EDD PFL specialist not answering calls - might have to cancel paternity leave

same exact thing happened to us!! specialist never called us back either, we kept calling for 3 weeks and nothing. finally got through by calling the main EDD number at exactly 8:00am and hitting 0 instead of trying the specialist number. good luck!!

EDD PFL is LITERALLY THE WORST!!! I had the exact same problem in May when I was trying to transition from pregnancy disability to baby bonding. Got that stupid letter saying to call a specialist, and when I finally got through after two weeks of trying, the person had no idea why I was even told to call!! Turns out there was just a simple form missing that nobody bothered to tell me about until I threatened to file a complaint. The system is BROKEN!! They act like new parents have all the time in the world to sit around calling them all day. It's ridiculous!

This is unfortunately very common with PFL claims right now. The department is severely understaffed, especially in the specialist units. Here's what you need to do: 1. First, check your online account to see if there's a specific issue flagged on your claim. Sometimes they need additional documentation but the letter doesn't specify. 2. Try calling the main EDD number (1-800-480-3287) instead of the specialist number. Press 1 for English, then 2 for PFL, then 4 for claim questions. Do this right at 8:00am. 3. If you received an award letter, that means the claim was approved in principle but something is holding up payment. This is usually fixable. 4. Don't have your husband return to work yet if possible - PFL is a benefit he's entitled to, and they WILL backpay all weeks once the issue is resolved. The specialist probably needs to verify something simple like identity or employment details. Hang in there!

My wife had a baby in April and i had the same problem with my PFL claim i was about to give up too but my brother told me to try Claimyr.com to get through to EDD. It costs money but it worked and i got connected to a real person in like 5 minutes!! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The EDD agent i talked to fixed my claim right away and my payment came 3 days later. might be worth trying if u keep hitting dead ends

I'm currently on maternity leave, and I noticed that the specialists are more likely to answer on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for some reason? Monday and Friday seem to be the worst days to call. Also, have you been checking your UI Online account daily? Sometimes they'll update your claim status there without actually calling you back. I'd also recommend checking if your husband's employer submitted all the required documentation. When I first applied for my baby bonding claim, there was a delay because my HR department hadn't responded to EDD's employment verification request. Might be worth having him check with his workplace if they received anything from EDD.

One thing to know about PFL for baby bonding is that there are specific timelines that must be followed. Since your husband started his leave on August 9th, he should have applied for PFL ideally before that date, but no later than 41 days after starting leave. The letter requesting a call to a specialist typically indicates there's either missing information or a potential issue with the claim. Common reasons include: 1. Incomplete medical provider certification 2. Employment verification issues 3. Identity verification needs 4. Potential overlap with SDI benefits 5. Incomplete bonding documentation (birth certificate, etc.) If you received the benefit amount letter, that's actually a good sign - it means the claim was initially processed. The payment is likely pending the resolution of whatever issue the specialist needs to discuss. Did you receive any specific form numbers on the letter? That might provide a clue about what's holding up the payment.

just wanted to say dont give up!!! my husband almost went back to work too when we were waiting for his baby bonding pay but we finally got through and they fixed it and paid everything including backpay. the system sucks but dont let them cheat you out of your benefits!!

By the way, make sure you're calling between 8am-5pm Pacific time. I know this sounds obvious but I've talked to people who were calling outside business hours and wondering why no one answered. Also, do you have any friends or family members who could help by calling on different phones at the same time? Sometimes that increases your chances of getting through.

UPDATE: We finally got through!!! Used the Claimyr service that someone recommended here and got connected to an EDD agent in about 10 minutes. Turns out there was a simple issue - they needed additional identity verification because my husband has a new address that didn't match his previous tax records. The specialist processed it right away and said payments should start processing within 5-7 business days, with full backpay. Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions. This has been such a stressful experience but I'm relieved it's finally getting resolved!