Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
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!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
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.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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I've been dealing with the same nightmare for over a month now. Here's what's worked for me so far: I started calling at 7:58 AM sharp (2 minutes before they officially open) and spam-dialing the number until I get through to the menu. Once I'm in, I select the options quickly and then just... wait. And wait. And wait. The longest I've been on hold was 4.5 hours, but I did eventually get through. I know it sounds insane, but I just put my phone on speaker, plugged it in to charge, and did other things while waiting. Also, make sure you have ALL your documents ready before you call - ID, Social Security card, any correspondence from EDD, your claim details, etc. When you finally get a human, you want to make the most of that precious time. Don't give up, everyone. The system is broken, but persistence does pay off sometimes.
This is incredibly helpful advice! I'm definitely going to try the early morning spam-dialing strategy. 4.5 hours is brutal but if it works, it works. Thanks for sharing your experience and for the reminder about having documents ready - that's such a good point that I wouldn't have thought of until it was too late.
I totally feel your frustration! I've been in the exact same situation for about 3 weeks now. The automated system just keeps looping me back to the same useless menu options. What's really helped me is keeping a detailed log of every time I call - the time, how long I waited, which menu options I tried, etc. It sounds tedious but it's actually been therapeutic to document this madness, and if I ever do get through, I'll have all the details ready. Also, I've started treating it like a part-time job - blocking out 2-3 hours in the morning just for calling attempts. It's not ideal, but at least I'm not letting it ruin my entire day anymore. Hang in there! 💪
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Congratulations on your pregnancy! I went through a similar situation with employment gaps and was worried about PFL eligibility too. The good news is that California's system is designed to help working parents, and your situation sounds like it should qualify. Since you worked from January-July 2024 at your original job, then had part-time work through December, you should definitely have enough earnings in your base period (which would be all of 2024 for an April 2025 claim). The fact that you're back with the same employer might actually work in your favor for job protection rights too. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - start gathering your documentation now! Keep all your pay stubs, employment letters, and any correspondence with your employer about your rehiring. Having everything organized will make the claims process much smoother when you're dealing with a newborn. Also, don't stress too much about the complex system - it seems overwhelming at first, but EDD has gotten better at processing maternity claims in recent years. You've got this!
Thank you so much! That's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through something similar. I'm definitely going to start organizing all my documentation now - that's such good advice. It's been really stressful worrying about whether I'd qualify, but everyone here has been so helpful in explaining how the system actually works. I feel much more confident now that I should be covered. Thanks for the encouragement!
Hey Aisha! Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I just went through the PFL process myself last year and wanted to share a few things that might help ease your mind: Your work situation actually sounds pretty solid for PFL eligibility. Since you worked full-time from January-July 2024, plus had part-time earnings through December, you should easily meet the $300 minimum earnings requirement for your base period. The system looks at ALL your covered employment, not just one specific job. A couple practical tips from my experience: - Download the SDI mobile app once you create your account - it's way easier to check claim status than the website - When your doctor certifies you for disability, ask for a copy of the form they submit. Sometimes there are delays and having your own copy helps if you need to follow up - Start tracking your expected due date and count backwards 4 weeks - that's typically when you can start your pregnancy disability claim The rehiring situation is actually great news for job protection! Since it's the same employer, your previous service time might count toward FMLA/CFRA eligibility thresholds. You've got this! The system can be confusing but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions. Feel free to ask if you have any other concerns!
This is such helpful practical advice, thank you Vanessa! I had no idea there was an SDI mobile app - that will definitely make things easier. And asking for a copy of the certification form is brilliant - I wouldn't have thought of that but it makes total sense in case there are any processing delays. I'm going to start counting backwards from my due date to figure out the timing. It's so reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this recently and that the process worked out well. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! 💕
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I'm currently going through this exact situation too! My disability got extended due to postpartum depression, but I had already filed my PFL claim to start next week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - especially knowing that this is actually pretty common. I tried calling EDD yesterday but couldn't get through after 2 hours of trying. Going to check out that Claimyr service that @Ava Garcia mentioned since so many people had success with it. It's really reassuring to know that EDD can adjust the dates as long as you catch it in time. Thanks @Fatima Al-Suwaidi for posting this and to everyone who shared their tips! It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in dealing with this confusing system while trying to recover and care for a newborn.
@Lauren Wood I m'so glad this thread is helping you too! I went through something very similar with postpartum anxiety extending my SDI. The whole situation is stressful enough without having to navigate EDD s'complicated system. Just wanted to add that when you do get through to them, make sure to ask for confirmation that your PFL start date has been pushed back AND that there won t'be any gap in your benefits. The rep I spoke with was really helpful once I finally connected, but it took using that Claimyr service to actually get through. Hang in there - it s'frustrating but definitely fixable! Also, don t'feel bad about the timing mix-up - I think most of us underestimate how long recovery actually takes, especially when mental health complications come into play.
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm 3 weeks postpartum and my doctor just extended my SDI for another week due to breastfeeding complications, but my PFL was already approved to start Monday. I've been stressing about this all weekend thinking I'd lose benefits or create some kind of overpayment issue. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially @Fatima Al-Suwaidi's successful resolution, has given me so much peace of mind. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service first thing Monday morning since it seems like multiple people had success with it. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops when we're already dealing with recovery and newborn care, but at least knowing it's fixable makes it less overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community is such a lifesaver for navigating California's confusing benefits system!
@Oscar Murphy I m'so glad this thread is helping you feel less stressed about the situation! Breastfeeding complications are definitely a valid reason for extending SDI, and you re'absolutely right that it s'ridiculous we have to navigate this bureaucracy while recovering. Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - when you call whether (through Claimyr or directly ,)have both your SDI claim number and your PFL claim number ready, plus the exact dates you need. The reps can process the change much faster when you have all the info organized. Also, if your doctor hasn t'already sent the updated medical certification to EDD, make sure they do that ASAP with your claim number on it. The whole process really is fixable once you get through to someone - the hardest part is just making that connection with EDD! You ve'got this!
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smh EDD needs to get there act together. how hard is it to have a working website in 2023?
For real tho. 💯 It's like they're stuck in 1995 or somethin
Hey OP, any luck with resetting your password? Keep us updated!
@Dylan Campbell That s'actually really good advice! I had a similar issue with another government site and it turned out my password manager extension was causing problems. Also @Emma Davis, if you re'still stuck, try typing the password manually instead of copy/pasting - sometimes there are hidden characters that mess things up.
@Emma Davis I went through this exact same nightmare a few weeks ago! What finally worked for me was doing the password reset on my phone using mobile data instead of WiFi, and making sure I was logged out of ALL other Google/browser accounts first. Something about having multiple sessions seemed to confuse their system. Also try incognito/private browsing mode - that cleared up the issue for me instantly. Hope this helps! 🙏
Omar Hassan
UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD! For anyone with the same question in the future - yes, you need to submit a new DE2508 form for the second period of baby bonding, but no, it's not a completely new claim in terms of wage eligibility. It's considered accessing your remaining balance of the original entitlement. The representative confirmed all leave periods must be at least two weeks long (with some exceptions) and must be completed within 12 months of birth/adoption/placement. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Glad you got through and got the information you needed! Thanks for coming back to share the update - this will help other parents in the same situation.
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Aisha Mahmood
Great to see this got resolved! As someone who works in HR and deals with PFL questions regularly, I can confirm that Omar's update is spot on. The split baby bonding process confuses a lot of new parents and even some HR departments. Just to add a few tips for anyone else in this situation: 1) Keep your original claim number handy when you call EDD, 2) Make sure your employer knows about the intermittent leave plan from the start, and 3) Submit your new DE2508 at least 2-3 weeks before you want the benefits to start. The processing times can vary but planning ahead helps avoid gaps in pay. Congrats on your little one Omar!
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Matthew Sanchez
•This is such helpful information! As a new parent myself, I had no idea about the 2-3 week advance processing time recommendation. I'm planning to take my baby bonding leave in a few months and was going to submit everything just a week before. Thank you for the practical tips - especially keeping the original claim number ready. It's reassuring to hear from someone who deals with these cases regularly. The whole PFL system seems so complicated from the outside!
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