Got laid off during PFL claim - do I switch to unemployment or continue existing claim?

omg that's terrible timing! my friend went thru this last year. i think u get to finish ur PFL first then go on unemployment after. but don't quote me on that, the EDD rules r so confusing

I'm so sorry this happened to you. This is actually a bit complicated, but let me explain how it works: 1. You CAN continue your PFL claim until it ends (8 weeks total). Being laid off doesn't disqualify you from receiving benefits you were eligible for when you started your claim. 2. When your PFL ends, you should immediately apply for unemployment (UI). Don't wait! 3. Make sure to tell EDD about your job loss when you do your bi-weekly PFL certification. There should be a question about changes in employment status. 4. Start gathering documentation of your layoff for your future UI claim. If you haven't received any payments yet for PFL, there might be an issue with your claim that needs to be resolved. Have you been certifying properly?

The "pending" status for a month is definitely concerning - most PFL claims are processed within 2 weeks. You need to contact EDD directly to find out what's happening with your claim. Unfortunately, the phone lines are nearly impossible to get through. I was in a similar pending limbo last year and finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a system that connects you directly with an EDD agent so you don't have to spend hours redialing. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 You really need to talk to someone about both issues - the pending status AND the layoff situation. An EDD rep can note your account about the job loss and make sure your PFL continues properly.

dont listen to ppl saying u need to cancel PFL!!! u already qualified when u filed. the layoff only affects NEW benefits. finish ur baby bonding first (its only 8 weeks anyway) then go straight to unemployment after. make sure u keep all ur layoff paperwork!!

I had a baby in September and then got laid off during my maternity disability before I even started PFL. It was a NIGHTMARE dealing with EDD. My claim got stuck, had to call a million times, they kept asking for more documents, etc. The most important thing is documenting exactly when you were laid off. You should be able to get your full PFL, but you might have issues transitioning to unemployment if you don't have everything clearly documented. Also with my experience, when anything changes with your claim, it creates delays. So be prepared for that. When I had my son in 2022, everything went smoothly. This time was a disaster because of the layoff situation. Just be persistent!

Quick update on what I mentioned earlier - one thing to be aware of: when you finish PFL and apply for UI, they will use your base period earnings to calculate benefits. If you were on PDL/SDI before your PFL, your base period might have lower earnings, which could impact your UI amount. Also, you mentioned your claim has been pending since January 1st - that's definitely too long. Did you receive an award letter after filing? Did you receive any communication from EDD at all?

That's definitely not normal. You should have received an award letter within 7-10 days after applying. The fact that you've been certifying but still show pending for a month suggests there's either a documentation issue or a flag on your account that needs to be addressed. I strongly recommend speaking with an EDD representative ASAP. When you do get through, explain both situations - the original pending claim AND the new layoff situation. They need to: 1. Resolve whatever is holding up your initial claim 2. Note your account about the change in employment status 3. Advise you on the proper transition to UI after PFL Don't wait on this - benefits can only be retroactive for a limited time if there's a system error.

did u ever have pregnancy disability before ur PFL? sometimes the transition from disability to baby bonding gets stuck in the system. happened to my sister and she had to call to get it fixed

THE EXACT SAME THING happened to me in March!!! Filed for PFL in January, got laid off in March during company-wide cuts. It's so unfair they can do this while you're bonding with your baby!!! I continued with my PFL (after FINALLY getting it approved - took forever) and then applied for unemployment after. The most frustrating part was that the EDD website gives ZERO clear guidance on this situation. I spent hours searching online. Just be prepared for possible delays - the system is NOT designed for our situation.

I'm so sorry this happened to you - what a stressful situation with a newborn! I went through something similar when my employer downsized while I was on maternity leave. Here's what I learned: You can absolutely continue your PFL claim - being laid off doesn't disqualify you from benefits you were already eligible for. However, the fact that your claim has been pending for almost 3 months is a red flag that needs immediate attention. Since you mentioned transitioning from pregnancy disability to PFL, that's likely where the issue is. The system sometimes fails to automatically transition between SDI and PFL claims. When you call EDD (and you MUST call), make sure to mention: 1. Your claim has been pending since January 1st with no payments 2. You transitioned from pregnancy disability to PFL 3. You were laid off on [date] during your PFL claim 4. You need them to resolve the pending status AND note the employment change The good news is once your PFL is resolved, you should be able to get all your back payments. Then transition straight to unemployment when PFL ends. Document everything about your layoff - you'll need it for UI. Don't give up! The system is broken but your benefits are valid.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what an incredibly stressful situation with a newborn! I haven't been in your exact situation, but I wanted to share what I've learned from others in similar circumstances. From what I understand, you should be able to complete your full 8-week PFL claim even after being laid off, since you were already eligible when you started. The layoff doesn't retroactively cancel benefits you qualified for. However, the bigger concern seems to be that your claim has been stuck in "pending" status since January 1st - that's definitely not normal and suggests there was already an issue before the layoff happened. The transition from pregnancy disability to PFL can sometimes get hung up in the system. When you do get through to EDD (definitely try that Claimyr service others mentioned if regular calling doesn't work), make sure to address both issues: the original pending status AND the recent layoff. They need to fix whatever was blocking your payments and also note the employment change for when you transition to unemployment later. Keep all your layoff documentation organized - you'll need it for your UI application after PFL ends. And don't let them try to tell you that you need to cancel PFL to apply for unemployment instead - you should be able to finish your baby bonding leave first. Hang in there - this system is frustrating but you will get through this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress while trying to bond with your newborn! This happened to my coworker last year during the tech layoffs. Here's what she learned: You absolutely can and should continue your PFL claim - being laid off doesn't disqualify you from benefits you were already entitled to when you filed. Complete your full 8 weeks, then immediately file for unemployment. But the bigger red flag here is that you've been pending since January 1st with no award letter - that's way too long and indicates a problem that existed before your layoff. The transition from pregnancy disability to PFL often gets stuck in their system. When you call EDD (and yes, you NEED to call), tell them: - Your PFL has been pending since 1/1 with no payments or award letter - You transitioned from pregnancy disability - You were just laid off and need your employment status updated - You need the pending issue resolved immediately My coworker used one of those callback services to actually get through to a human. Don't let them brush you off - you're entitled to those back payments from January! Keep all your layoff paperwork organized for your UI claim later. The transition between PFL and unemployment can be tricky but it's definitely doable. You've got this mama! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare scenario! I can't imagine the stress of dealing with a layoff while trying to bond with your newborn and navigate EDD's broken system. From everything I've read here and my own experience with EDD, you should definitely continue your PFL claim to completion - the layoff doesn't cancel benefits you were already entitled to. But that 3-month pending status is absolutely unacceptable and needs immediate attention. I had a similar issue (not with layoff but with a stuck claim) and what finally worked was calling EDD at exactly 8:00 AM when their phone lines open. Keep hitting redial until you get in the queue. Have all your information ready - claim number, Social Security, dates of employment, layoff documentation, everything. When you get through, be very clear that you need BOTH issues addressed: 1) Why your PFL has been pending since January with no award letter, and 2) How to properly note your layoff without disrupting your existing claim. Also document EVERYTHING - dates you called, who you spoke with, reference numbers. EDD's left hand often doesn't know what the right hand is doing, so you may need to call multiple times. You've got this mama! Don't let their broken system intimidate you - you and your baby deserve those benefits. Keep fighting for what you're owed! 💪

Oh wow, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! What an awful situation to be in with a newborn. I went through something similar when my company had layoffs during my maternity leave last year. The good news is that you can absolutely continue your PFL claim - being laid off doesn't disqualify you from benefits you were already entitled to when you filed. Finish your full 8 weeks, then immediately apply for unemployment after. But like everyone else has said, that 3-month pending status is a HUGE red flag. You should have received payments by now. The fact that you got the debit card but no award letter suggests there's a documentation issue or system glitch that needs to be resolved by an actual human. When you call EDD, make sure to emphasize that you have TWO separate issues: 1) Your original claim being stuck in pending status since January 1st, and 2) Your recent layoff that needs to be noted on your account. Don't let them try to handle just one or the other. I know how overwhelming this must feel with everything going on, but don't give up! You're entitled to those back payments from January, and you deserve to have this resolved. Keep pushing until you get answers. Your baby needs you to advocate for your family right now! ❤️