How to take remaining 2 weeks of PFL baby bonding leave after 6 months?

I went through something similar last year. You should be able to take the remaining 2 weeks as long as you're still within the 12-month period from when your child was born or placed with you. Have you tried applying online through the EDD website? It's usually faster than calling.

Ugh, the EDD system is such a nightmare 🤮 I've been trying to get through to someone for weeks about my disability claim. It's like they don't want us to actually use the benefits we're entitled to.

I found a method to get someone on the phone. 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

Here's what you need to know about continuing your baby bonding leave: • You have the right to take up to 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave (PFL) within the first 12 months of your child's birth or placement. • You can split your leave, but you need to complete all 8 weeks within that 12-month period. • To apply for the additional 2 weeks, you'll need to file a new PFL claim. • You may need to provide a reason for splitting your leave (e.g., work obligations, family needs). • Make sure your employer is aware of your plans to take the additional leave. • Keep all your documentation from your previous leave handy. • If applying online doesn't work, try calling the PFL office directly at 1-877-238-4373. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

anyone else feel like the whole system is designed to make us give up? like they make it so complicated and frustrating that people just throw in the towel and don't take the leave their entitled too 🤔

Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try contacting your local state representative's office. They often have direct lines to EDD and can help escalate your case. Worked for me when I was in a similar situation!

Just a heads up, make sure you check with your employer about their policies too. Some companies have rules about how you can split up your leave. Don't want you to run into any issues at work while dealing with EDD!

I went through this exact situation last year! You definitely can take your remaining 2 weeks, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure you're still within that 12-month window from your baby's birth. Second, when you file your new claim online (which I highly recommend over calling), you'll need to explain why you're splitting your leave - work demands, childcare arrangements, whatever your reason is. The online system actually asks for this info now. One thing that caught me off guard was that they treated it like a completely new claim, so I had to wait for the usual processing time again. But it went through without any issues. Also, definitely give your employer as much notice as possible - some HR departments get confused when leave is split up. Good luck! 🍀

I'm in a similar boat right now! Just had my baby 4 months ago and took 6 weeks initially, but really need those last 2 weeks now that my partner is going back to work. Reading through everyone's advice here is super helpful - sounds like the online application route is definitely the way to go. @Keisha Thompson thanks for sharing your experience about it being treated like a new claim, that's good to know so I can plan for the processing time. Has anyone had issues with their employer pushing back on split leave? My HR department seemed a little confused when I mentioned it might be a possibility.

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation! My baby was born in September and I took 4 weeks then, but now I need the remaining 4 weeks. Reading through all these responses is so reassuring - I was worried I'd lost my chance to use the rest of my PFL. The online application tip is gold, I've been dreading calling EDD after hearing all the horror stories. Quick question for anyone who's done this - do they require you to use all your remaining weeks consecutively, or can you potentially split it up even more if needed? Like could I take 2 weeks now and save 2 weeks for later? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this community is amazing! 💙

This thread has been so helpful! I'm planning ahead for when my baby arrives in a few months and had no idea you could split up the PFL. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me a much better understanding of the process. A couple questions for those who've been through this: 1) When you file that second claim online, do you reference your original PFL claim number anywhere, or is it treated as completely separate? 2) Does the one-week waiting period apply to the second claim too, or just the first one? Thanks for creating such a supportive space to share info - dealing with EDD is stressful enough without having to figure it all out alone! 🙏

I'm currently going through this process right now and wanted to share what worked for me! I had my baby in October, took 6 weeks initially, and just successfully got approved for my remaining 2 weeks. Here's what I learned: The online application is definitely the way to go - I got it processed in about 10 days vs the horror stories I heard about phone wait times. When filling it out, be specific about why you're splitting the leave (I mentioned needing to coordinate with my partner's return to work). One thing nobody warned me about - make sure to submit your application at least 2-3 weeks before you actually want to start your leave. The processing time + waiting period can really add up, and you don't want to be stuck without income during your leave period. Also, keep screenshots of everything! The EDD system can be glitchy and having proof of what you submitted has saved me multiple times. Good luck @Kendrick Webb - you've got this! The system is frustrating but your benefits are there waiting for you. 💪