Need help applying for PFL - where do I even start?
Hey everyone, I'm trying to apply for Paid Family Leave (PFL) and I'm having some trouble. Has anyone gone through this process recently? Any tips or advice would be really appreciated. I'm not sure where to start or what documents I need. Thanks in advance for any help!
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Yara Assad
I just went through this last month! It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but don't worry. Here's what you need to do: 1. Make sure you're eligible. You need to have paid into State Disability Insurance (SDI) in the past 5 to 18 months. 2. Get the claim form from the EDD website or your employer. 3. Fill out your portion of the form carefully. 4. Have your healthcare provider complete their section. 5. Submit the form within 41 days of when you began your family care leave. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any specific questions.
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Paolo Bianchi
•Thank you so much! This is really helpful. Do you know how long it usually takes for them to process the application?
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Yara Assad
•In my experience, it took about 2 weeks to get a response. But I've heard it can vary. Just make sure all your info is correct to avoid delays!
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Olivia Clark
•2 weeks? You're lucky! Mine took over a month 😩 The system is so backed up rn
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Javier Morales
ugh PFL is such a headache. I've been waiting for my claim to be processed for weeks now. Good luck!
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Natasha Petrov
•Same here! Its like they dont even care about us. The whole system needs an overhaul 🤬
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Connor O'Brien
•Guys, I know it's frustrating, but remember the people working there are doing their best. The system is overwhelmed.
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Amina Diallo
Pro tip: keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. You never know when they might 'lose' your documents 🙄
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GamerGirl99
Has anyone actually managed to get through on the phone? I've been trying for days and it's always busy!
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•I found a way! There's this site called claimyr.com that has a calling tool. It dials the phone menu, stays on hold, and then connects you when a live agent picks up. It costs $20 but it worked for me. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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Isabella Costa
•Sounds too good to be true. Are you sure it's legit?
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Yeah, I was skeptical at first too. But I was desperate and gave it a shot. It really did work for me. Saved me hours of frustration.
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Malik Jenkins
•$20 to actually talk to someone? That's ridiculous. The system is so broken 😤
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Freya Andersen
Anyone else feel like they need a law degree to understand all the PFL rules? 🤯
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Eduardo Silva
•LOL for real. I swear they make it complicated on purpose 🤡
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Leila Haddad
Just a heads up, they recently changed some of the eligibility requirements. Make sure you check the latest info on the EDD website!
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Zara Perez
Thanks for starting this thread Paolo! I'm in a similar situation and this is already super helpful. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your Social Security number, employment info, and details about why you need the leave ready when you fill out the form. Also, if you're caring for a family member, you'll need their info too. The EDD website has a pretty good checklist of required documents - definitely worth checking out before you start the application process.
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