PFL Appeal Timelines after Denial? Husband approved then denied!

omg same thing happened to my brother last year!!! they approved him for 6 weeks then randomly sent a denial letter saying he didnt qualify. took him almost 2 months to get a hearing date. the system is so broken

I went through this exact situation with my PFL claim in 2024. The appeal timeline varies but typically takes 4-8 weeks before you'll get a hearing date. During my appeal, I learned a few important things: 1. Make sure you've submitted the DE 1000A form (Appeal Form) completely filled out 2. The letter should state the reason for denial - most common for initially approved then denied claims is employer verification issues or incomplete medical certification 3. While waiting, keep checking your online account for updates 4. Gather all documentation that supports your husband's claim (birth certificates, employment verification, any medical documentation) The most frustrating part is reaching someone at EDD to check status. I finally got through after weeks of trying.

The EDD system is TRASH! They did this to me too - approved me for disability during pregnancy then suddenly decided I wasn't qualified and demanded $5,800 back!! Took me calling LITERALLY EVERY DAY for 3 weeks to get someone who could explain what happened. Turns out my doctor submitted one form late and instead of just telling me that, they denied everything! The appeal took 6 weeks for me, and I was about to lose my mind.

Having worked with many clients going through PFL appeals, I can tell you the process typically takes 6-8 weeks from appeal submission to hearing date. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) has to review the case, which creates the backlog. The most common reason for a reversal like this is an employer contesting the claim or providing contradictory information after initial approval. Other possibilities include: - Insufficient bonding documentation - Work performed during leave period - Incomplete certification forms I recommend calling the Appeals Division directly at (800) 300-5616, option 3. They can at least confirm receipt of your appeal and give you a rough timeframe. Make sure you have your case number ready.

Have you gotten the letter confirming they received your appeal yet? That usually comes within 10 business days. When my wife did her appeal last year (they denied her because they claimed she didn't submit proof of relationship with our daughter even though she did), we got the confirmation letter first, then about 5 weeks later got the hearing date. The whole thing took about 2 months but she won the appeal! Hang in there!

I was in this EXACT situation in January. Got approved for PFL, received 2 payments, then got denied. Try using Claimyr to connect with an EDD agent - it's the only way I was able to actually talk to someone. Their service connects you with an EDD agent within minutes instead of waiting for hours. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92Wm?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5) and was skeptical but it actually worked. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me exactly why my claim was denied (my employer submitted conflicting dates) and gave me specific advice for my appeal. You can find them at claimyr.com - seriously saved my sanity during this process.

im going thru this right now too!! my hearing is next week and im so nervous i dont even know what to say or bring with me. they denied me after 4 weeks sayin i didnt provide bonding proof but i sent pics with my baby and everything. this system is horrible for new parents

One thing I forgot to mention - while you're waiting for the appeal to process, your husband should still file his bi-weekly certifications (if he's still on leave). If he wins the appeal, they'll only pay for properly certified weeks. Also, make sure he hasn't gone back to work without reporting it, as that's a common reason for retroactive denials.

Regarding your concern about them asking for money back - if they approved payments and then reversed the decision, they may issue an overpayment notice. However, you can appeal that separately or request a waiver if repayment would cause financial hardship. Make sure to address this specifically in your appeal hearing. Based on your timeline (September claim, recent denial), you may be dealing with a standard verification issue that arose after initial payments were processed. These are often resolved in the claimant's favor during appeal if you have proper documentation.

I'm going through something similar right now with my PFL claim! Got approved in December, received 4 payments, then boom - denial letter in February saying I didn't meet eligibility requirements. Filed my appeal 3 weeks ago and still waiting. The stress is unreal, especially when you're already dealing with a new baby and sleep deprivation. From what I've researched, the appeal process can take anywhere from 6-12 weeks depending on the caseload. I've been documenting everything and keeping copies of all correspondence. One thing that helped me was requesting my complete claim file from EDD - you can do this by calling and asking for a "claims folder printout." It shows exactly what documentation they have and what might be missing. Hang in there - it sounds like you have a strong case since you were initially approved. The system is definitely broken but don't give up!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress of dealing with EDD while caring for newborn twins must be overwhelming! I haven't been through the PFL appeal process myself yet, but I'm currently pregnant and planning to apply for family leave later this year. Reading all these experiences is both helpful and terrifying. From what everyone is sharing, it sounds like 6-8 weeks seems to be the typical timeline for getting a hearing date. The fact that your husband was initially approved and received payments is actually encouraging - it suggests the denial might be due to a paperwork issue or employer verification problem rather than him not qualifying at all. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and taking notes on all the advice people are giving (especially about requesting the complete claim file and using that Claimyr service if I need to reach EDD). Thank you for sharing your situation - it's helping future applicants like me know what to potentially expect and prepare for. Wishing you and your family the best outcome with the appeal!

I'm currently dealing with a similar PFL appeal situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it seems like the 6-8 week timeline for hearing dates is pretty consistent across the board. One thing that's been helpful for me is keeping a detailed log of every phone call attempt, including date, time, and outcome (disconnected, long wait time, etc.). This documentation has been useful when speaking with EDD representatives. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to check if your husband's employer submitted any contradictory information after the initial approval. In my case, I discovered through the claims file that my employer had submitted updated employment dates that didn't match what was originally provided, which triggered the denial review. The financial stress while waiting is real - we've had to adjust our budget significantly. But from what I'm reading here, it sounds like many people do win their appeals, especially when they were initially approved and have proper documentation. Stay strong!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! I went through a similar PFL appeal last year and it was absolutely exhausting. My husband was initially approved for bonding leave after our daughter was born, then they reversed the decision 6 weeks later claiming "insufficient documentation" even though we had submitted everything they asked for. Our timeline was: Filed appeal in early October, got confirmation letter 2 weeks later, hearing scheduled for mid-December (about 10 weeks total). The hearing itself was conducted over the phone and lasted about 45 minutes. The judge was actually very fair and asked detailed questions about the original approval and what changed. We ended up winning the appeal - turns out EDD had misplaced one of our forms in their system! They reinstated all benefits and paid the back payments within 3 weeks of the hearing decision. A few tips that helped us: - Document EVERYTHING (sounds like you're already doing this) - Request your complete claim file like others mentioned - Bring a witness to the hearing if possible (my husband's supervisor testified about the leave dates) - Stay calm during the hearing - the judge really does want to get to the truth The waiting is the worst part, but hang in there. The fact that he was initially approved is definitely in your favor. Wishing you the best outcome!

This thread has been incredibly helpful for someone like me who's about to navigate the PFL system! I'm due with my first baby in May and my husband is planning to take bonding leave. Reading about everyone's experiences - both the nightmares and the success stories - is giving me a much better idea of what to prepare for. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about keeping meticulous records from day one, taking screenshots of everything, and making copies of all submitted documents. The fact that so many of you were initially approved and then denied seems to suggest this is more of a systemic issue with EDD's processes rather than actual eligibility problems. @Luis Johnson - your success story gives me so much hope! It's encouraging to know that people do win these appeals, especially when the denial was due to EDD's own mistakes. @Aisha Patel and @Gabrielle Dubois - thank you for all the specific procedural advice and phone numbers. I'm saving all of this information for reference. For those of you still waiting on your appeals - I'm rooting for you all! This system is clearly broken but it sounds like persistence and good documentation really do pay off. Please keep us updated on your outcomes!

I'm currently going through the exact same situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! My wife was approved for PFL in January, received 3 payments, then got hit with a denial letter last week saying she didn't meet eligibility requirements. We filed our appeal immediately but I've been panicking about the timeline. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially @Luis Johnson's success story - gives me so much hope that we can get through this. The consistency in the 6-8 week timeline for hearing dates is actually reassuring, even though it feels like forever when you're living it. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that @Tyrone Johnson recommended since calling EDD has been absolutely impossible. Also planning to request our complete claim file like @Oliver Schulz suggested - that's such a smart move to see exactly what documentation they have. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. It's amazing how this community is helping each other navigate this broken system. Will keep everyone updated on our progress, and hoping all of you still waiting get positive outcomes soon!