EDD PFL claim stuck in 'Pending Processing' after 8 weeks - who to contact for help?

Yes! Absolutely contact your state assembly member's office ASAP. I was in almost the exact same situation in January - my claim was stuck pending for 7 weeks after giving birth. Assembly member's office got it fixed in 5 days after I'd been trying for weeks on my own. Google "[your city] california state assembly" to find your representative. Every assembly member has staff dedicated to helping constituents with EDD issues. They have direct lines to EDD that regular people don't have access to. You'll need to fill out a privacy release form so they can discuss your claim, but they'll send you that. Keep calling the PFL line too though. Sometimes just getting through to anyone can help move things along.

OMG the EXACT same thing happened to me!!! my baby is almost 4 months now and i waited 9 weeks with pending status before i got paid. EDD is a NIGHTMARE this year. i called literally HUNDREDS of times. so frustrating!!

This is unfortunately very common with EDD PFL claims in 2025. The system is overwhelmed due to staffing shortages and increased claims volume. Here are the most effective escalation options in order of effectiveness: 1. State Assembly/Senate member (as mentioned above) 2. EDD Ombudsperson's Office: 1-866-401-2849 3. File a formal complaint through the EDD website 4. Contact the Governor's Office of Constituent Services When you do get through to someone, request expedited processing due to financial hardship. Be prepared to provide documentation showing your financial need (overdue bills, etc). Also important: continue certifying for benefits even while your claim is pending. Many claimants make the mistake of waiting for approval before certifying, which further delays payment.

Try using Claimyr to get through to an actual EDD agent. I was in your same position last month and spent days trying to get through on the phone with no luck. Claimyr got me through to a live person in about 10 minutes who was able to escalate my claim. Cost a bit but worth every penny given how much money was held up. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 and their website is claimyr.com. The agent I spoke with was able to flag my claim as urgent once I explained my financial situation.

Sorry your going through this!! The EDD system is BROKEN!! i had to borrow money from my parents while waiting for my pFL $$. Try emailing them thru the portal too - sometimes different approaches work for different people. And DOCUMENT EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you talked to, etc. You might need it if you have to appeal anything later.

One thing to check - did you properly transition from SDI to PFL? A lot of claims get stuck in "pending processing" when there's a gap between disability ending and PFL starting. If you had pregnancy disability, there needs to be a clean handoff between the two claims. Sometimes you need to call and explicitly request them to link the claims. Also, login to your account and check if there are any outstanding forms or certifications needed. The system doesn't always notify you when something is missing.

my sister works for edd (not pfl dept) and she says internally theyre telling employees 10-12 week processing times right now!!! they lost a bunch of staff and haven't replaced them. its criminal how they treat new parents imho

Update to my earlier comment: When you contact your Assembly member, include: 1. Your full name 2. EDD Customer Account Number 3. Last 4 of SSN 4. Date you filed for PFL 5. Brief description of issue 6. Phone number where EDD can reach you This speeds up their ability to help you. Also, make sure your phone accepts calls from unknown/blocked numbers since EDD often calls from blocked numbers.

For anyone in a similar situation: if you're experiencing severe financial hardship due to delayed PFL benefits, you can also request an expedited hardship review. Call the main PFL number and specifically say "financial hardship expedite request" when you reach a representative. Be prepared to explain your situation and possibly provide documentation of your hardship (eviction notice, utility shutoff, etc). While not guaranteed, hardship requests can sometimes move your claim to the front of the processing queue.

UPDATE: Assembly member's office got back to me this morning! They have a dedicated EDD liaison who's already reached out to the department on my behalf. They said typical resolution time is 7-10 business days, which isn't ideal but better than nothing. I'm also going to try Claimyr tomorrow to see if I can get through directly. Will update when I have news. Thanks everyone for your help during this stressful time!

This whole thread is so helpful - thank you everyone! I'm actually dealing with something similar but for caring for my sick father (family caregiving PFL). Been waiting 6 weeks now with no updates. @Danielle Campbell definitely keep us posted on how the Assembly member route works out! And the Claimyr suggestion is interesting - I had no idea services like that existed. One thing I wanted to add: if anyone else is reading this and hasn't filed yet, make sure to submit your claim as early as possible. I made the mistake of waiting until I actually needed to start taking time off work, but apparently you can file up to 41 days before your leave actually begins. Wish I had known that earlier! Also seeing a lot of people mention calling - has anyone had luck with the live chat feature in the EDD portal? Sometimes it's easier to get through that way than phone calls.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress with a newborn! I went through something similar last year and wanted to share what finally worked for me. In addition to contacting your Assembly member (which is definitely the right move), try reaching out to your local media outlets - especially if they have consumer advocate segments. I contacted my local ABC affiliate's "7 On Your Side" team and they actually did a story about EDD delays. Within 48 hours of the story airing, my claim was suddenly processed and I received all back payments. Local news stations LOVE these David vs. Goliath government bureaucracy stories, especially when it involves new parents. They often have direct contacts at EDD for these exact situations. Also, document everything with screenshots and keep a detailed log of all your attempts to contact EDD. If you end up needing to file an appeal or complaint later, this documentation will be crucial. Hang in there - the money will come eventually, but I know that doesn't help with immediate expenses. Consider reaching out to local food banks or community assistance programs in the meantime if you need help with basics while waiting for this to resolve.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue - filed my PFL claim 7 weeks ago for bonding with my adopted daughter and it's still showing "Pending Processing." The financial stress is unreal! One thing that's helped me stay somewhat sane is setting up a daily routine of checking different contact methods. I call the main PFL line first thing in the morning (usually get busy signal), then try the live chat around lunch, and check the portal for any updates in the evening. It's exhausting but at least I feel like I'm doing something. I also started a shared Google doc with other parents in my area who are dealing with EDD delays - we share tips on when we've gotten through, which representatives were helpful, etc. If anyone wants to join something like that, it really helps to not feel so alone in this mess. The Assembly member route sounds promising - definitely going to try that next. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions. It's terrible that we have to become advocates just to get benefits we're entitled to, but at least we can help each other through it!

I'm going through something very similar right now - my PFL claim for bonding with my newborn son has been stuck in "Pending Processing" for 6 weeks. The financial stress is overwhelming, especially with all the new baby expenses piling up. One thing I discovered that might help: if you have any documentation from your doctor or employer about your leave dates, make sure EDD has received it. My claim got delayed because they were missing my physician's certification form, but the system never actually notified me it was missing. I only found out when I finally got through to someone on the phone. Also, I've been calling the PFL line at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - seems like there's a slightly better chance of getting through in that first hour before the lines get completely jammed. Still took me dozens of tries, but I did eventually reach a human who at least confirmed my claim was in the system. The Assembly member suggestion from others here is definitely worth trying. I'm planning to contact mine this week too. It's ridiculous that new parents have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits we've paid into, but we have to do whatever works. Hang in there - you're not alone in this mess!

This entire thread is so validating - I thought I was going crazy dealing with EDD's complete lack of communication! I'm currently at week 5 of "Pending Processing" for my maternity bonding leave and reading everyone's experiences has been both helpful and terrifying. A few things I've learned from my own research that might help others: 1. The EDD Disability Insurance (DI) phone line (1-800-480-3287) sometimes has shorter wait times than the main PFL number, and they can still look up your claim status and escalate if needed. 2. If you're on social media, try reaching out to @CA_EDD on Twitter with your situation. They have a team that monitors social media complaints and sometimes respond faster than traditional channels. 3. Keep detailed records of every interaction - date, time, who you spoke with, what they said. I started doing this after my third week and wish I'd done it from day one. The Assembly member route seems to be getting the best results based on this thread. I'm contacting mine tomorrow morning. It's absolutely insane that we have to escalate to elected officials just to get basic government services, but here we are. Thank you to everyone sharing their experiences and tips. This community support means everything when you're feeling helpless in the face of government bureaucracy!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! I'm currently going through something very similar - my PFL claim has been stuck in "Pending Processing" for 9 weeks now for bonding with my newborn twin girls. The stress of not knowing when (or if) the money will come while trying to care for newborns is absolutely devastating. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and validating. I had no idea so many parents were dealing with the exact same delays. A few additional things that have helped me: 1. I started calling the PFL line using an auto-dialer app on my phone so I don't have to sit there manually redialing dozens of times. It just keeps trying in the background while I can do other things. 2. I've been documenting everything in a spreadsheet - not just calls but also portal screenshots, dates I certified, everything. My husband thinks I'm obsessive but I have a feeling we'll need this documentation eventually. 3. Someone in my new mom's group mentioned filing a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs if EDD doesn't resolve the issue within a reasonable timeframe. Apparently they have authority to investigate government agency failures. The Assembly member route definitely seems like the most promising option based on everyone's experiences here. I'm contacting mine first thing Monday morning. It's absolutely criminal that new parents have to jump through all these hoops while caring for newborns, but we have to do whatever works. Hang in there - you're definitely not alone in this mess! Please keep us updated on your progress, especially with the Assembly member's office.