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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - calling first is definitely the right move! I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago and I was absolutely panicking. Turned out it was just because I had moved and they needed to verify my new address. Here's what helped me get through it: - Call right at 8am when they open (seriously, this makes such a difference!) - Have everything ready: your notice, SSN, claim number, and a pen/paper - Ask them to explain what "change in claimant status" specifically means for YOUR case - Don't hang up until you're 100% clear on next steps The waiting on hold is brutal, but once you get someone, most of the reps are actually pretty helpful. And like others have said, if you do end up owing anything, they'll work with you on payments. You're being super smart by getting advice first instead of just mailing something back. That shows you're taking this seriously, which is exactly what you need to do. Try not to stress too much - you've got this! 💪
This is such reassuring advice! I'm dealing with my first notice like this and honestly was spiraling a bit, but reading everyone's experiences here is helping me realize this might not be as scary as I thought. The tip about calling right at 8am is something I keep seeing mentioned - I'm definitely setting my alarm for 7:55am tomorrow! 😅 Can I ask how long the whole process took for you once you called? Like from the initial call to getting everything resolved? I'm trying to plan my week around this since I know there might be follow-up calls or paperwork needed.
Oh wow, this thread is such a lifesaver! I'm in almost the exact same boat - got a similar notice yesterday and have been freaking out about it all night. Reading through everyone's experiences here is making me feel so much better about the whole situation. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about calling right at 8am tomorrow. Already set my alarm for 7:45am so I can have everything ready to go! One question though - should I have any specific questions ready beyond the ones people have mentioned? Like is there anything I should ask about potential impacts to future claims or benefits? Also, has anyone dealt with this while on maternity leave specifically? I'm wondering if that adds any extra complications to the process. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community is amazing! 🙏
Hey! I'm new here but dealing with something similar and this thread has been incredibly helpful! For maternity leave specifically, you might want to ask if the status change affects your PFML benefits at all, and whether they need updated info about your leave dates or employer. I'd also ask about how this might impact any future benefit applications you might need to file. The maternity leave aspect shouldn't complicate things too much from what I understand, but it's definitely worth asking about directly. Good luck with your call tomorrow - you're being so proactive about this! 🤞
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This is really helpful information everyone! I'm in a similar situation - currently 32 weeks pregnant and was laid off 2 months ago. My doctor just told me today that I might need to stop working earlier than expected due to some pregnancy complications. @Naila Gordon - when you mention the DE2501 form, does the doctor need to specify an exact date when disability starts, or can it be a range? My OB said "probably within the next 2-3 weeks" but wasn't super specific about timing. Also wondering if anyone knows - once I transition from unemployment to disability, will I need to reapply for a new unemployment claim after I recover postpartum, or can I somehow reopen my existing claim? The thought of going through that whole application process again while dealing with a newborn sounds overwhelming!
@Matthew Sanchez Welcome to the conversation! For the DE2501 form, your doctor needs to specify an exact start date for your disability - they can t'leave it as a range. If your OB says within "the next 2-3 weeks, you" ll'need them to pick a specific date based on their medical assessment. They can always amend it later if complications arise sooner. Regarding your unemployment claim - you ll'typically need to file a NEW unemployment claim after your disability ends since there will be a significant gap in your work search availability. Your previous claim will have expired by then. I know it sounds daunting with a newborn, but the online application process has gotten easier, and you can always use services like the one @Mateusius Townsend mentioned if you need help getting through to EDD. One tip: start gathering your employment documentation now while you have time, so it s ready'when you need to reapply later. Good luck with everything!
@Matthew Sanchez Your doctor will need to provide a specific date on the DE2501 form - EDD doesn t'accept date ranges for disability start dates. If your OB is uncertain about the exact timing, they should choose the most likely date based on your current condition. If complications arise earlier than expected, they can always complete an amended form with a new start date. For the unemployment question - yes, you ll'need to file a completely new UI claim after your disability period ends. Your original claim will have expired during the months you re'on disability and postpartum recovery. The good news is that your recent work history and earnings should still count toward establishing the new claim. Pro tip: Make sure you keep all your medical documentation organized throughout this process. You ll'need copies of delivery records, doctor clearance to return to work, and potentially childcare arrangements documented when you do restart unemployment. It might seem overwhelming now, but taking it one step at a time helps!
This whole thread is so helpful! I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant and just got laid off from my marketing job last week. Reading through everyone's experiences is giving me hope that there's actually a path forward through this maze of benefits. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - does anyone know if the pregnancy disability benefits count toward your overall SDI benefit year maximum? I'm wondering if using SDI for pregnancy now would limit my ability to claim regular disability later if I had other health issues. Also, @Ben Cooper - how is your sister doing now? Did she manage to get everything sorted out with the transition? Would love to hear an update on how it all worked out for her! The timing aspect seems so crucial based on what everyone is saying. Sounds like the key is having that clear cutoff date from the doctor and making sure to stop unemployment certification immediately. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences - it's way more helpful than trying to decipher the EDD website!
@Diego Chavez Welcome! Great question about the SDI benefit year maximum. From what I understand, pregnancy disability benefits do count toward your overall SDI benefit year limits which (is typically 52 weeks of benefits within a 12-month period .)However, this usually isn t'a concern for most people since pregnancy disability is relatively short-term 4 (weeks before + 6-8 weeks after delivery = about 10-12 weeks total .)The bigger consideration is that if you have other health issues that require disability benefits within the same benefit year, those weeks would be deducted from your remaining balance. But honestly, most people don t'hit the 52-week annual maximum unless they have serious ongoing health conditions. As someone new to all this myself, I m'also finding this thread incredibly valuable! The personal experiences here are so much clearer than trying to navigate the official EDD resources. Good luck with your situation - sounds like you re'asking all the right questions early which is smart!
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Serious question: has anyone had issues with their bank after switching to direct deposit? My bank once froze my account when I got a large deposit and I'm worried about that happening with unemployment payments.
I haven't had any problems, but it might be worth giving your bank a heads up that you'll be receiving unemployment deposits. Better safe than sorry!
That's actually a really smart idea! I had a similar thing happen with a tax refund once. Most banks have fraud detection that can get triggered by unusual deposits. A quick call to let them know you're switching to direct deposit for unemployment could save you a lot of headache.
One thing I'd add to all this great advice - make sure you keep checking your Money Network card balance for a few weeks after the switch. Sometimes there can be adjustments or retroactive payments that still go to the old card method even after you've switched to direct deposit. I almost missed a small adjustment payment because I stopped checking my card balance thinking everything was going to my bank account!
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I'm also waiting for my PFL paper check and this thread is exactly what I needed to find! My claim was approved 4 days ago and I've been checking the portal obsessively. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should see the status change to "paid" in the next day or two, then expect the actual check within a week after that. The USPS Informed Delivery recommendation keeps coming up - definitely going to set that up today. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money, but reading all these real timelines from people who've been through it recently is really helping manage my expectations. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this is way more helpful than the generic EDD website info!
You're right on track with that timeline! I just went through this exact process and the obsessive portal checking is so relatable 😅 Based on my experience and what others have shared here, 4 days post-approval means you should definitely see that "paid" status change soon. The USPS Informed Delivery really is a game changer - I wish I had known about it earlier in my process. It's amazing how much this thread has helped normalize the anxiety we all feel waiting for these checks. Hang in there, you're almost at the finish line!
I'm also in the paper check waiting game! My PFL claim was approved 3 days ago and I've been refreshing the portal constantly hoping to see it change to "paid" status. This thread has been such a relief to read - it's so much better getting real timelines from actual people rather than the vague official guidance. The USPS Informed Delivery tip that keeps getting mentioned sounds amazing, definitely setting that up today. It's nerve-wracking when you're budgeting around that money arriving, but seeing everyone's experiences here makes me feel like 7-10 days total is pretty realistic. Thanks to everyone who's shared their timelines - it really helps knowing we're all going through the same stressful waiting period!
Benjamin Carter
lol good luck. i swear they make this stuff complicated on purpose 🤡
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Maya Lewis
•Fr tho 💯 feels like you need a law degree just to understand the basics smh
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Adrian Hughes
For anyone still struggling with this, I found that calling early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) gives you the best chance of getting through without waiting forever. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and any documentation about your family member's condition ready before you call. The representatives are actually pretty helpful once you get through - they can walk you through the calculation and give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation.
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Diego Flores
•This is super helpful advice! I never thought about calling right at 8 AM. I've been trying to call during lunch breaks and always get stuck on hold forever. Quick question - when you say employment history for the past 18 months, do you mean like pay stubs or just the basic info about where you worked? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I call.
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