EDD denied my SDI claim due to PFL overlap - How to fix?
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle with my EDD claims. I accidentally filed for PFL right after having my baby, but now I can't get SDI for those first 6-8 weeks postpartum. The EDD denied my SDI claim saying I can't be eligible for both programs on the same days. Has anyone dealt with this before? Any advice on how to fix this mess?
50 comments


Hiroshi Nakamura
Ugh, the EDD system is such a nightmare! I had a similar issue last year. Have you tried calling them to explain the situation? Sometimes you can get lucky and find a helpful agent who can adjust the dates for you.
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GamerGirl99
•I've been trying to call for days but can never get through 😫 It's so frustrating!
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Isabella Costa
•Pro tip: call right when they open. I got through after only 30 mins on hold that way!
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GamerGirl99
•Thanks for the tip! I'll give that a shot tomorrow morning 🙏
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Malik Jenkins
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone! I used this site called claimyr.com - it's a calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, and then connects you when a live agent picks up. It costs $20, but it worked for me. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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Freya Andersen
•Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Eduardo Silva
•Idk man, paying to get through to a government agency? Seems sketchy af 🤔
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Malik Jenkins
•I get the skepticism, but it seriously worked for me. Saved me hours of frustration. Just sharing what helped me out!
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Leila Haddad
•How long did it take for them to get someone on the line?
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Malik Jenkins
•It took about 2 hours, but I didn't have to sit there listening to hold music. They just called me when an agent was on the line.
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Carmen Vega
Ugh, the EDD system is such a nightmare! I had a similar issue last year. Have you tried calling them to see if you can adjust your PFL dates? Sometimes they can be flexible if you explain the situation.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to get through on the phone for days with no luck. It's so frustrating 😫
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Andre Rousseau
•Pro tip: call right when they open. I usually have better luck getting through that way!
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Good idea, I'll give that a shot tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed 🤞
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Emma Johnson
Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the EDD and ask to speak with a Tier 2 specialist. 2. Explain that you made a mistake in filing PFL before SDI. 3. Request to have your PFL claim cancelled or adjusted. 4. File a new SDI claim for the initial 6-8 weeks postpartum. 5. Then file a new PFL claim for the remaining weeks. It's crucial to be persistent and polite. Document everything, including who you spoke to and when. If they can't help over the phone, ask about filing an appeal or requesting a hearing. Good luck!
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GamerGirl99
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed advice! I'll definitely follow these steps. Fingers crossed it works out 🤞
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Ravi Patel
•This is solid advice. I work in HR and have seen this work for employees in similar situations.
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Zoe Stavros
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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Jamal Harris
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?
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Zoe Stavros
•I was skeptical at first too, but it really worked for me. Saved me hours of frustration!
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GalaxyGlider
•How long did you have to wait for the callback?
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Zoe Stavros
•It took about 2 hours for me, but it was way better than being stuck on hold myself.
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Astrid Bergström
have you tried faxing them? i know it sounds crazy in 2023 but sometimes that gets faster results than calling or emailing lol
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Mei Wong
Here's what you need to know about SDI and PFL claims: • SDI typically covers the first 6-8 weeks after childbirth (longer for c-sections) • PFL is usually taken after SDI ends • You can't receive both SDI and PFL for the same period • If you filed PFL first, you might have accidentally used up your SDI-eligible time Your best bet is to contact EDD and ask if they can retroactively adjust your claim dates. Explain that you made a mistake and didn't realize the proper order. They might be able to cancel the PFL claim for the first 6-8 weeks and replace it with SDI. If you can't get through on the phone, try sending a message through your online account or even a written letter explaining the situation. Be persistent and keep trying different methods of contact. Good luck!
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed explanation! This really helps me understand what went wrong. I'll definitely try contacting them to see if they can adjust the dates.
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Liam Sullivan
•This is great info! Wish I had known this before I had my baby last year 😩
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Amara Okafor
have you tried faxing them? sometimes old school methods work better with these dinosaur agencies lol
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PixelPrincess
OMG I'm literally going through the exact same thing rn! Following this thread for advice. Solidarity, mama! 💪👶
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GamerGirl99
•Ugh, I'm sorry you're dealing with this too! Let me know if you figure anything out and I'll do the same!
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Giovanni Colombo
OMG I'm in the exact same boat! Following this thread for advice. The EDD system is such a joke 🤡
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Ugh, sorry you're dealing with this too! It's so stressful, right? Let me know if you find any solutions!
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
Hot take: the whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose so fewer people get benefits. Change my mind. 🤔
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StarStrider
•100% agree. It's all about saving money for the state 💯
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Dylan Campbell
•Idk man, never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence 🤷♂️
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Sofia Torres
Have you considered reaching out to your local state representative? Sometimes they can help cut through the red tape with state agencies.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•That's a great idea, I hadn't even thought of that! I'll look up my rep's contact info. Thanks!
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Omar Farouk
This is why we need better parental leave policies in this country. The fact that new parents have to jump through all these hoops just to get basic support is ridiculous. 🤬
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Chloe Martin
•Preach! 👏👏👏
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Diego Fernández
•For real. My cousin in Canada just had a baby and gets a whole year off, fully paid. Meanwhile we're over here fighting with EDD for scraps 🙄
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
Have you considered reaching out to your local state representative? Sometimes their office can help navigate these bureaucratic nightmares.
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Dmitry Sokolov
pro tip: document EVERYTHING. every call, every letter, every online message. You never know when youll need that paper trail
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Ava Martinez
Unpopular opinion: maybe we should just get rid of these complicated government programs and let people save for their own leave 🤷♀️
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Miguel Ramos
•Yeah, because everyone can totally afford to save up thousands of dollars while also paying rent in this economy 🙄
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Ava Martinez
•Fair point. The system definitely needs an overhaul either way.
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QuantumQuasar
sending positive vibes your way, OP! dealing with bureaucracy while taking care of a newborn is the worst. you got this! 💪👶
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Thank you so much! It really helps to have some support ❤️
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Admin_Masters
I went through something similar last year! The key is getting to a Tier 2 specialist who actually understands the system. When you do get through, ask them specifically about "correcting the benefit period dates" - that's the magic phrase that worked for me. They were able to retroactively cancel my PFL claim for the first 6 weeks and convert it to SDI, then I filed a new PFL claim for the remaining time. It took about 3 weeks to process, but I got backpay for everything. Don't give up! The system is broken but there are people there who can fix individual cases.
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Owen Devar
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you for sharing your experience and that magic phrase - "correcting the benefit period dates." I'm going to write that down and use it when I finally get through to someone. It's so reassuring to know that someone else went through this and actually got it resolved. Three weeks seems totally reasonable given everything I've been dealing with. Really appreciate you taking the time to share the specifics of what worked! 🙏
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Toot-n-Mighty
I actually had success getting through to EDD by calling the Spanish language line (even though I don't speak Spanish) - they transferred me to an English speaker and the wait was only about 45 minutes compared to the 3+ hours I was spending on the regular line. Might be worth a try! Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready before you call - they'll want your claim numbers, dates, and be able to explain exactly what happened. I've heard they're more helpful when you come prepared with specific details rather than just saying "I messed up my claim." Good luck mama! 🍀
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StormChaser
•Wow, that's such a clever workaround with the Spanish line! I never would have thought of that. And you're absolutely right about being prepared - I've been so flustered during my attempts that I probably sound scattered. I'm going to gather all my paperwork, write down exactly what happened with dates, and try your Spanish line trick. Thanks for the practical tips! 🙏
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