Out-of-state EDD PFL application nightmare - can't reach anyone by phone for baby bonding leave

Same experience here. Been trying for 2 weeks to get thru about my maternity leave claim. Its ridiculous!!! I call 50+ times a day and nothing. Maybe try the disability office instead of PFL? Sometimes they can transfer you if you actually reach a human.

Im in the exact same situation! Moved to Nevada last year but work remotely for CA company. For me i had to mail in a paper application since the online system wouldnt let me register. But now i cant check my claim status without calling... which is impossible. Have you tried faxing your application?

For out-of-state PFL claims, you need to use the paper form DE2501F specifically (not the standard disability form). Your employer must complete Section 3, and for baby bonding, you'll need to submit proof of relationship (birth certificate). Since you can't access the online portal, request that EDD sends all correspondence by mail when you submit your claim, and be sure to select the "out-of-state" option. Regarding the phone issues - this is unfortunately very common. EDD's phone system is notoriously difficult, especially since the pandemic. They literally don't have enough representatives to handle the call volume, so they cap incoming calls rather than having people wait for hours.

I was in a similar situation last month and nearly lost my mind trying to reach EDD. After dozens of attempts, I used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD representative in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 It was honestly such a relief to finally speak with someone who helped resolve my out-of-state PFL claim issues. The rep was able to take my application over the phone and override the California address requirement. Worth checking out their site at claimyr.com if you're still stuck.

The EDD system is COMPLETELY BROKEN!!! They make it IMPOSSIBLE to get benefits we've paid for!!! I had the same problem with an out-of-state address during my pregnancy disability claim and wasted TWO MONTHS trying to get it resolved. Keep detailed records of every attempt to contact them because you might need it for an appeal if they try to deny you benefits due to "late filing" which they did to me. And don't get me started on how they treat people who move out of state but still work for CA companies. It's like they're purposely making it difficult for us.

Here's what you need to know about filing for PFL from out-of-state: 1. Use paper form DE2501F (Paid Family Leave Claim) 2. Include a brief cover letter explaining your situation (CA employment/out-of-state residence) 3. Attach birth certificate copy for baby bonding 4. Have your employer complete their section verifying CA employment 5. If your baby is already born, you can file right away (no waiting period for PFL) 6. Benefits are payable for 8 weeks within a 12-month period 7. Mail everything via certified mail to: PO Box 989315, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9315 The 41-day filing window starts at the first day of your family leave period, not the birth date. Most importantly, if your claim is eventually approved, benefits should be paid retroactively to your leave start date, regardless of when the claim is processed.

Just wanted to add - be sure you're using the correct form. The DE2501F is specifically for PFL claims (including baby bonding), while the DE2501 is for disability claims. Even though they sound similar, using the wrong form will cause delays. Since you've already had your baby, you'll be filing for bonding leave directly (not transitioning from pregnancy disability). Also, make sure your employer completes their portion before you submit - the form will be rejected if their section is incomplete. And they need to provide your last day worked, which is critical for calculating your benefit start date.

my cousin works for EDD (not in claims but different dept) and says they are EXTREMELY understaffed right now, like worse than during covid. she said your best bet is sending the paper app with attention to "OUT OF STATE CLAIM PROCESSING" written on the envelope. also try the 619 area code number instead of 800 number sometimes it works better

btw did u know u can have someone else call for you? like ur spouse/parent etc can call as your "representative" as long as ur there to give permission when they connect. might help to have multiple people trying to call for u

Just a quick follow-up since several people have mentioned this: The correct mailing address for PFL claims (including out-of-state) changed recently. The current address is: Employment Development Department Paid Family Leave P.O. Box 989315 West Sacramento, CA 95798-9315 Using an outdated address could delay your claim by 1-2 weeks as it gets rerouted internally.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just moved to Texas but still working for my California employer. What's helped me so far is calling the EDD disability line (1-800-480-3287) instead of the main number - sometimes they can help with PFL questions too or at least transfer you to someone who can. Also, I discovered that if you call exactly at 8:00 AM on Tuesday or Wednesday, you have a slightly better chance of getting through before they hit their call limit. Still frustrating but I managed to speak to someone after about 15 attempts using this approach. Good luck with the paper application route - sounds like that might be your best bet!

I went through this exact same nightmare 6 months ago when I moved to Arizona but kept my CA job. The phone system is absolutely broken - I called over 200 times before giving up on that route. Here's what finally worked for me: I sent the DE2501F form via certified mail with a detailed cover letter explaining the out-of-state situation and included my call log showing all the failed attempts to reach them by phone. I also wrote "URGENT - OUT OF STATE PFL CLAIM - UNABLE TO REACH BY PHONE" in red ink across the top of the envelope. Got my first payment about 3 weeks later. Don't lose hope - you WILL get your benefits, it's just going to take longer than it should. The paper route is definitely your best bet at this point. Make sure to keep copies of everything and send it certified mail so you have proof they received it.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the EDD phone system is absolutely brutal right now. I had a very similar experience last year when I moved to Washington state but kept my California job. After weeks of failed phone attempts, I ended up using the paper application route and it was honestly a lifesaver. A few things that might help based on my experience: When you fill out the DE2501F form, make sure to attach a brief letter explaining your situation and why you couldn't file online (out-of-state address issue). Also, since your baby is 3 weeks old, you can actually backdate your leave start date - PFL allows you to claim up to 6 weeks retroactively from when you actually stopped working to bond. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: you can also try reaching out to your state representative's office. Many of them have staff who specialize in helping constituents with federal and state agency issues. My friend in Oregon got help this way when she was stuck with unemployment issues. It might be worth a shot while you're waiting for the paper application to process. Hang in there - you've paid into this system for 10 years and you absolutely deserve these benefits. The paper route takes longer but it does work!

I'm going through something very similar right now! Moved to Florida last month but still working remotely for my California employer. My son was born 2 weeks ago and I'm hitting the exact same brick wall with the online system requiring a CA address. The phone situation is absolutely maddening - I've called probably 75+ times over the past week and get that same "maximum callers" message every single time. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though. I'm going to try the paper DE2501F route based on everyone's advice here. @Royal_GM_Mark and @Matthew Sanchez - thank you for the detailed instructions about the forms and mailing address. I had no idea there was a specific out-of-state process. @Anthony Young - definitely try that 619 number someone mentioned, and the Tuesday 8 AM timing tip from @Olivia Garcia. I'm going to give that a shot tomorrow while I'm waiting for my employer to complete their section of the paperwork. We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops for benefits we've been paying into, but at least there seem to be workarounds. Keep us posted on how your paper application goes!