How to pause PFL benefits mid-claim? EDD phone system impossible to reach

u hav 2 call them theres no way to do it online i had same issue last month n kept calling til i got thru took like 20 tries

The EDD system is deliberately designed to be IMPOSSIBLE to navigate!! I went through this exact same thing when I needed to pause my claim last year. Called 47 times in one day (yes I counted) and when I finally got through, was on hold for 2 hours and then DISCONNECTED. It's outrageous that we pay into this system and then can't even access basic services when needed. I ended up just not certifying for the weeks I returned to work, which seemed to work fine, but the EDD rep later told me I SHOULD have called to formally pause the claim. Typical bureaucratic nonsense!!

You need to formally pause your PFL claim to preserve your remaining eligibility. While skipping certifications might seem like a solution, it can potentially flag your account in the system. Here's what you should do: 1. Continue attempting to reach an agent by phone (I know it's frustrating) 2. Meanwhile, send a secure message through your EDD online account specifically stating your intent to pause benefits and return to work temporarily 3. Document all your attempts to contact them (dates/times) 4. When you return to work, send your employer the DE2503F form (Notice of Change in Work Status) When you're ready to resume your PFL benefits after your mother-in-law recovers, you'll file a continued claim for the remaining weeks. The key is documentation - keep records of everything in case there are any issues later.

You should continue certifying, but mark that you returned to work on the appropriate date. This creates a clear record in the system. In your certification, there should be a question asking if you worked or returned to work during the certification period - answer honestly. This helps establish the official pause date while you continue trying to reach them by phone.

I had the same issue trying to reach EDD about my PFL claim transition earlier this year. After 3 days of constant calling with no luck, I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a system that basically calls EDD for you until they get through, then connects you. Saved me days of frustration. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The agent I spoke with confirmed that you need to formally pause your claim to preserve your remaining benefits. She helped me process everything on the spot.

Yeah, it definitely worked for me. I was skeptical too, but I was desperate after days of trying. The EDD agent I got was actually really helpful once I finally reached someone.

when i had my baby last year i had to stop my disability and switch to baby bonding and my doctor just filled out a form saying i was going back to work and that cancelled it automatically maybe thats different tho since yours is already baby bonding not disability????? good luck with everything and hope your mother in law feels better soon!!!

I successfully paused and then resumed my PFL baby bonding last year. Here's what worked for me: 1. I kept calling EDD persistently at different times (found 10:30am on Wednesdays seemed to work better) 2. When I finally reached someone, I explained I needed to temporarily return to work 3. They had me complete the DE2503F form and submit it 4. For the weeks I worked, I still completed certifications but indicated I had returned to work 5. When ready to resume benefits, I contacted EDD again to reactivate the claim The whole process preserved my remaining weeks of eligibility (I had used 4 of my 8 weeks initially, then came back and used the remaining 4 weeks about two months later). It's definitely possible, but reaching someone is the hardest part! Keep detailed records of all communications and attempts.

When I resumed benefits, there was a slight delay (about 5 days) while they reprocessed my claim, but no major issues. The key was having that original phone conversation documented where the agent confirmed my plan to pause and resume. Keep notes of who you speak with and when. I also sent a follow-up secure message through my EDD account summarizing our conversation, which created an official record. Good luck!

I'm in a similar situation and just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - if you have access to the EDD website, check the "Contact EDD" section for any local office phone numbers. Sometimes the regional offices have shorter wait times than the main customer service line. I was able to get through to the San Jose office after failing with the 1-800 number for days. They were able to help me with my PFL pause request just as well as the main line would have. Also, I've heard some people have luck calling right at 8am or during lunch hours (12-1pm) when call volume might be slightly lower. Hope your mother-in-law's surgery goes well!

I went through this exact same situation last year! The key is persistence with the phone calls, but I also found success by calling the EDD Technical Support line (1-833-978-2511) instead of the main customer service number. Sometimes they can transfer you to the right department or at least give you better guidance. Also, make sure you're calling the PFL-specific line (1-877-238-4373) rather than the general unemployment line - I wasted so many calls on the wrong number initially. One thing that worked for me was calling exactly at 8:00 AM and selecting the option for "existing claim issues" rather than "new claim" - seemed to have shorter wait times. I also kept a log of every call attempt which helped when I finally got through because I could show the agent how hard I'd been trying to reach them. Your plan to pause and resume later is definitely doable - I used 6 weeks initially, went back to work for 2 months, then used my remaining 2 weeks when my childcare fell through. Just make sure to get everything documented properly when you do get through! Hope your mother-in-law's surgery goes smoothly.

I just went through this process successfully last month! Here's what finally worked for me after days of frustration: First, try calling the PFL line (1-877-238-4373) at exactly 8:01 AM - not 8:00, but 8:01. I found that calling right at 8:00 gets you caught in the initial rush, but waiting just one minute helped me get through on my third try using this timing. While you're trying to reach them, immediately send a secure message through your EDD online account explaining your situation and your intent to pause benefits. Include specific dates - when you started leave, when you're returning to work, and your planned return to PFL. This creates a paper trail. For your certifications during the work period, continue submitting them but answer honestly about returning to work. Don't skip certifications entirely as that can create complications. The agent I spoke with emphasized that pausing and resuming is totally normal and preserves your full benefit period. I used 5 weeks initially, worked for 6 weeks, then came back to use my remaining 3 weeks with no issues. Download the DE2503F form now and have it ready - you'll need to submit it when you return to work. Also, keep notes of every call attempt with dates/times as this helped show my good faith effort when I finally got through. Wishing your mother-in-law a speedy recovery! This community has been so much more helpful than EDD's actual resources.

I went through this same nightmare trying to pause my PFL benefits earlier this year! The phone system is absolutely broken. What finally worked for me was using the callback feature on the EDD website - you can request a callback instead of staying on hold. It took 3 days but they actually called me back and I was able to get everything sorted. When you do get through, make sure to ask for a confirmation number for your pause request. The rep told me that pausing preserves your remaining benefit weeks indefinitely (as long as it's within the 12-month benefit period), so you can take as much time as you need between your work period and resuming PFL. Also heads up - when you're ready to restart benefits after your mother-in-law recovers, you'll need to file a "continued claim" rather than a new claim. The process is pretty straightforward once you get past the phone system hurdle. Hope your mother-in-law's surgery goes well and she has a smooth recovery!