EDD PFL caregiver claim stuck in 'drafts' with no receipt number - help?

The same exact thing happened to me last month when I was applying for PFL to care for my mom. The draft issue is usually one of two problems: either you missed filling out a required field that doesn't show as obviously required, OR there's a browser compatibility issue. Try these steps: 1. Use Google Chrome instead of Safari or Firefox if you aren't already 2. Clear your browser cache and cookies 3. Go through EACH section again and look for tiny asterisks indicating required fields 4. Pay special attention to the employment history section - sometimes there's a hidden validation error there 5. Try submitting during non-peak hours (early morning or late evening) If none of that works, you'll unfortunately need to call EDD directly. The online system has been extra glitchy since they updated it in January 2025.

omg the same thing hapened to me!!!! i think its because the system is broken cause of all the people applying. my sister had this problem too and she ended up having to send in a PAPER application can u believe that??? in 2025??? so ridiculous. good luck!!!!

This is actually a known issue with the EDD online portal when submitting caregiver claims specifically. The system was updated to handle the new 10-week caregiving benefits that started in 2025, but they didn't properly integrate it with the submission confirmation system. What's likely happening is that your claim IS actually submitted despite not getting a confirmation number. Here's how to check: 1. Log out completely from your EDD account 2. Wait about 30 minutes (their system processes in batches) 3. Log back in and check under "Claim History" not "Drafts" 4. If nothing appears there, try the "Messages" section - sometimes the system sends you a message with your claim details If after 24 hours you don't see any evidence your claim was processed, you absolutely need to call EDD. The problem is their phone lines are perpetually jammed.

I know its not the same but when I filed for baby bonding PFL last month the website kept crashing when I hit submit. I wasted 3 DAYS trying to get through on the phone lines and kept getting disconnected. Literally called over 50 times. So frustrating! I finally used a service called Claimyr that connected me to an EDD agent in like 15 minutes. Cost money but saved my sanity. The agent fixed the glitch on their end and processed my claim while I was on the phone. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 and their website is claimyr.com. Good luck!

The EDD online system is completely BROKEN and nobody in Sacramento wants to admit it!!! I had the EXACT same problem with my caregiving claim for my mother last month - stuck in drafts forever! I ended up having to submit a paper application AND call them AND file a complaint online before anything happened. And then they had the NERVE to backdate my claim and say I filed LATE even though I'd been trying to submit for WEEKS!!! The whole system is designed to make us give up. I'm still fighting with them about the reduced benefit amount. My advice? Document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of your draft submission attempts with timestamps. Send the paper application via certified mail. Call and get names of representatives. This system is designed to frustrate us out of claiming benefits WE PAID FOR through our taxes!!!

Quick follow-up question - when you're trying to submit, are you getting any specific error message? Or does it just not do anything when you click the submit button? Also, have you verified that all your supporting documentation (especially the medical certification form) is properly attached? Sometimes the system silently fails if documents aren't correctly uploaded.

Based on your description, this is almost certainly a server-side issue rather than something you're doing wrong. Unfortunately, the only real solution is to get an EDD representative on the phone who can manually process your claim or clear whatever technical flag is preventing submission. Make sure when you do reach someone, you specifically ask them to: 1. Look up your draft application in their system (they can see drafts) 2. Manually convert the draft to a submitted claim 3. Provide you with a confirmation number before ending the call 4. Note in your file that you attempted to submit multiple times through the online portal This documentation will protect you if there are any questions about your filing date. For caregiving claims, timely filing is especially important since benefits can't be paid for periods more than 30 days before the filing date.

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend documenting everything when dealing with EDD - their system issues are unfortunately common but at least the representatives can usually fix things manually when you finally reach them. For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues, another tip is to try submitting your claim at different times of day. I've noticed the system tends to be more stable early in the morning (like 6-8 AM) or late at night after 10 PM when fewer people are using it. The midday hours seem to be when most of the glitches happen. Hope your dad's recovery goes smoothly!

Thank you all for this incredibly helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar issue right now - my PFL claim for bonding with my newborn has been stuck in drafts for over a week. After reading through everyone's experiences, I'm going to try the early morning submission approach first, and if that doesn't work, I'll look into that Claimyr service. It's so frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops when we're already dealing with stressful family situations, but I really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions and workarounds. @Zainab Mahmoud - so happy you got your claim sorted out and that your dad can get the care he needs! This community is a lifesaver.