Desperate for EDD PFL phone tricks - been trying for 2 weeks with no success

Same boat here! I think they secretly don't answer phones lol. I've tried calling right when they open at 8am and still nothing.

The EDD system is DESIGNED to make it impossible to reach anyone!!!! I spent 3+ weeks trying to get through about my pregnancy disability to PFL transition last month. The online messaging system is useless too - I sent 5 messages and got ZERO responses. The whole system is broken beyond belief and they don't care because who's gonna hold them accountable?

I found some success by calling this pattern: call exactly at 8:01am, if you get the 'we're too busy' message, hang up and immediately redial. Repeat for about 15-20 minutes. If you can't get through, try again between 1:30-2pm when lunch breaks are ending. When you do get through, select options for 'payments' rather than 'claims' - those agents often have shorter queues but can still help with most PFL issues.

when i was on pfl with my baby last yr i never got thru on the edd number but if u call the sdi number sometimes they can help with pfl stuff too its worth a try

I was having the same nightmare scenario during my maternity leave transition. I tried for nearly three weeks straight calling the regular number. Then I discovered this service called Claimyr that actually worked for me. It basically calls the EDD for you and when it gets through, it calls your phone and connects you directly to the next available EDD rep. I was skeptical but got through in about 40 minutes when I had been trying for weeks on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 and the website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. It was such a relief to finally talk to someone who could fix my claim!

When I was trying to get thru to EDD last year about my PFL claim, I found that if you select the Spanish option and then just talk to the rep in English, you sometimes get through faster. Most reps are bilingual and the Spanish queue is often shorter. Also try calling at 8:01am exactly and have all your info ready. BTW while I was pregnant I had to deal with so many IRS problems too lol isn't it fun dealing with govt agencies when you're sleep deprived with a newborn??

PFL Representative here - I want to clarify a few things that might help. First, we're experiencing unprecedented volume right now, especially with PFL baby bonding claims. The most effective approach is to: 1. Call between 8:00-8:15am or 1:00-1:30pm 2. Have your claim number, ID, and specific questions ready 3. Be clear about what specific issue you're having with your claim 4. If your claim has been pending for over 14 calendar days, request an escalation Also important: the online message center actually does work, but responses can take 5-7 business days. Be specific in your message and include your claim number and the exact date you filed. Finally, make sure your physician's certification was properly submitted - this is the #1 cause of delays for PFL baby bonding claims.

Update: I FINALLY got through this morning! Used a combination of the tips here - called at 8:01am exactly, used the Spanish option trick, and kept redialing after getting the busy message. Got through on my 12th try and spoke to a very helpful rep who found the issue. Apparently there was a mismatch between my baby's birthdate on two different forms which triggered a manual review. She fixed it right away and said my claim should be processed within 48 hours! Thank you all for the helpful suggestions!

Wow, reading through all these experiences makes me realize I'm not alone in this struggle! I've been trying to reach EDD about my PFL claim for my newborn for over a week now. My claim has been stuck in "pending" status for almost 3 weeks and I'm getting really worried about when I'll receive my first payment. The tips about calling at 8:01am sharp and using the Spanish option sound promising - definitely going to try those tomorrow. It's honestly ridiculous that new parents have to become expert phone warriors just to get the benefits we're entitled to. Has anyone had success with the callback feature on the EDD website, or is that just as useless as everything else? Thanks to everyone sharing their strategies - it gives me hope that I'll eventually get through!