FMLA filing follow-up: No response, what to do?
Hey everyone, I'm having some trouble with my FMLA filing. I submitted it a while ago and haven't heard anything back. Has anyone else experienced this? How long did it take for you to get a response? I'm starting to get worried that something went wrong with my application.
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Amara Okonkwo
Ugh, FMLA can be such a pain. I filed mine about 3 months ago and it took forever to hear back. Have you tried calling them? That's what finally worked for me.
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Liam O'Sullivan
•I've been trying to call but can never get through. It's so frustrating! How long did you have to wait on hold?
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Amara Okonkwo
•Honestly, I was on hold for like 2 hours. It was ridiculous. But I just put it on speaker and did other stuff while I waited. It sucks, but sometimes that's the only way to get answers.
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Giovanni Marino
•2 hours?! That's insane. There's gotta be a better way to handle this stuff. The system is so broken 🤦♂️
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Fatima Al-Sayed
I found a method to 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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Dylan Hughes
•Wow, that sounds too good to be true. Does it really work? $20 seems steep but might be worth it if it saves hours of hold time.
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Fatima Al-Sayed
•Yeah, it actually does work! I was skeptical at first too, but I was desperate after trying to get through for weeks. It connected me in about 45 minutes.
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NightOwl42
•Idk man, sounds like a scam to me. Why should we have to pay extra just to talk to someone about our benefits? 🤔
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Fatima Al-Sayed
•I get the skepticism, but it's not a scam. It's just a service that saves you time. Think of it like paying for fast-pass at an amusement park. Sure, you can wait in line for free, but sometimes it's worth paying to skip the wait.
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Sofia Rodriguez
Here's what I've learned about FMLA filings after going through this process twice: 1. Always keep copies of everything you submit. 2. Follow up via phone or email every 2 weeks if you haven't heard back. 3. Make sure your employer has submitted their portion of the paperwork. 4. Double-check that your healthcare provider filled out their section correctly. 5. If you're really stuck, consider reaching out to your local Department of Labor office. Hope this helps! The process can be frustrating, but stay persistent.
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Liam O'Sullivan
•Thank you so much for this detailed info! I'll definitely start following up more regularly. Do you know if there's a specific number that's best to call?
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Sofia Rodriguez
•You're welcome! The best number can vary depending on your state and specific situation. Check the FMLA website for your region's contact info. And don't forget to document every call you make!
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Dmitry Ivanov
lol welcome to bureaucracy hell 🔥 ive been waiting on my claim for like 6 months now. good luck!
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Ava Thompson
Have you checked your spam folder? I know it sounds dumb, but I missed an important update because it went to spam. Also, make sure you're logging into the online portal regularly if there is one.
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Liam O'Sullivan
•Oh man, I didn't even think to check spam! Thanks for the tip, I'll do that right now.
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Miguel Herrera
Ive heard that sometimes reaching out to your local congressperson's office can help speed things up. They often have liaisons who deal with federal agencies. Might be worth a shot if you've exhausted other options.
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Zainab Ali
•This actually worked for me! I was stuck in FMLA limbo for months, called my rep's office, and suddenly things started moving. def recommend trying this 👍
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Dylan Mitchell
•@Zainab Ali That s'amazing! How long did it take after you contacted your rep s'office before things started moving? I m'at the point where I m'willing to try anything.
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QuantumQuasar
•@Dylan Mitchell In my case, it took about 2-3 weeks after contacting my rep s'office before I heard back from EDD. The staffer told me they sent an inquiry on my behalf, and then suddenly my case got assigned to someone who actually responded to my calls. It s'like having someone advocate for you from the inside!
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Zara Mirza
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my FMLA paperwork 6 weeks ago and radio silence. It's so stressful not knowing what's happening, especially when you're dealing with a family situation that requires the leave. I've been reading through all these responses and it sounds like persistence is key. Going to try the spam folder check first (fingers crossed), then start making those dreaded phone calls. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it helps to know we're not alone in this bureaucratic nightmare!
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Geoff Richards
•@Zara Mirza I feel your pain! I m'dealing with something similar - filed 8 weeks ago and still waiting. The stress of not knowing is almost worse than the actual family situation that required the leave in the first place. Have you tried documenting all your submission details? I started keeping a spreadsheet with dates, confirmation numbers, and who I ve'spoken to. It s'helped me stay organized when making follow-up calls. Also, if you haven t'already, make sure your employer knows you re'still waiting - sometimes they can provide updates on their end of the process. Hang in there! 💪
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LilMama23
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now - filed my FMLA paperwork about 7 weeks ago and haven't heard a peep back. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying lol. Sounds like the wait times are all over the place. I'm definitely going to try the spam folder check first (such a simple thing but easy to miss), and then brace myself for those marathon hold times everyone's talking about. The suggestion about contacting your congressperson's office is really interesting - I had no idea that was even an option! Has anyone tried submitting additional documentation or reaching out through multiple channels at once, or does that just complicate things more? Thanks for starting this thread, it's reassuring to know this isn't just happening to me.
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Ethan Wilson
•@LilMama23 You're definitely not alone in this! I'm new to dealing with FMLA but have been lurking here trying to learn from everyone's experiences. From what I'm reading, it seems like multiple approaches might actually help rather than hurt - like checking spam, calling, AND maybe reaching out to your congressperson if needed. The key seems to be documenting everything so you don't duplicate efforts or contradict yourself. I'm bookmarking all these suggestions because I have a feeling I might need to file soon too. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories - this community is a lifesaver for navigating this confusing system!
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Demi Hall
I'm new to this community but going through the exact same situation! Filed my FMLA paperwork about 5 weeks ago and complete silence since then. It's such a relief to find this thread and realize I'm not the only one dealing with this. The anxiety of not knowing if your application is even being processed is really getting to me. I'm going to try several of the suggestions mentioned here - starting with checking my spam folder (can't believe I didn't think of that!), then preparing for those long hold times everyone's warning about. The congressperson idea is brilliant - I never would have thought of that as an option. Has anyone had success with sending follow-up emails in addition to calling? I'm wondering if having a paper trail might help move things along. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it's making me feel less alone in this process!
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Freya Andersen
•@Demi Hall Welcome to the community! I m'also pretty new here but have been following this thread closely since I m'in a similar boat - just filed my paperwork a few weeks ago and already feeling anxious about the wait. From everything I m'reading, it sounds like a multi-pronged approach is the way to go. I ve'seen several people mention that email follow-ups can be helpful for creating that paper trail you mentioned, plus it gives you something to reference when you do get someone on the phone. The spam folder tip seems to be a real eye-opener for a lot of people too! I m'taking notes on all these strategies since I have a feeling I ll'need them soon. It s'crazy that we have to become detective-level persistent just to get updates on our own benefits, but at least we re'all figuring it out together. Good luck with your case! 🤞
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Anthony Young
Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process recently. Filed my FMLA paperwork about 3 months ago and finally got approved last week! Here's what I learned: 1) The spam folder check is CRUCIAL - I found two important updates there that I'd completely missed. 2) Keep a detailed log of every call, email, and piece of mail - it really helps when you finally get someone on the phone. 3) Don't be afraid to escalate if you're not getting anywhere after 6-8 weeks. The congressperson suggestion is legit - I didn't use it but my coworker did and it worked. The waiting is absolutely brutal and the lack of communication is infuriating, but hang in there everyone. The system is broken but your benefits will eventually come through. Stay persistent and don't give up! 💪
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James Johnson
•@Anthony Young Congratulations on finally getting approved! 3 months is a long time to wait but I m'so glad it worked out for you. Your tips are super helpful - I m'definitely going to start keeping that detailed log you mentioned. It s'encouraging to hear a success story in the middle of all this frustration. Did you end up having to make a lot of follow-up calls during those 3 months, or did most of the progress happen toward the end? I m'trying to figure out the right balance between being persistent and not annoying them. Thanks for sharing your experience and giving us all some hope! 🙏
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