Need help with CA PFL claim - out of work since Jan, husband in hospital. Advice?
I've been out of work since January because my husband got really sick and I had to take care of him in the hospital. Now I'm trying to figure out how to get some income. Has anyone dealt with Paid Family Leave in California? What should I expect when I call them? I'm worried about how to explain everything and if I can get any back pay.
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Isabella Santos
I've been through this before. Here's what you need to do: • Get all your husband's hospital records ready • Write down a timeline of events since January • When you call, explain clearly why you couldn't work • Ask about retroactive payments • Find out what other docs they might need • Get a case number and follow-up date It might take a while, but don't give up! The system's slow, but it works eventually.
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Ravi Gupta
•This is really helpful, thanks! Do you know how long the process usually takes?
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Isabella Santos
•It can vary, but in my experience, it took about 3-4 weeks from when I submitted all the paperwork. Just make sure you follow up regularly!
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GalacticGuru
•3-4 weeks? You got lucky! It took me almost 2 months to get everything sorted out. 🙄
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Freya Pedersen
ugh, good luck dealing with the bureaucracy. i swear they make it hard on purpose 🤬
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Omar Fawaz
I found a way to actually 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 about it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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Chloe Anderson
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?
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Omar Fawaz
•Yeah, it's legit. I was skeptical at first too, but it saved me hours of hold time. Worth every penny imo.
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Diego Vargas
•20 bucks to skip the hold? sign me up! 💯
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Anastasia Fedorov
make sure you emphasize how long youve been caring for your husband. thats key for the backpay situation
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Malik Davis
•Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely make that clear when I talk to them.
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StarStrider
I'm in the same boat, its so frustrating. Been trying to get through for weeks now. Anyone know if theres a better time to call?
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Sean Doyle
•I've had the best luck calling right when they open. Set an alarm and be ready to dial!
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Zara Rashid
•Nah, tried that. It's all random. Just gotta keep trying and pray to the hold music gods 🙏
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Luca Romano
Pro tip: keep a detailed log of all your calls, who you talked to, and what they said. It'll save you a ton of headaches later on.
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Nia Jackson
have you looked into any local non-profits that might be able to help? sometimes they can guide you through the process or even help with emergency funds
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Malik Davis
•I hadn't thought of that. Do you know any specific organizations I should look into?
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Nia Jackson
•Try 211.org, they can connect you with local resources. Also, check if your county has a Department of Social Services, they often have good info.
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Mateo Hernandez
Oof, dealing with PFL is rough. Hang in there! Remember to take care of yourself too while youre taking care of your husband. 💖
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CosmicCruiser
idk if this helps, but when i applied, i had my doctor fill out the medical certification form SUPER detailed. made the whole process go way smoother.
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Malik Davis
•That's great advice, thank you! I'll make sure to get a really thorough form from the doctor.
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Aisha Khan
Anyone else feel like we need a complete overhaul of the entire system? It's 2023, why is this still so complicated? 🤦♂️
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Ethan Taylor
•Preach! 👏 It's like they're stuck in the stone age or something.
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Yuki Ito
•Careful what you wish for. Knowing the government, they'd probably make it worse lol
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