PFL Application Error - Can't Submit Online. Help!
Hey everyone, I'm trying to apply for paid family leave but I keep getting an error when I try to submit my application online. Has anyone else run into this issue? It's so frustrating! I really need to get this sorted out asap. Any advice on what to do or who to contact?
25 comments


Tom Maxon
I found a way to solve paid family leave application errors, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBuzEH4GJ7M
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Amara Torres
Ugh, I feel your pain! I had the same problem last month. Have you tried clearing your browser cache and cookies? Sometimes that helps with weird website glitches.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Thanks for the suggestion! I'll give that a try and see if it helps.
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Olivia Van-Cleve
•Clearing cache rarely works for government websites lol. They're always broken 🤡
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Amara Torres
•True, but it's worth a shot! Better than banging your head against the wall 😅
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Mason Kaczka
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 about it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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Sophia Russo
•Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?
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Mason Kaczka
•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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Evelyn Xu
•20 bucks to skip the hold time? Sign me up! 💯
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Dominic Green
Have you tried applying during off-peak hours? Sometimes the system gets overloaded during the day. I had better luck submitting my application late at night.
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Hannah Flores
Here's what worked for me: 1. Make sure all your info is 100% accurate. Even a small typo can cause errors. 2. Use a different browser or device if possible. 3. If you keep getting errors, write down the exact error message and time it occurred. 4. Call the PFL office directly. Be prepared to wait on hold for a while, but they can usually help. 5. If all else fails, you might need to submit a paper application. It's a pain, but sometimes it's the only way. Hope this helps! Don't give up, you'll get through eventually.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Thank you so much for the detailed advice! I'll definitely try these steps.
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Kayla Jacobson
•This is great info. Saving this for later just in case I need it 👍
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William Rivera
Is anyone else sick of how broken these government systems are? We pay taxes for this crap and can't even use it when we need it. smh
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Grace Lee
•Preach! 🙌 It's like they're stuck in the 90s or something
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Mia Roberts
•For real. My grandma could design a better website 😂
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The Boss
What error message are you getting exactly? Might help to troubleshoot if we know the specific error.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•It just says 'Error submitting application. Please try again later.' Super helpful, right? 🙄
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The Boss
•Oof, that's frustrating. Sounds like it could be a server-side issue. Definitely try calling them directly.
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Gemma Andrews
I had this exact same issue a few weeks ago! What finally worked for me was switching to a different browser entirely - I was using Chrome and it kept giving me that generic error message, but when I tried Firefox it went through perfectly. Also make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere with the form submission (like ad blockers or privacy tools). Sometimes those can mess with government websites. If that doesn't work, try using incognito/private browsing mode. Good luck!
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StarStrider
•Oh wow, the browser switching tip is genius! I never would have thought of that. I've been banging my head against the wall with Chrome for days. Definitely going to try Firefox right now. Thanks for sharing what worked for you! 🙏
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Isabella Santos
I've been dealing with similar issues with government websites lately. One thing that helped me beyond the browser switching (which is great advice!) was making sure JavaScript was fully enabled and temporarily disabling any VPN if you're using one. Also, try filling out the form in sections and saving your progress frequently if the site allows it - sometimes these systems time out if you take too long on a single page. If you're still stuck, document everything with screenshots and the exact time/date of errors - this info can be really helpful when you call their support line. Hang in there, you'll get through this! 💪
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Gabriel Freeman
•This is such helpful advice! I never thought about the VPN thing - I've been using one and that could definitely be causing issues. The tip about documenting everything with screenshots is smart too. I'm going to try disabling my VPN and switching browsers first, then if that doesn't work I'll have all the error details ready when I call. Thanks for taking the time to share all these troubleshooting tips! 🙌
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Rachel Tao
I just went through this nightmare last week! The EDD PFL system is so buggy. Here's what finally worked for me: 1) Use Firefox or Edge instead of Chrome, 2) Turn off ALL browser extensions temporarily, 3) Make sure you're on a stable internet connection (not public wifi), and 4) Fill out the application in one sitting without leaving the page idle. I also found that submitting between 6-8 AM worked better than during peak hours. If you're still getting errors, take screenshots and call the PFL phone line at (877) 238-4373. Yes, you'll be on hold forever, but they can sometimes push your application through manually or tell you exactly what's wrong. Don't give up - I know how stressful this is when you need the benefits! 🤞
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Landon Morgan
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I've been struggling with this for days and getting so frustrated. I was using Chrome with a bunch of extensions running, so that's probably part of the problem. The timing tip about submitting early morning is something I hadn't considered either - makes total sense that the system would be less overloaded then. I'm going to try your exact steps tomorrow morning and hopefully finally get this application through. Really appreciate you sharing what worked for you! 🙏
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