EDD sent overpayment notice after combining split baby bonding PFL claims - what should I do?

The EXACT thing happened to me last year!!! EDD's system is SO broken when it comes to split baby bonding. I appealed the overpayment notice and it was a NIGHTMARE. Took 5 months to resolve and they kept sending threatening letters. If I could do it again, I would've just paid back the overpayment and filed a new claim. The stress wasn't worth it.

This is actually a common issue with split PFL claims. The system isn't designed well for this scenario despite it being completely legal to split your baby bonding time. You have two options: 1. Pay the overpayment now, then immediately file a new claim for your remaining weeks. This is fastest but requires you to have the money upfront. 2. Appeal with a detailed explanation that you always intended to split your claim, showing you were planning the second period all along. Include any documentation proving this was your original plan (emails about parent visits, employer notifications, etc). Option 1 is faster but requires cash flow. Option 2 is slower but preserves your finances if you succeed.

Im pretty sure u can take baby bonding anytime in the first yr so ud be fine filing again. But their sytems suck i wouldnt be surprised if they mess it up again tbh

I spent TWO MONTHS calling EDD daily about a similar overpayment issue (though mine was related to transitioning from pregnancy disability to baby bonding). I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they connected me to an actual human at EDD within 30 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The EDD rep explained that their system automatically pays out the full entitlement unless specific coding is added to the claim. She was able to add notes to my account explaining the situation and helped me set up a proper payment plan while my appeal was processed.

The same thing happened with my maternity leave!! I had to pay back $2,800 and then refile. It was a huge hassle. Make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING and take screenshots of all your EDD account pages before they disappear. When you call (if you can ever get through) ask for a tier 2 specialist specifically - the regular reps don't understand split claims.

Let me clarify how baby bonding PFL is supposed to work when splitting time: 1. You're entitled to 8 weeks total for baby bonding 2. You can split these weeks however you want within the first year 3. Each separate claim period requires a new claim form (DE2508) 4. You must clearly indicate on each form that this is a partial claim of your total entitlement What likely happened is the system didn't have the proper coding for a partial claim on your first application. When you appeal, provide documentation showing your original intent to split the time. Include a timeline of when you initially planned each leave period and any communication with your employer about your plans. This is fixable but does require persistence with EDD.

DONT APPEAL!!!! Seriously, I tried that route and regretted it. My overpayment kept accruing interest during the appeal process, and when I finally gave up and decided to pay, the amount was way higher. Just pay it back now and file a new claim. Much cleaner.

Update: I tried calling EDD for 2 days straight and couldn't get through. Used the Claimyr service mentioned above and was connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes! The rep explained that my original DE2508 should have specified it was only for partial benefits. She said the fastest solution is to repay the overpayment (which stops any potential penalties) and immediately file a new claim for the remaining weeks, specifically noting it's the second portion of my baby bonding benefit. She put notes in my account to help prevent confusion with the new claim. Thanks everyone for the help!

Great update! I'm so relieved you got through to someone who actually understood the situation. The Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver - I've been putting off calling EDD about my own issues because I dreaded the wait times. Quick question: when you file the new claim, are you planning to explicitly mention the previous overpayment and repayment in your application, or just let the notes the rep added to your account speak for themselves? I'm curious how transparent you need to be when filing the second claim to avoid any red flags in their system.

This is exactly why I always recommend documenting EVERYTHING when dealing with EDD! For anyone else reading this who might face a similar situation, here are some key takeaways from this thread: 1. Keep detailed records of your original intent to split claims (emails to employer, calendar entries, family visit plans, etc.) 2. Screenshot your EDD account regularly - claims can disappear without warning 3. When filing for partial benefits, be extremely explicit about it being "X weeks of Y total weeks entitled" 4. If you get an overpayment notice, act quickly - don't let it sit while you figure out what to do 5. The Claimyr service seems to be a game-changer for actually reaching EDD reps @Lim Wong - smart move being transparent on your new claim. That approach should prevent any fraud flags from popping up. Hopefully this whole mess gets resolved quickly for you!