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Help with EDD Parental Leave claims for both spouses - running out of time before baby arrives!

Hey everyone, I'm freaking out a bit here. My wife and I are expecting our first child soon, and I'm trying to figure out this whole parental leave thing with EDD. We both want to take some time off, but I'm worried we might not have enough time to get everything sorted before the baby arrives. Has anyone gone through this process recently? Any tips on how to make sure we don't mess up our claims? I've heard horror stories about people waiting forever to get their benefits, and we really can't afford that right now.

Tom Maxon

I found a way to solve EDD parental leave claim issues, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-L8iuEo2dY

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CosmicCaptain

Congrats on the baby! 🎉 I went through this last year, so I can share some tips. First off, start the process ASAP. EDD can be slow af, so you want to give yourself plenty of time. Make sure you have all your docs ready - pay stubs, doctor's note confirming the due date, etc. Also, double-check that your employer has submitted the correct info to EDD. That was a headache for me.

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Amara Oluwaseyi

Thanks for the advice! How long did it take for your claim to get processed? I'm worried about the timeline.

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CosmicCaptain

It took about 3 weeks for mine to get processed, but I've heard it can take longer. Just keep checking your online account and don't be afraid to call if you don't see any updates.

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Giovanni Rossi

3 weeks? You got lucky! Mine took 2 months and I had to call like 50 times 😩

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Fatima Al-Maktoum

Ugh, EDD is such a nightmare. I applied for parental leave 6 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything back. Their website is always down and you can never get anyone on the phone. Good luck, OP. You're gonna need it.

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Dylan Mitchell

Hey, don't stress too much! It's great that you're planning ahead. Here's what worked for me: 1. Fill out the claim form online - it's faster than mailing it in. 2. Get your doctor to fill out their portion ASAP. 3. Keep a copy of EVERYTHING you submit. 4. Set up your SDI Online account if you haven't already. 5. Be prepared to wait, but don't be afraid to follow up. Also, make sure you understand the difference between SDI and PFL. You'll need to file separate claims for each. And don't forget about FMLA/CFRA job protection!

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Amara Oluwaseyi

This is super helpful, thank you! I didn't even know about the SDI Online account. Gonna set that up right now.

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Sofia Gutierrez

Great advice! Just wanna add - make sure your employer knows your plans too. They need to submit some forms on their end.

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Dmitry Petrov

I found a way to actually get someone on the phone at EDD. 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 explaining it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM

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StarSurfer

Sounds too good to be true. Does it really work? $20 seems steep just to make a phone call.

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Dmitry Petrov

I was skeptical too, but it actually worked for me. Saved me hours of hold time. Worth it if you're desperate to talk to someone.

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Ava Martinez

Nice try, EDD employee 🙄 Trying to make us pay to use a service that should be free

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Dmitry Petrov

Lol, I wish I worked for EDD, then maybe I could fix their broken system. I'm just a regular person who was fed up with waiting. But hey, to each their own 🤷‍♂️

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Miguel Castro

pro tip: if u cant get thru on the main line, try calling one of the other dept numbers and ask to be transfered. sometimes works for me

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Zainab Abdulrahman

Ooh, sneaky. I like it. 😏 Any specific department numbers that work best?

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Miguel Castro

i usually try the employer line or the disability insurance line. just be nice to whoever picks up and theyll usually help u out

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Connor Byrne

Am I the only one who thinks its ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to? The system is broken af 🤬

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Yara Elias

Preach! 🙌 It's like they make it complicated on purpose to discourage people from claiming.

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QuantumQuasar

Totally agree. We need to push for reform. This isn't working for anyone except maybe the bureaucrats.

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Keisha Jackson

Quick question - does anyone know if the 4-week waiting period for SDI applies to parental leave too? I've heard conflicting things.

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Paolo Moretti

There's no waiting period for PFL, but there is for SDI. If you're the birthing parent, you'll likely start with SDI for recovery, then switch to PFL. Non-birthing parents go straight to PFL.

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Keisha Jackson

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!

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Amina Diop

Just a heads up, EDD has been extra slow lately due to some new anti-fraud measures. Make sure all your info is 100% accurate or you might get flagged for review, which can add weeks to the process. Double-check everything!

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Oliver Weber

Has anyone successfully appealed a denied claim? My first application got rejected for some BS reason and idk what to do next 😭

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Natasha Romanova

I appealed mine and won, but it took forever. Get everything in writing, and consider talking to a lawyer if you can afford it. Some do free consultations.

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Oliver Weber

Ugh, sounds like a pain. But good to know it's possible. Thx for the advice!

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