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Finnegan Gunn

Help! Filed PFL before SDI after c-section, need to cancel and backdate. What to expect when calling EDD?

I messed up and filed for Paid Family Leave (PFL) before filing for State Disability Insurance (SDI) after my c-section. My HR just told me I was supposed to file SDI first. Now I need to stop my PFL application and backdate an SDI claim. I'm worried about missing the deadline for recovery time and how long this will take to process. Has anyone dealt with this before? What should I expect when I call to fix this?

Ugh, been there done that! 🤦‍♀️ The whole system is so confusing. When I called, they were actually pretty understanding about the mix-up. Just explain your situation clearly and ask if they can expedite the process. It took about 2 weeks for me once I got everything sorted out.

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Thanks for sharing your experience! Did you have any issues with backdating the SDI claim? I'm worried because it's been 7 weeks since my baby was born.

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No problem! They were able to backdate mine, but I caught it earlier than 7 weeks. Definitely mention the misunderstanding with your HR when you call. They might make an exception. Fingers crossed for you! 🤞

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2 weeks?! You got lucky. It took me over a month to get my claim processed after a similar mixup. The EDD is a total clown show 🤡

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Here's what you need to do: 1. Call EDD immediately to cancel your PFL claim. 2. File your SDI claim ASAP, explaining the situation and requesting backdating. 3. Gather all relevant documentation (birth certificate, doctor's notes, etc.) 4. Follow up with EDD regularly to ensure your claim is being processed. 5. Keep your HR in the loop about what's happening. The 40-day filing deadline for SDI is usually strict, but they may make exceptions for genuine misunderstandings. Be persistent and polite when dealing with EDD. Good luck!

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Thank you so much for this detailed advice! I'll definitely follow these steps. Do you know if there's a specific department I should ask for when I call?

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You're welcome! Ask for the SDI claims department specifically. And make sure to get the name and ID number of anyone you talk to, it'll help if you need to follow up later.

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Taylor To

lol welcome to the wonderful world of California bureaucracy 😂 Seriously tho, don't stress too much. These mix-ups happen all the time. Just be prepared for a lot of hold music when you call!

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Quick question - did your HR provide any guidance on how to fix this? Seems like they dropped the ball by not telling you about SDI first.

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Nope, they just told me I filed wrong and need to fix it. Kinda frustrating tbh.

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Wow, that's not cool. Maybe ask them to provide some written documentation about the mixup? Could help your case with EDD.

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I found a way to actually get someone on the phone without waiting forever. 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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Sounds too good to be true. Does it realy work? How long did you wait?

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It actually does! I was skeptical too, but I got a call back in about 2 hours. Way better than spending all day on hold.

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20 bucks tho? Seems kinda steep just to make a phone call.

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I get it, but for me, it was worth it to not waste an entire day on hold. Time is money, ya know? 🤷‍♂️

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Pro tip: if you can't get through on the phone, try reaching out to your local state assembly member's office. They often have contacts at EDD and can help expedite things.

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OMG this exact thing happend to me last year! I was able to get it fixed but it took forever. Make sure you keep copys of EVERYTHING. The EDD lost my paperwork twice 🙄

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Yikes, that sounds like a nightmare! How long did the whole process take for you?

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It took about 2 months all told. But I also had trouble getting through on the phone. If you can talk to someone quicker it might go faster!

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I went through something similar a few months ago! The key is to call first thing in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) - you'll have a better chance of getting through. When you do get someone on the line, explain that your HR gave you incorrect guidance about filing order. Most reps understand this mix-up happens frequently. Also, ask them to put notes in your file about the conversation so if you need to call back, the next person will see what's going on. The backdating might still be possible even at 7 weeks if you can show it was due to misinformation. Don't give up! 💪

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This is super helpful advice! I never thought to ask them to put notes in my file - that's a great tip. Did you have any issues with the backdating process specifically? I'm crossing my fingers that they'll accept the HR misinformation as a valid reason for the delay.

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I actually had a very similar situation happen to me about 6 months ago! The good news is that EDD representatives are pretty familiar with this mix-up since it happens more often than you'd think. When I called, I made sure to emphasize that I received incorrect guidance from my employer and that I was trying to follow the proper procedures. They were able to cancel my PFL claim and backdate my SDI claim even though it had been about 6 weeks. The whole process took about 3-4 weeks once I got everything straightened out. My advice: be patient but persistent, and don't be afraid to ask to speak with a supervisor if the first person you talk to isn't helpful. Also, document every conversation with names and reference numbers. You've got this! 🍀

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This gives me so much hope! Thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like our situations are almost identical. I'm definitely going to emphasize the employer misinformation angle when I call. Did you have to provide any specific documentation to prove the mix-up, or was your explanation enough? Also, when you say "document every conversation" - do you mean just writing down names and times, or is there more I should be tracking?

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I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Just wanted to add that when you call EDD, it might help to have your employer's contact information ready in case they want to verify the misinformation directly. Also, I've heard that filing online first and then calling to explain the situation can sometimes speed things up since you'll already have a case number to reference. The waiting is definitely stressful, but from what I'm reading here, it sounds like this mix-up is more common than we think and EDD has procedures in place to handle it. Hang in there! 🤞

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That's a really smart tip about having the employer contact info ready! I hadn't thought about EDD potentially wanting to verify the misinformation directly. The idea about filing online first to get a case number is brilliant too - it would definitely make the phone conversation more efficient. It's actually reassuring to know that so many of us have gone through this exact same situation. Makes me feel less alone in this mess! Thanks for the encouragement 😊

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I'm in almost the exact same boat right now! Filed PFL first, then found out I should have done SDI. It's so frustrating that the system isn't more clear about this. I've been reading through all these responses and feeling a lot more hopeful though. Planning to call first thing Monday morning with all my documentation ready. Has anyone had success with the online chat feature, or is calling really the only way to get this sorted out? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really helpful to know we're not alone in this confusion!

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