< Back to California Paid Family Leave

How to actually reach a live EDD PFL representative by phone - desperate for direct number!

I'm going CRAZY trying to reach someone about my baby bonding claim! Been calling the EDD PFL number for 2 weeks straight and either get disconnected or stuck on hold until they close. I have urgent questions about my claim that the online portal doesn't answer. Does anyone know any tricks for getting through to an actual person? Specific number to call? Best time of day? Which options to press in the phone tree? I'm desperate - my claim is stuck in processing and I'm running out of savings while on unpaid leave with my newborn.

call at exactly 8am when they open and choose option 1 then 3 i think? worked for me back in january

0 coins

Thank you! I'll try this tomorrow morning. Did you have to wait on hold for long after selecting those options?

0 coins

The direct number for PFL claims is 1-877-238-4373. For the quickest connection, call at 8:00 AM or 4:30 PM (right before closing), and press 1, then 2, then 1 again when prompted. The middle of the week (Tuesday-Thursday) typically has shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays. Also, make sure you have your claim ID, social security number, and employer information ready before calling to speed up the verification process when you do connect with a representative.

0 coins

I tried calling at 8am SHARP for THREE DAYS and still couldn't get through!!! They put me on hold for 2+ hours and then just disconnect me. EDD's phone system is DELIBERATELY designed to prevent people from getting help!!

0 coins

i had same problm last month with my maternity leave transition to baby bond. try selecting spanish option then when rep answers just speak english they usually help you anyway and that line is way less busy

0 coins

This advice is actually unfair to Spanish speakers who need that dedicated line for language assistance. Please don't clog up language-specific lines if you don't need that service. It just makes it harder for people who legitimately need language support.

0 coins

Yuki Sato

I was in your exact situation last month with my PFL claim stuck in processing for over 3 weeks. After trying everything, I found Claimyr.com which connects you to an EDD agent without the endless hold times. You get a call back when an agent is available. It worked perfectly for me - I got connected in under 25 minutes after days of failed attempts. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The agent I reached was able to see that my claim had a document verification issue that wasn't showing on the portal. They fixed it on the spot and my payment was issued 3 days later. Definitely worth trying if you're desperate.

0 coins

Thank you so much for this recommendation! I've never heard of this service before. Did you have to provide any personal information to use it? I'm a bit cautious about third-party services.

0 coins

Yuki Sato

They just need basic info to connect the call - nothing more than what you'd tell EDD directly. The important thing is they don't stay on the line once you're connected to EDD. It's just you and the EDD rep talking privately about your claim.

0 coins

This reminds me of when I had my second baby in 2023 and couldn't reach anyone about transitioning from disability to baby bonding. I ended up going 6 weeks without payment because someone coded something wrong in their system! My husband had to take extra shifts at work and my mom had to loan us money for diapers. It was a nightmare. The whole system is broken if new parents can't even get basic support when we need it most!

0 coins

omg that's terrible!! did you ever get the back pay???

0 coins

Yes but only after I finally got through AND had to file an appeal. Took almost 3 months to get that money. By then we'd already maxed out our credit cards. The system is designed to wear you down so you give up.

0 coins

Here's another tip: If you're transitioning from Pregnancy Disability Leave (SDI) to Baby Bonding (PFL), specifically mention that when you call. There's a specialized unit that handles transition cases, and using those exact terms can sometimes get you routed to agents trained to resolve those specific issues. Also, the online portal now has a "Contact EDD" secure messaging feature. While not as immediate as phone support, I've found they typically respond within 3-5 business days, which might be faster than your current phone attempts. Include your claim ID and specific dates in any message to speed up their response time.

0 coins

Thank you for these details! I actually tried the secure messaging feature over a week ago and still haven't heard back. That's why I'm trying so desperately to reach someone by phone. But I'll definitely mention the transition specifically when I call. I'm moving from SDI to baby bonding PFL and maybe that's why my claim is stuck.

0 coins

I work for an HR department and deal with this all the time. The direct PFL number is 1-877-238-4373. Best time to call is Tuesday-Thursday between 8:00-8:30am or 4:00-4:30pm. Press 1 for English, then 1 for claim questions, then 2 for PFL. Avoid Mondays at all costs - that's when everyone who couldn't reach them over the weekend is calling. Also, always have your claim ID number ready - they can look up your info much faster with that than with just your SSN.

0 coins

THIS!!! ⬆️ The only useful advice on calling EDD I've ever seen! Tried calling Thursday at 4:15pm following exactly these prompts and got through after only 23 minutes on hold. THANK YOU!!!

0 coins

TaxRefund AI

Expert Assistant
Secure

Powered by Claimyr AI

T
I
+
6,882 users helped today