How to get EDD to call me back about PFL claim issue?

EDD doesn't have an official callback system where u can just email them. I tried emailing the general address and got an auto-reply saying to call the main number. It's frustrating!!

I had the same issue last month with my baby bonding claim. The regular EDD phone system is basically useless - I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through. What worked for me was using Claimyr. It's a service that basically waits on hold for you and then calls you when they have an EDD agent on the line. I was super skeptical but it actually worked in about 30 minutes. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 and the website is claimyr.com. The agent I spoke with was able to fix my claim status right away.

There's a lot of confusion about contacting EDD for PFL claims. To be clear, there are three main ways to contact them: 1. Call the main PFL number (877-238-4373) - but yes, wait times are extremely long 2. Use your UI Online account to send a secure message (though responses can take 5-7 business days) 3. Mail in a written request to the PFL office (slowest option) Unfortunately, EDD doesn't have an official email-for-callback system. The third-party service mentioned above is one option some people use, but it's not officially associated with EDD. When you do get through, make sure you have your claim number, the last 4 of your SSN, and be specific about what's wrong with your claim. For baby bonding, they'll want to know your child's birthdate and whether you've submitted the birth certificate documentation.

when i had my baby last year the EXACT same thing happened to me!! called like 50 times and never got anywhere. my doctor's office actually told me to try calling right when they open at 8am and that worked for me. took about 20 mins on hold but i actually got through!! good luck mama!!

EDD IS THE WORST!!!!!! I waited 9 WEEKS to get my PFL for baby bonding. The system is BROKEN!!!!! They never answer calls, messages go nowhere, and then they expect us to survive how??? With a newborn????? The only thing that worked for me was going to my state representative's office. They have caseworkers who can file inquiries with EDD directly. Google your district rep and call their office. THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT WORKED!

I had this same issue in January with my PFL claim. Just a heads up - if your claim is stuck in "pending" status, it's usually because they're either missing documentation or there's a discrepancy between what you submitted and what they have on file. For baby bonding specifically, make sure you've submitted: 1. Your baby's birth certificate (or hospital documentation if the certificate isn't available yet) 2. Confirmation of when your maternity disability ended (if you were on PDL/SDI first) 3. Verification of your return-to-work date Also, if your baby's other parent is also filing for PFL, they sometimes flag claims for review to make sure you're not overlapping benefits. When you do get someone on the phone, ask them specifically what's causing the delay rather than just asking about status.

Just wanted to follow up - I understand the hesitation about third-party services. I felt the same way! The way it actually works is they don't access your claim or personal information - they just connect the call and then you talk directly to EDD. The only reason I tried it was because I was at my wit's end after trying for days. Whatever route you choose, I hope you get your benefits soon!

btw if ur baby is 6 weeks old did u transition from disability to paid family leave? sometimes theres a gap there that causes problems. my cousin had that happen and her payments were delayed by like a month because the system didnt process the transition right

Yes, I was on pregnancy disability first! No one told me there might be issues with the transition. Maybe that's the problem? I'm going to try calling again tomorrow at 8am sharp and if that doesn't work, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I'm just so frustrated that this is so difficult while I'm trying to care for a newborn. Will update once I (hopefully) get through to someone.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now with my PFL claim! My baby is 8 weeks old and I've been waiting almost a month for any response. The phone system is absolutely broken - I've called probably 30+ times and either get disconnected or the call just drops after waiting forever. One thing that's helped me is calling at exactly 8:00 AM when they open. I've had better luck getting in the queue then, though I still haven't actually gotten through to a human yet. Also, if you have a smartphone, you can put the call on speaker and do other things while you wait - I've been doing chores and baby care while holding. Have you tried reaching out to your local assembly member's office? I just learned about this option from reading the comments here and I'm planning to try it next week if I still can't get through. They apparently have staff who can help with EDD issues. Hang in there - this system is so frustrating when you're already dealing with the stress of a new baby and financial pressure. You're not alone in this struggle!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD system is incredibly frustrating, especially when you're caring for a newborn and need those benefits! I went through something similar with my PFL claim last year. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the PFL line (877-238-4373) at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday morning and actually got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The key things that helped were: 1. Calling right when they open - weekdays seem better than Mondays 2. Having all my info ready: claim number, SSN, baby's birthdate, and specific questions written down 3. Being persistent but polite with the representative Since you mentioned transitioning from pregnancy disability, that's likely where the holdup is. When I spoke to the rep, they had to manually link my SDI and PFL claims in their system - apparently this doesn't always happen automatically. If calling doesn't work, definitely try contacting your state assembly member's office. I've heard they can really help escalate EDD issues. You can find your representative at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. Don't give up! Your benefits are rightfully yours and you shouldn't have to struggle like this with a 6-week-old baby. Sending you strength and hoping you get this resolved soon! 💪

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My daughter is 5 weeks old and I've been trying to get through to EDD about my PFL claim for over 2 weeks. Like you, I was on pregnancy disability first and I'm wondering if that's causing the delay. One thing I discovered is that you can check your claim status online through your UI Online account - sometimes there are messages or requests for additional documentation that don't get communicated through other channels. Have you logged in recently to see if there are any alerts or messages waiting? Also, I read somewhere that if you were automatically enrolled in SDI through payroll deductions, the transition to PFL should be seamless, but if there were any gaps in your employment or changes to your employer information, it can cause the system to flag your claim for manual review. I'm planning to try the 8am calling strategy that others have mentioned, and if that doesn't work, I'll definitely look into contacting my assembly member's office. This whole system is so broken - we shouldn't have to become experts in navigating bureaucracy just to get the benefits we've paid into! Hope you get through soon and please update us when you do - it would be helpful to know what finally worked for you!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! My baby is 7 weeks old and I've been stuck in "processing" hell for almost a month. The most frustrating part is that I was counting on these benefits to help with expenses during my leave, but instead I'm burning through my savings while EDD takes forever to process what should be a straightforward claim. I've tried calling dozens of times - usually get disconnected after 30-45 minutes on hold. The few times I've gotten through to the automated system, it just tells me my claim is "processing" with no timeline or explanation. Reading through all these comments is both helpful and depressing - it's clear this is a widespread problem with their system, especially for the SDI to PFL transition. I had no idea that could cause issues since they make it sound automatic. I'm going to try the 8am calling strategy tomorrow and if that doesn't work, I'll look into contacting my assembly member's office. It's ridiculous that we have to become advocates for ourselves just to get benefits we've already paid into through payroll deductions. For anyone else dealing with this - you're not alone and it's not your fault the system is this broken. Hoping we all get through eventually! 🤞

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress while caring for your newborn! I went through a similar situation with my PFL claim a few months ago and the SDI to PFL transition issue is definitely real. Here's what finally worked for me: I called at exactly 8:00 AM on a Wednesday (avoid Mondays - they're swamped) and got through after about 35 minutes. The key was having my claim number, SSN, and baby's birth certificate info ready, plus I wrote down specific questions about the SDI/PFL link. When I got through, the rep discovered my claims weren't properly linked in their system - she had to manually connect them and my benefits were released within 48 hours. She said this happens frequently with the transition and they have to fix it case by case. If you still can't get through by phone, definitely contact your state assembly member's office. They have dedicated staff for EDD issues and can file official inquiries that get faster responses than regular channels. You can find yours at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. Hang in there - you WILL get your benefits! The system is broken but your claim is valid and you've earned those benefits. Don't let EDD's dysfunction make you feel like you're doing something wrong. You've got this! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's absolutely maddening how broken the EDD system is, especially when you're already dealing with the stress and exhaustion of having a newborn! I just went through the exact same thing with my baby's PFL claim a couple months ago. Here's what I learned from my experience: The SDI to PFL transition is definitely where a lot of claims get stuck. Even though they tell you it should be automatic, their systems often fail to properly link the claims together. When I finally got through to someone (after calling literally 40+ times), the representative had to manually connect my SDI and PFL claims in their system. My best advice: 1. Call at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday or Wednesday - avoid Mondays and Fridays 2. Use speaker phone so you can care for your baby while waiting on hold 3. Have EVERYTHING ready: claim number, SSN, baby's birth date, and specific questions written down 4. When you get someone, specifically ask them to check if your SDI and PFL claims are properly linked in their system If you still can't get through after a few more attempts, definitely contact your state assembly member's office. They have caseworkers who specialize in EDD issues and can file official inquiries that bypass the regular phone system. You're not alone in this struggle and it's NOT your fault their system is this dysfunctional. Your benefits are rightfully yours - don't give up! Sending you strength and hoping you get this resolved very soon. Please update us when you do! 💪❤️

I'm dealing with the exact same situation and it's so frustrating! My baby is 4 weeks old and I've been stuck waiting for my PFL benefits for almost 3 weeks now. Like you, I was on pregnancy disability first and I'm starting to think that's exactly where my claim got stuck. I've been reading through all these comments and it's both helpful and infuriating to see how common this problem is. The fact that so many new parents are going through this financial stress while trying to bond with their babies is just unacceptable. I'm going to try the 8am Wednesday calling strategy that several people mentioned - it seems like that's given people the best success rate. I had no idea that the SDI to PFL transition required manual linking in some cases. EDD really needs to fix their systems so this doesn't keep happening to families! Thank you for posting about this - it's so valuable to have a place where we can share real experiences and solutions since EDD's official resources are basically useless. I hope you get through soon and please keep us updated on what works! We're all rooting for each other here. 🤞💙

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! I had almost the exact same experience with my PFL claim when my daughter was born last year. The SDI to PFL transition is definitely a major problem area in their system - my claim got stuck for 6 weeks because the systems didn't communicate properly. What finally worked for me was calling at exactly 8:00 AM on a Thursday (I tried Tuesday and Wednesday with no luck, but Thursday seemed to have shorter wait times). I got through after about 50 minutes and the representative found that my SDI claim hadn't been properly closed out, which was preventing my PFL from processing. She fixed it right there on the call and I had my first payment within 3 days. A few things that helped: - Call from a landline if you have one - I swear the call quality was better and I didn't get dropped - Have your baby's birth certificate number ready (not just the date) - Ask specifically about your "claim transition status" between SDI and PFL - If they say everything looks fine, ask them to manually refresh both claims in their system The financial stress with a newborn is absolutely brutal. If the calling doesn't work this week, definitely contact your assembly member's office - I wish I had known about that option sooner. You've got this, mama! Don't let EDD's broken system make you feel like you're asking for something you don't deserve. 💪

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and reading all these comments has been both reassuring and frustrating! My baby is 5 weeks old and I've been waiting almost a month for my PFL benefits after transitioning from SDI. Based on everything I've read here, I'm convinced the SDI to PFL transition is where most of our claims are getting stuck. It's absolutely ridiculous that EDD's systems can't handle what should be an automatic process, especially when we're already dealing with the stress and financial pressure of having a newborn. I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy this week - it sounds like Tuesday through Thursday are the best days to try. The tip about having the birth certificate number ready (not just the date) is really helpful, and I'm going to write down that phrase about asking for "claim transition status" between SDI and PFL. If anyone has any other specific questions or phrases that worked when they finally got through to a representative, please share! It's clear that knowing exactly what to ask for makes a huge difference in getting our claims resolved quickly. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences - this community support has been invaluable when the official EDD resources have been completely useless. We shouldn't have to become experts at navigating broken bureaucracy just to get benefits we've already paid into! 🤞💪