Can't transition from SDI to PFL baby bonding - system says to 'stop SDI' first but HOW?

The system is so frustrating! You actually don't need to do anything to

Thanks for responding! 3 whole business days?? That's ridiculous when there's no income coming in. Did you have to submit any additional forms during that waiting period, or literally just wait for their system to catch up with itself?

have u tried loggin out and back in? sum times the EDD system is buggy and needs to refresh. or maybe try a different browser? helped me when i was tryna file last year.

I've tried logging out/in about 20 times now! And tried Chrome, Safari, and even Microsoft Edge (desperate times...). Same error message every time. This system is the WORST.

This is actually a common issue with the EDD transition from pregnancy disability to baby bonding. What's happening is that your SDI claim is technically still showing as 'active' in their system despite having reached your end date. \n\nThere are three ways to handle this:\n\n1. Wait 3-5 business days for their system to automatically update (not ideal if you need income now)\n\n2. Continue calling EDD until you reach an agent who can manually close your SDI claim and enable the PFL application (most direct solution)\n\n3. File a paper DE2508 form for PFL rather than using the online system (slower but works around the online error)\n\nIf you choose option #2, call right when they open at 8:00 AM for the best chance of getting through.

Thank you for these options! I really need to get this squared away ASAP. I'll try calling at 8am sharp tomorrow and hopefully can reach someone. Do I need to have any specific information ready when I talk to them? My SDI claim number and baby's birthdate I assume?

If u think calling is bad now, just WAIT until u actually get through!! I spent 2.5 HOURS on hold last month trying to fix my SDI-to-PFL transition, got disconnected TWICE, then finally reached the rudest agent ever who said I needed to wait for the system to \

OMG that's exactly what happened to me too! It's like they're trained to be unhelpful. I finally got my PFL approved but it took almost 3 weeks from when my disability ended. Total nightmare.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I was stuck in this exact same situation last month and wasted days trying to get through to EDD on my own. A friend recommended Claimyr and they got me connected to an EDD agent in like 20 minutes. The agent fixed my claim status so I could apply for PFL right away. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5\n\nIt was a lifesaver for me because I couldn't afford to wait days for the system to update on its own.

I've never heard of this service before - does it really work? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. Has anyone else used it successfully?

My doctor told me that the disability end date is just a guideline and you can actually extend it if you're not ready to go back to work yet. Maybe that's causing the confusion in the system? You might need to officially end SDI first rather than let it auto-close. But definitely call and ask about that before doing anything because I'm not 100% sure how it works.

This isn't quite right. You *can* extend SDI with a doctor's note if you have medical complications after birth, but you can't overlap SDI and PFL for the same child. The OP wants to start PFL, so she definitely needs to end SDI first. The issue is just the system lag in recognizing the SDI claim has ended.

Update: If you're still struggling with this transition, one thing to try is looking for any pending SDI certifications in your account. Sometimes the system is waiting for you to complete a final certification before it will allow you to apply for PFL. Look in the \

Thank you! I just checked and there IS a final certification waiting. I didn't see it before because it was under a different tab than I expected. Filling it out now and hoping this resolves the issue! Will update if it works.

u might have better luck if u call the SDI number instead of the regular EDD number. they have diff departments and the SDI ppl can usually help with the transition stuff better. at least thats what worked 4 me

That's a good idea! Do you happen to know the direct number for the SDI department? I've only been calling the main EDD line.

I ended up using Claimyr that I mentioned earlier because I spent literally 3 days trying all the different methods (calling at 8am, using different phone numbers, trying the online system repeatedly). Got connected to an agent who fixed it in about 5 minutes once I got through. Said it happens all the time and they just need to put a note in the system that your SDI is complete.

I used Claimyr after seeing your recommendation and it actually worked! Got connected to an EDD rep in about 25 minutes. They fixed the issue on their end and I was able to submit my PFL claim right after. Thanks so much for suggesting this - would've been pulling my hair out for days otherwise.

So glad to hear Claimyr worked for you! I was in a similar situation a few months ago - had my baby in December and got stuck in that same SDI-to-PFL limbo. The system glitch is SO common but EDD never seems to fix it on their end. It's frustrating that we have to rely on third-party services just to access benefits we're entitled to, but honestly whatever gets you through to an actual human who can help is worth it. Hope your PFL payments start coming through quickly now! And congratulations on your new baby! 💙