EDD PFL claim stuck in 'pending' for 6 weeks - helpless reps just file incident reports

YES! The exact same thing happened to me. My PFL claim was stuck for almost 8 weeks with no explanation. Every time I called they said "everything looks good" but no one could tell me WHY it wasn't moving forward. I filed my claim right after my pregnancy disability ended and it was like it fell into a black hole. The incident reports are just their way of getting you off the phone 😡

This is unfortunately pretty common with PFL claims in 2025, especially for baby bonding after pregnancy disability. There's a technical issue with how their system handles the transition. What worked for me was to ask specifically for a "specialized claim reviewer" rather than accepting the incident report. They won't offer this option unless you specifically request it. When you call, immediately say you need your claim escalated to a specialized reviewer because multiple incident reports have been filed without resolution.

incident reports DO NOTHING!!! i filed 6 of them over 2 months and litterally nothing happened. its just their way of getting u off the phone. they dont even read them probably. system is completely broken on purpose so they dont have to pay ppl. my claim was stuck for 10 weeks and i almost got evicted.

So I was stuck in the same situation with my baby bonding claim a few months ago, and after 5 weeks of incident reports I finally found a solution. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual EDD specialist in about 25 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. The rep I reached was able to find my claim was stuck in some weird automated review loop and manually pushed it through. The service costs money but they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. Literally within 48 hours after that call, my claim was processed and payment was issued. Worth every penny when you're desperate and need your benefits.

I had this problem too! My baby bonding claim sat in pending for like 7 weeks. What I discovered is that sometimes they need additional documents but the system doesn't flag it properly? Like my employer verification was received but got filed under the wrong category or something. Have you checked your EDD account online to see if there's any notice about needed documents? Sometimes they don't show up in the main notifications and you have to dig around.

This is a known issue with the EDD system, particularly for PFL claims that follow Pregnancy Disability Leave. Here's what's happening technically: when you transition from disability to PFL, your claim needs to be manually reviewed and approved by a special unit. This unit is severely backlogged in 2025. Here's what you should do: 1. Request to speak with a Tier 2 specialist (not just any representative) 2. Ask them to check the "RTAA status code" on your claim - if it shows code 310 or 320, that confirms it's stuck in the transition queue 3. Request an "urgent financial hardship review" which can expedite claims by 5-7 business days 4. Make sure to mention you've already had multiple incident reports filed without resolution 5. If possible, have documentation of financial hardship (late rent notice, utility shut-off warning, etc.) The key is being extremely specific in your requests. General incident reports rarely get prioritized.

My sister-in-law works for EDD (not in claims processing though) and she told me they're massively understaffed right now. Apparently a bunch of people quit after that new system update in February and they haven't replaced them all. She said the claims that get attention are the ones with state representatives involved - like if you contact your state assembly person. They have liaisons who can push claims through faster.

my neighbor said her claim was stuck too but then just randomly went through after like two months so maybe it'll just suddenly fix itself? she never figured out what happened it was just suddenly approved one day

Have you verified that your employer properly completed and submitted their portion of the claim? In my experience working with many employees on PFL claims, this is often the hidden issue. The EDD representatives can see that the claim was filed but might not notice that the employer portion is incomplete. I would suggest contacting your HR department to confirm they've submitted everything required for your PFL claim.

UPDATE: Based on all your helpful suggestions, I called this morning and specifically asked for a Tier 2 specialist. After explaining I'd had multiple incident reports filed without resolution, they transferred me to someone who actually knew what they were doing! The specialist confirmed my claim had code 320 (stuck in transition review) and escalated it with an urgent financial hardship flag. She said I should see movement within 72 hours instead of the usual weeks-long wait. I'll update again when I hear something. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help!