EDD denied PFL claim for late filing, but SDI approved - Help!
Hey everyone, I'm having some issues with my EDD claim for bonding leave. They denied it saying I filed past the 41-day grace period from my parental leave start date. They also mentioned the leave start date was incorrect based on their review. My baby was born in early September, and I went back to work late October. The weird thing is, my SDI part of the PFL was approved, but they denied the EDD bonding leave benefits. Has anyone dealt with something similar? Any advice on how to handle this when I talk to them?
27 comments


Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve EDD bonding leave claim denial, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yynLTAPAvpU
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Connor O'Brien
Ugh, the EDD system is such a mess. I had a similar issue with my claim. Have you tried explaining to them that your SDI was approved? Sometimes different departments don't communicate well.
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StarSailor
•Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely mention that when I talk to them. It's frustrating how disorganized they can be 😤
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Yara Sabbagh
•Yeah, I second this. Make sure you have all your approval docs for the SDI part when you call. It might help speed things up.
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Keisha Johnson
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone! I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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Paolo Rizzo
•Sounds too good to be true. Does it really work? $20 seems steep just to make a phone call.
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Keisha Johnson
•I was skeptical too, but it actually worked for me. Saved me hours of hold time. Worth it if you're desperate to talk to someone.
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QuantumQuest
•How long did it take for them to call you back?
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Keisha Johnson
•It took about 2 hours for me, but I've heard it can vary. Still faster than trying to get through on your own tho!
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Amina Sy
Here's what you need to do: 1. Gather all your documents: birth certificate, work return date proof, SDI approval letter. 2. Write down a clear timeline of events (birth date, when you filed, when you returned to work). 3. Call EDD and calmly explain the situation. Emphasize that SDI was approved. 4. Ask them to review the dates again and explain any discrepancies. 5. If they still deny, ask about the appeal process. 6. Consider getting help from your local assemblyperson's office. They can sometimes expedite EDD issues. Don't give up! The system is confusing but keep pushing. Good luck!
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StarSailor
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed advice! I'll definitely follow these steps. Really appreciate you taking the time to write this out 🙏
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Oliver Fischer
•This is solid advice. I'd add: keep a log of every call you make, including date, time, and name of who you spoke to. It can help if you need to escalate later.
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Natasha Petrova
lol welcome to the wonderful world of EDD 🤡 where nothing makes sense and the rules change daily
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Javier Morales
Have you checked if there were any recent policy changes? Sometimes they update rules and don't communicate well. Might be worth looking into.
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StarSailor
•I haven't thought of that. Do you know where I can find info on recent policy changes?
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Javier Morales
•Try the EDD website under 'News and Updates' or 'Recent Changes'. Sometimes they bury it tho, so you might have to dig a bit.
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Emma Davis
Ive been dealing with EDD for 6 months now. its a nightmare. keep all your docs, call everyday, and dont take no for an answer. your in for a long ride buddy
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GalaxyGlider
•6 months?! That's insane. The system is so broken 😡
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Emma Davis
•tell me about it. feels like a full time job just dealing with them
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Malik Robinson
Pro tip: If you can't get anywhere with the regular reps, ask to speak to a tier 2 specialist. They usually have more authority to actually fix issues.
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Isabella Silva
Anyone else think its weird that SDI was approved but EDD denied? Arent they basically the same thing?
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Ravi Choudhury
•They're related but different programs. SDI is for the initial disability period after birth, PFL (through EDD) is for the bonding time. But yeah, you'd think they'd communicate better!
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Isabella Silva
•Ah gotcha. Learn something new everyday! Still seems like a mess tho
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Freya Andersen
Have you tried reaching out to your HR department? Sometimes they can help navigate these issues or provide documentation that EDD will accept.
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Abby Marshall
I went through something similar last year! The key thing that helped me was getting a supervisor on the phone and walking them through the timeline step by step. Make sure you emphasize that your SDI was already approved - that's proof that your dates and eligibility were valid. Also, double-check what date they have on file as your "leave start date" vs what you actually reported. Sometimes there's a data entry error on their end that causes the whole 41-day calculation to be wrong. Don't let them brush you off - if the first person can't help, politely ask for a supervisor or specialist who can review your case more thoroughly.
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Dominic Green
•This is super helpful advice! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you spoke to the supervisor, or was the SDI approval enough to prove your case? Also, how long did it take for them to fix the issue once you got through to someone who could actually help?
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QuantumQuasar
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! EDD denied my PFL claim saying I filed late, but like you, my SDI was already approved. It's so frustrating because you'd think if one part of the system approved it, the other would too. I've been trying to get through to someone for weeks but keep getting stuck in phone hell. Has anyone had luck with the appeal process, or is it better to just keep calling until you get someone who actually understands the system? The whole thing feels like they're set up to deny claims on technicalities rather than actually help parents who need support during bonding time.
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