Can I use my old EDD unemployment account to apply for PFL to care for my dad after his heart attack?

Yes, you can use your existing EDD account for PFL! The same portal is used for Unemployment, Disability, and Paid Family Leave. Just log in with your previous credentials, and under the menu you'll see an option to file a new claim. Make sure to select "Paid Family Leave" and then "Care for a family member" (not the baby bonding option). You'll need to submit form DE2508 along with medical certification from your dad's doctor confirming his condition requires your care. The doctor form is part of the application process. PFL will pay about 60-70% of your wages for up to 8 weeks while you're caring for your dad. Start the application ASAP as it can take 7-10 days to process even after they have all documentation.

I went thru this EXACT thing with my mom's stroke in January. The EDD phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE to get through!!! I spent 3 days trying to reach someone to update my bank info and never got through. Ended up finding a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes after I'd wasted hours trying myself. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 Their website is claimyr.com - seriously saved my sanity during an already stressful time with my mom's care. Once I got through, the agent was actually super helpful with my PFL claim.

be careful - PFL and disability are NOT the same thing!! if ur caring for your dad that's PFL but if YOU are sick that's disability. they use different forms! PFL uses DE2508 form but disability is DE2501. i messed this up and had to restart my whole claim which delayed my payment by 3 weeks :( Also your dad's doctor HAS to fill out part of the form certifying that he needs care. My mom's doctor was super slow with this paperwork and it held everything up.

Actually, I think you might be confusing things. When I took care of my husband after his surgery, I had to apply for CFRA (California Family Rights Act) not PFL. They're different programs. You should check with your HR department about which one applies to your situation.

When I cared for my father last year after his stroke, I learned a few things the hard way: 1. Start your PFL application BEFORE your leave begins if possible (sounds like you might need to do it retroactively) 2. There's a 7-day unpaid waiting period for disability but NOT for PFL caregiving - your benefits should start from day one of your approved leave 3. If your dad needs care beyond the 8 weeks PFL provides, you might be able to coordinate with other family members who can also apply for PFL to care for him (each eligible family member gets their own 8-week benefit period) 4. Keep detailed records of all communications with EDD - claim numbers, names of representatives you speak with, etc. 5. If your claim shows "pending" for more than 14 days with no explanation, that's when you need to start calling Hope your dad recovers quickly. The system is frustrating but hang in there!

make sure u have ur dad sign a consent form so u can talk to edd on his behalf!!! my mom didnt sign one and i couldnt help with her claim at all when there were problems. such a headache

i went thru this whole process last yr and everything worked out fine but then I got a RANDOM overpayment notice 6 months later saying I wasnt eligible and had to pay back $4200!!!! Been fighting it ever since. Make sure u document EVERYTHING and save all ur paperwork forever. The EDD is a nightmare agency.

UPDATE: I was able to log into my old EDD account and start my PFL application! For anyone who finds this thread later - yes, you use the same account for unemployment, disability and paid family leave. My dad's doctor was amazing and completed their portion within 24 hours. The online system was actually easier to navigate than I expected. Now I'm just waiting for the claim to be processed. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!