How to extend EDD PFL caregiving claim after doctor added more weeks?

I went through this exact thing with my mom last year. You DON'T file a brand new claim! There's an extension process, but of course EDD makes it unnecessarily confusing. You need to submit a "supplemental certification" with the new end date. The form is the same as your original one (DE2501F) but you mark it as "continued claim certification" somewhere in the top section. Make sure your doctor fills out the new dates correctly - the start date should be right after your originally approved end date. Then mail it in or fax it to the PFL office (faxing is actually faster in my experience). Also, since your original claim is still pending, you might want to include a cover note explaining that this is an extension to a pending claim. Just to avoid confusion.

my moms caregiver claim took FOREVER to process last yr!! like 6 weeks before they paid anything. and we had the same thing where doctor kept adding more time as she got worse. honestly i dont remember what form we used but EDD was a nightmare to deal with!!!!

You need to call and talk to a specialist about this. Extenshuns are tricky and doing it wrong could mess up both claims. When I helped care for my husband, they rejected my extension because I didnt file it right and I had to start over. Lost 2 weeks of benefits becuz of there stupid rules!!! The regular EDD number is useless. You need the special PFL number: 1-877-238-4373

I had good luck using Claimyr when I needed to reach EDD about extending my caregiving claim for my mother. I was in the exact same situation - couldn't get through on my own after days of trying. The service connected me to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes, which saved me literal days of frustration. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The agent I spoke with confirmed I needed to submit the same DE2501F form but marked as a continuation, and they were actually able to note my account so the extension would be processed correctly once received. Their website is claimyr.com if you're interested. Definitely worth it for situations like this where you just need one question answered!

I used it last month, it worked! Felt weird paying to talk to a government agency but after 2 weeks of failed attempts I was desperate. Got through to EDD in like 15 mins.

Let me clarify some confusion in this thread. For PFL caregiving claims that need to be extended beyond the original doctor certification: 1. You use the same form (DE2501F) but check the box for "Continued Claim Certification" 2. The beginning date should be the day after your original certification ends 3. The doctor must complete Section B with the new information 4. Submit this to EDD before your current approved period ends (ideally 1-2 weeks before) Regarding your pending original claim - that's a separate issue. The current processing time for initial PFL claims is averaging 14-21 calendar days according to the latest data. Since you're at 3 weeks, I suggest requesting an escalation when you do reach a representative. One important note: make sure your original claim processes before submitting the extension. If you submit the extension while the original is still pending, it can sometimes cause system confusion and delay things further. Source: I work in HR and help employees with leave policies regularly.

That's a good question. In your situation where the original claim is still pending but the extension period is starting soon, I'd recommend: 1. Focus on getting the original claim processed first 2. Keep the extension form ready but wait to submit until the first claim is approved 3. If the original claim approval doesn't come through before the extension period starts, document everything carefully (keep a journal of care provided) The good news is that PFL benefits are retroactive to the date of eligibility, so even if there's a processing delay, you should eventually receive all eligible benefits. The key is ensuring the paperwork clearly shows continuous eligibility from the original period through the extension period.

Update: I FINALLY got through to an EDD representative! For anyone facing a similar situation, here's what they told me: 1. Because my original claim is still pending, I should go ahead and fax the extension certification form now, with a cover letter explaining it's an extension to a pending claim 2. They'll process them together once they get to my original claim 3. They added a note to my file about the coming extension They also told me my original claim was delayed because they needed to verify my relationship to my father (even though I submitted his ID and my birth certificate). Apparently they never sent me notification about this! The rep said they'd expedite processing now that they have this information. Fingers crossed everything goes through smoothly now. Thanks everyone for your help!

omg reading this gives me anxiety just thinking about when i had to do this for my husband last year!!! the whole process is so confusing and edd NEVER explains anything clearly. glad you finally got some answers and hopefully your money comes through soon!!

So glad to see your update! This whole thread has been really helpful - I'm bookmarking it because my elderly mom has been having health issues and I might need to take PFL for caregiving soon. The fact that they don't automatically notify you when they need additional documentation is absolutely ridiculous. How are people supposed to know their claims are stalled? A few questions for anyone who's been through this: How long did it take after you spoke to the rep for your claim to actually get approved? And did you end up getting all the back pay from when you should have been receiving benefits? I'm trying to budget for potentially being without pay for several weeks if this happens.