1. Don't panic about "canceling" your claim - you're just reporting an early return to work, which is totally normal and allowed 2. The 8AM call strategy others mentioned really does work better - I always tell employees to try first thing in the morning 3. When you do get through, ask for a confirmation number for updating your return date. Write down the agent's name/ID too if they give it 4. Screenshot your certification when you submit it showing your accurate return date From the employer side, we usually don't need proof that you contacted EDD about returning early - we just need you back at work! But definitely keep records of your communication with EDD for your own protection. The system is designed to handle early returns, and EDD agents deal with this daily. You're being super responsible by addressing it proactively. Hang in there - this will get sorted out! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this - PPD is incredibly difficult and you're being so brave by seeking help when everything feels overwhelming. I went through a very similar experience with Kaiser about a year ago and wanted to share what I learned. That therapist appointment sounds exactly like mine! They seem to have a standard approach that focuses on childhood issues instead of the immediate postpartum crisis you're dealing with. It's so frustrating when you need concrete help and they want to dig into your past. Don't let that discourage you - the psychiatrist will be completely different and much more focused on your current symptoms. Here's what worked for me: **Before your psychiatrist appointment:** - Write down specific examples of how your symptoms impact your ability to work (like "can't focus on emails for more than 2 minutes," "decision-making paralysis for simple tasks," "anxiety prevents sleep even when baby sleeps") - Be ready to say exactly: "I need documentation for an EDD disability extension due to postpartum depression and anxiety" **During the appointment:** - Ask specifically for the DE2501 form - Request they submit it electronically to EDD (faster than mail) - Don't downplay your symptoms - be honest about how severe they are My psychiatrist was actually really understanding once I was direct about needing the EDD paperwork. I got approved for a 10-week extension which was absolutely life-changing for my recovery. I also started on Lexapro which was completely safe with breastfeeding and helped tremendously. The whole process feels impossible when you're barely functioning, but you're doing exactly the right thing. Taking care of your mental health IS taking care of your baby. You've got this, mama! 💙

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - PPD is absolutely brutal and you're being incredibly strong by advocating for yourself when everything feels impossible. I went through this exact same process with Kaiser about 9 months ago and want to share what I learned. That therapist session sounds infuriatingly familiar! Mine also kept diving into childhood trauma when I was literally telling her about intrusive thoughts and panic attacks. It's like they have this cookie-cutter approach that completely misses the urgency of postpartum mental health crises. Here's what actually worked for me with the psychiatrist: **Be direct from minute one:** Start by saying "I need documentation for an EDD disability extension due to postpartum depression and anxiety." Don't assume they know why you're there - some providers aren't even familiar with this process. **Come with written examples:** I brought a list of how my symptoms specifically impacted work functions - "can't concentrate on tasks for more than 3 minutes," "decision paralysis makes prioritizing impossible," "sleep disruption beyond normal newborn care affects daytime cognitive function." EDD needs to see functional impairment, not just general emotional distress. **Ask for DE2501 form specifically** and request electronic submission to EDD (much faster than mail). My psychiatrist ended up being really helpful once I was clear about what I needed. I got approved for a 12-week extension which literally saved my life and my ability to bond with my baby. Starting on Sertraline (completely safe with breastfeeding) also made a huge difference. The system is designed to be confusing when you're at your most vulnerable, but you're doing exactly the right thing. Your baby needs you healthy and whole, not just physically present. Hang in there mama - you're going to get through this! 💜

Hey Alberto! I totally understand your confusion - EDD's determination letters are like reading hieroglyphics sometimes! 😅 A determination is basically EDD's official decision about your claim - could be about eligibility, benefit amount, or just clearing up some routine paperwork issue. The frustrating part is their letters never give you the full picture! Here's what helped me when I was in your shoes: definitely log into your EDD online account and check the "Inbox" or "Claim Status" sections - there's usually way more detailed info there than what they send in the mail. If you're still confused after that, try calling them right at 8:00 AM when they open (seems to be the magic time for actually getting through). Don't panic though - getting a determination is actually a good sign that they're actively processing your case rather than it sitting in limbo somewhere. The whole EDD system is confusing by design I think, but you'll figure it out! Keep us posted on what you find - we're all rooting for you! 🙌

Hey Alberto! I completely understand the confusion - I was in your exact same position about 3 months ago and felt totally lost when I got that determination letter. A determination is basically EDD's official decision on your claim, but like everyone else has mentioned, their letters are super vague and don't give you the full story. It could be about your eligibility, your weekly benefit amount, or they might have just resolved some routine verification step. The important thing to remember is that getting a determination is actually good news - it means they're actively working on your case! Here's what I'd suggest: first, definitely log into your EDD online portal and look for sections like "Messages," "Determination Details," or "Claim Summary" - there's almost always way more specific info there than what they include in the mailed letters. If you're still confused after checking online, try calling them right at 8:00 AM sharp when they first open - that timing really does make a huge difference for getting through. Don't stress too much though - this is totally normal and everyone finds EDD's communication style confusing at first. You're definitely not alone in this! Keep us posted on what you find out - we're all here to help! 🤞

As someone who went through this exact situation two years ago, I want to emphasize something that might get overlooked - make sure you understand how PFL payments actually work before you rely on them financially. The 60-70% wage replacement sounds decent on paper, but there are some catches: 1) There's a weekly benefit cap (around $1,620/week max in 2025) 2) The percentage is based on your highest quarter of earnings in your "base period" which might be lower than your current salary 3) There's a 7-day waiting period before benefits start 4) You won't get your first payment for 2-3 weeks after filing I made the mistake of assuming I'd get exactly 65% of my current paycheck and nearly got into financial trouble. Double-check the EDD website's benefit calculator or call them to get an estimate of your actual weekly benefit amount before making any major financial commitments. Also, start setting aside some emergency savings now if you can - even with PFL benefits, those first few weeks without any income can be tight, especially with new baby expenses piling up!

One more thing to consider that I learned the hard way - even if your employer is supportive of you taking PFL time, make sure you clarify whether they want you to use any accrued vacation/sick time first or if they'll let you go unpaid while collecting PFL benefits. Some employers have policies requiring you to exhaust paid time off before taking unpaid leave, which could complicate your PFL claim timing. Others are fine with you keeping your PTO for later while you're on unpaid leave collecting EDD benefits. This became an issue for me because I wanted to save my vacation days for when my wife went back to work (so I could cover childcare gaps), but HR initially told me I had to use them during my bonding leave. After some back and forth, they agreed to let me take unpaid leave while collecting PFL, but it would have been much easier if I'd clarified this upfront. Just another detail to nail down in those conversations with your manager and HR! The clearer you can be about all the logistics beforehand, the smoother everything will go when baby actually arrives.

Just wanted to add another success story to this thread! I went through this exact situation last month with an incorrect date range on my PFL claim. After reading through similar experiences online, I tried the combined approach that seems to work best: called at 8 AM sharp every day while also submitting the online contact form as backup. It took me 5 days of early morning calls, but I finally got through! The key things that helped were: 1) having all my info organized beforehand (claim number, specific errors, correct information), 2) asking specifically to speak with a "claim specialist" rather than general customer service, and 3) getting a reference number for the correction request. The whole correction process took about 7 business days once they had the request, and I did receive email confirmation when it was completed. For anyone still struggling with this - don't give up! The system is frustrating but the corrections are definitely possible with persistence. The early morning calling strategy really does work! Good luck to everyone dealing with this - you've got this! 💪

Hey everyone! I'm new to this community but have been following this thread closely since I'm about to file my first PFL claim and want to avoid any mistakes. Reading through all your experiences has been both educational and nerve-wracking! 😅 For those who successfully got their corrections processed, I'm curious - did any of you have to deal with delayed payments because of the corrections, or were they able to backdate everything properly once fixed? I'm trying to understand if timing the correction request affects the overall benefit timeline. Also, @Keisha Taylor @Emma Taylor @Morita Montoya - when you called at 8 AM, did you find certain days of the week worked better than others? I'm wondering if Mondays are terrible due to weekend backlog or if Fridays might be quieter. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories - this thread is like a masterclass in navigating EDD! Definitely bookmarking for reference. Good luck to everyone still working through their corrections! 🍀