EDD PFL appeal timeline after maternity leave denial - worth the wait?

I went through the exact same thing last year! My employer also put incorrect information about my last day worked. My appeal took about 5 weeks to resolve, but I DID eventually get approved and they backpaid everything I was owed. Definitely worth appealing if you have documentation proving when you actually worked. Make sure to include copies of your pay stubs with your appeal paperwork. One tip: call and specifically ask for your appeal to be expedited due to financial hardship. They won't always do it, but in my case they did and it probably saved me a week or two of waiting.

I recommend appealing right away. The deadline is 30 days from the date on your denial notice. Your situation is actually pretty common - employer date errors happen all the time. For the fastest processing: 1. Fill out the DE 1000M appeal form completely 2. Include COPIES (not originals) of your pay stubs showing your last day worked 3. Write a clear, brief explanation of the error 4. If possible, get a letter from your employer acknowledging their mistake 5. Mail using certified mail so you have proof it was received My wife's appeal took 6 weeks in 2024, but honestly the timeline varies widely. Some get resolved in 3-4 weeks, others take 8+ weeks.

my sister had this happen and she just reapplied with the correct info instead of appealing and got approved in like 10 days... might be faster than the appeal process?

OMG the EXACT same thing happened to me!!! My employer put my last day as March 15 when I actually worked until March 25!!! I appealed and it took FOREVER!!!!! They scheduled a phone hearing for 7 WEEKS after I filed the appeal. Then another 2 weeks for the decision. And this was with me calling LITERALLY EVERY OTHER DAY to check on status. The EDD is completely BROKEN and they just don't care that new moms are suffering!!!!!

I've been helping families navigate EDD issues for years, and unfortunately getting through to an actual person at EDD who can help is half the battle. If you're struggling to reach someone, I discovered a service called Claimyr that can get you connected to an EDD representative much faster than calling yourself. I was skeptical but tried it when helping my cousin with her PFL issue - they got her connected in about 20 minutes when she'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 and their website is claimyr.com. As for your appeal, the timeline others mentioned (4-8 weeks) is accurate. Document everything and stay persistent with follow-ups every week.

Quick question - are you on SDI for pregnancy disability first, or going straight to PFL for bonding? If you were on SDI first and transitioning to PFL, the process is different than if you're just applying for PFL directly. Might be why you got denied.

I'd recommend filing the appeal AND simultaneously asking your employer to submit a correction to EDD. Sometimes the employer correction can resolve things faster than waiting for the formal appeal process. When filing your appeal, be sure to check the box requesting an expedited decision due to financial hardship. The current average processing time for PFL appeals is approximately 5-7 weeks according to the latest data, but expedited appeals are sometimes processed in 3-4 weeks. While waiting, you can also request a hardship advance on your potential benefits by submitting the DE 5000 form. Make sure to include all documentation showing your actual last day worked - pay stubs, time cards, emails with your supervisor, etc. The more evidence, the better chance of a quick resolution.

my sister-in-law just gave up and went back to work early cause it was taking too long lol sometimes not worth the stress

One more tip about the appeal process - you can check the status of your appeal on the ALJ Appeal Portal (https://edd.ca.gov/en/Disability/Appeals_Process). It doesn't always give detailed updates, but at least you can see if they've received your paperwork and scheduled a hearing date. And YES to the person who mentioned asking your employer to submit a correction! My appeal was resolved faster because my HR department sent in a correction letter. They actually have a form specifically for employers to correct information. Hang in there! I know exactly how stressful this is when you just want to focus on your baby.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress while trying to recover and bond with your new baby! I went through a similar situation last year - employer error on dates led to a PFL denial, and it was absolutely maddening. A few things that helped me: 1. File the appeal ASAP (you have 30 days) - even if your HR submits a correction, having the appeal as backup is crucial 2. When I called to request expedited processing due to financial hardship, they actually approved it and shaved about 2 weeks off my timeline 3. Keep calling every few days for status updates - the squeaky wheel gets the grease with EDD unfortunately My appeal took about 4.5 weeks total and I got full backpay. The financial stress was awful but it was 100% worth pursuing. Your recovery and bonding time is so important, especially after a c-section. Don't let them pressure you into giving up what you're legally entitled to! Sending you strength during this frustrating process. You've got this mama! 💪

I'm going through something similar right now with my PFL claim! My employer also made a mistake with my employment dates and I'm currently 2 weeks into the appeal process. One thing I learned is that you can also contact your local assembly member's office - they often have caseworkers who can help expedite EDD issues. My friend did this and got her appeal resolved in 3 weeks instead of the typical 6-8 weeks. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to keep detailed records of every phone call, reference numbers, and who you spoke with at EDD. It's helped me stay organized and follow up more effectively. The whole system is so frustrating when you're just trying to recover and care for your baby. But from what I've seen in this thread and other forums, most people do eventually get approved when it's clearly an employer error like yours. Don't give up! Your health and bonding time are worth fighting for. Wishing you a speedy resolution! 🤞

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this on top of recovering from a c-section! The stress of fighting EDD while caring for a newborn is just awful. I wanted to add another resource that helped me when I was in a similar situation - if you're a member of any local mom groups on Facebook or Nextdoor, post there too. I found that many other moms had been through the exact same employer date error issue and could share specific tips for our area's EDD office. Also, when you file your appeal, consider sending it both by mail AND fax if possible. I sent mine by certified mail but it got "lost" for 2 weeks until I faxed a copy directly to the appeals office. The fax number should be on your denial letter. One last thing - start documenting your financial hardship now (bills you can't pay, savings you're depleting, etc.) in case you need to make a stronger case for expedited processing. I had to provide bank statements showing my account balance dropping each week. The whole system is broken but most appeals with clear employer errors like yours do get approved eventually. Your recovery and bonding time is so important - don't let them pressure you into giving up what you've earned! Hang in there mama ❤️

I'm a new mom going through almost the exact same situation right now! My baby is 5 weeks old and I just got my PFL appeal decision back - APPROVED after 4 weeks of waiting! My employer had also put the wrong last day worked (they said March 1st when I actually worked until March 15th). Here's what I think helped speed up my process: 1. I included a detailed timeline in my appeal letter showing exactly what happened 2. Got a signed letter from my supervisor admitting the error 3. Submitted copies of my final two paystubs AND my W-2 from last year 4. Called every Monday morning to check status (I found Monday mornings got me through faster) 5. Asked specifically for expedited processing due to "new mother financial hardship" The waiting was absolutely torture, especially when you're already dealing with recovery and a newborn. But the backpay covered everything I missed, plus I was able to take my full bonding leave. Don't give up! Your situation sounds even more straightforward than mine was since you have clear documentation. The appeals team actually seemed more competent than the initial claims reviewers. You deserve this time with your baby! 💕

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare while trying to recover from your c-section and bond with your new baby! The EDD system really fails new parents when we need support the most. I went through a very similar appeal process last year when my employer also made a date error. Here are some things that helped me get through it: **Timeline**: My appeal took exactly 6 weeks from filing to decision, but I got full backpay for everything I was owed. **Key steps that seemed to help**: - Filed the appeal within the first week (don't wait!) - Called and specifically requested expedited processing for "postpartum financial hardship" - they noted this in my file - Included a simple one-page letter explaining the employer error with bullet points - Attached copies of my last 3 paystubs clearly showing I worked past the date my employer reported - Followed up every 10 days with a brief, polite call **Financial survival tip**: While waiting, I applied for WIC benefits and asked family for help with groceries. Also looked into local food banks and new mom support groups that sometimes offer emergency assistance. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're sleep-deprived and healing. But employer date errors like yours have a very high success rate on appeal - probably 90%+ from what I've seen in various forums. Your recovery and bonding time is so precious and you've already paid into this system. Don't let their bureaucratic mess make you give up what you've earned. You've got this mama! 💪❤️

I'm currently going through a PFL appeal myself (3 weeks in) and wanted to share a resource that's been incredibly helpful - the California Work and Family Coalition has a free helpline specifically for EDD/PFL issues. They helped me understand exactly what documentation to include in my appeal and even reviewed my appeal letter before I submitted it. Their number is (510) 663-1166 and they have advocates who specialize in maternity leave issues. They also have sample appeal letters on their website that you can customize for your specific situation. I know it's one more thing to do when you're exhausted and healing, but having an advocate review my case gave me so much more confidence that I was doing everything right. They also told me about some backup options if the appeal takes too long. Hang in there - from everything I'm reading in this thread, employer date errors like yours have really good success rates. You deserve this time with your baby and shouldn't have to stress about money while you're recovering from surgery. The system is broken but you're not alone in fighting it! 💕

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this mess while trying to recover and care for your newborn! I went through a very similar situation last year - my employer also made a date error that led to my PFL claim being denied initially. Here's what worked for me: **My timeline**: Filed appeal on a Tuesday, got approved 5 weeks later with full backpay. The waiting was absolutely horrible but so worth it in the end. **What I think helped speed things up**: - Called within 48 hours of filing to request expedited processing due to "new mother recovering from c-section" - be specific about your medical situation - Included a simple cover letter with my appeal explaining the employer error in bullet points - Attached copies of my final 3 paystubs AND a screenshot of my online pay portal showing my actual last day worked - Called every Thursday morning for status updates (Thursdays seemed to be when I got through fastest) **Survival tip**: While waiting, I signed up for local Buy Nothing groups and mom swap groups on Facebook. Other parents were SO generous with baby supplies, which helped stretch our budget during those awful waiting weeks. The employer date discrepancy issue seems really common and has a very high success rate on appeal from what I've seen. Your documentation sounds solid - you've got this! Don't let them pressure you into going back early when you're still healing from major surgery. You've paid into this system and deserve every day of leave you're entitled to. Sending you strength during this frustrating process! 💕

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation while trying to recover from your c-section and bond with your new baby! 💕 The EDD system really fails new parents when we need support the most. I went through a similar employer date error appeal last year and wanted to share what helped me get through it successfully: **My timeline**: 4.5 weeks from filing to approval with full backpay **Key strategies that seemed to help**: - Filed the appeal immediately (don't wait - you only have 30 days!) - Called the day after filing to request expedited processing for "postpartum recovery from c-section" - being specific about your medical situation helps - Kept my appeal letter to one page with clear bullet points explaining the employer error - Included copies of my last 3 pay stubs AND asked my supervisor for a signed statement acknowledging the mistake - Called every Monday at 8 AM for status updates - early morning seemed to get me through faster **Practical survival tips while waiting**: - Applied for WIC benefits to help with groceries - Joined local Buy Nothing groups for baby supplies - Asked family/friends to meal train through the waiting period The employer date error is one of the most common appeal issues and has a very high success rate - probably 85-90% approval rate from what I've seen in various mom groups. Your documentation sounds solid! Please don't let their bureaucratic mess pressure you into returning to work early when you're still healing from major surgery. You've paid into this system and deserve every day of leave you're entitled to. The waiting is absolutely brutal, but it's worth fighting for your recovery time and precious bonding moments with your little one. You've got this, mama! Stay strong and don't give up! 💪❤️

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare while trying to recover from your c-section! I just went through the exact same situation 6 months ago - employer date error, PFL denial, the whole mess. My appeal took about 5 weeks total and I was approved with full backpay. Here's what I learned that might help: **File your appeal ASAP** - you only have 30 days and the clock is ticking! When you call to confirm they received it, ask specifically for expedited processing due to "postpartum recovery from emergency c-section requiring extended healing time." **Documentation that helped me**: - Simple one-page appeal letter with bullet points explaining the employer error - Copies of my last 4 pay stubs clearly showing my actual last work date - A signed letter from my manager acknowledging their mistake - Screenshot of my employee portal showing correct employment dates **Practical tip**: Call every Tuesday morning around 8:30 AM for status updates. I found Tuesday mornings had the shortest wait times. The financial stress while waiting was awful, but looking back, it was 100% worth fighting for. You deserve this recovery time, especially after an emergency c-section! Don't let their incompetence pressure you into returning before you're ready. Also, join some local Buy Nothing groups on Facebook - other moms were incredibly generous with baby supplies while I was waiting for my appeal, which really helped stretch our budget. You've got solid documentation and employer date errors have a very high success rate on appeal. Hang in there mama - you've got this! 💪💕