PFL claim stuck on 'pending processing' for 4 weeks - how to speed it up?

I found a way to solve long Paid Family Leave processing, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocn6jnM0Ryo

Ugh, I feel your pain! I've been waiting for 6 weeks now. Its like they dont even care about us. I've tried calling every day but can never get through. This system is so broken 😡

I actually found a way to get through to someone on the phone! I used this site called claimyr.com. It's a calling tool that 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

Here's what I've learned after dealing with PFL claims for years: 1. Be persistent. Call every day if you have to. 2. Keep detailed records of all your communications. 3. Double-check that you've submitted all required documents. 4. If possible, submit your claim online rather than by mail. 5. Consider reaching out to your state representative or senator. 6. Join social media groups for PFL claimants - sometimes they have insider tips. 7. If all else fails, file a formal complaint with the department. Hope this helps! Hang in there, OP!

lol welcome to the club. been waiting 2 months here. starting to think they just throw our claims in a big pile and pick random ones to process 🤡

Have you checked if there were any errors or missing information on your application? Sometimes that can cause delays.

Ive heard rumors that they're super backlogged bc of covid still. Apparently they lost a bunch of staff and haven't been able to replace them fast enough. Not an excuse, but might explain the delay 🤷‍♂️

Pro tip: call right when they open in the morning. I got through after only 20 mins on hold that way!

Just saw this thread, mine is in pending process and applied on Dec 02

I submitted my claim 11 weeks ago and have tried calling dozens of times and can’t get through

11 weeks?! That's absolutely ridiculous. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. At this point I'd definitely escalate - maybe try filing a complaint with the state ombudsman or contacting your assembly member's office. They sometimes have staff who can help cut through the red tape. This system is completely broken if people are waiting nearly 3 months for basic processing.

I'm in the exact same boat - filed my PFL claim 3 weeks ago and it's still showing "pending processing" with zero updates. It's incredibly frustrating, especially when you're already dealing with family care responsibilities and need that financial support. I've tried calling multiple times but can never get through to a human. The whole system feels like it's designed to make us give up. Thanks for all the helpful tips in this thread everyone - definitely going to try calling right at 8am and maybe look into that claimyr service if I get desperate enough. It's ridiculous that we have to pay extra just to talk to someone about our own claims though!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed my PFL claim 3.5 weeks ago and it's been stuck on "pending processing" the whole time. It's so stressful when you're already dealing with caring for a family member and then have to worry about whether your claim will ever get processed. I've tried calling probably 15 times but always get the busy signal or get disconnected after being on hold forever. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring (knowing I'm not alone) and terrifying (seeing people waiting 11+ weeks!). I think I'm going to try the 8am calling strategy and maybe contact my assembly member's office if nothing happens soon. This whole system really needs an overhaul - it shouldn't be this hard to access benefits we've paid into!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my PFL claim 5 weeks ago and it's still stuck on "pending processing" with zero communication from EDD. It's incredibly frustrating when you're already stressed about caring for a family member and then have to worry about whether you'll ever see the benefits you've paid into. I've tried calling at least 20 times but either get a busy signal or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and tips here - it's both comforting to know I'm not alone and scary to see some people waiting months! I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy and might look into contacting my assembly member's office if things don't improve soon. This whole system desperately needs reform - we shouldn't have to become experts at navigating bureaucracy just to access help during family emergencies.

Just joining this conversation as someone who's completely new to the PFL process - I haven't even filed yet but I'm going to need to soon for a family situation. Reading through all these experiences is honestly terrifying! It sounds like the system is completely broken if people are waiting 2-3 months just for basic processing. I'm taking notes on all the tips you've shared though - calling at 8am, keeping detailed records, contacting assembly members for long delays. It's crazy that we have to strategize just to access benefits we've paid into. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences, even though they're frustrating - at least now I know what I might be up against. Hoping things improve for all of you who are still waiting! 🤞

I'm in a similar situation - filed my PFL claim about 3 weeks ago and it's been stuck on "pending processing" with absolutely no updates. It's so stressful when you're already dealing with family care responsibilities and then have to worry about whether your claim will ever move forward. I've tried calling probably a dozen times but always get either a busy signal or disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (knowing I'm not the only one) and honestly pretty scary seeing people wait 11+ weeks! I'm definitely going to try that 8am calling strategy and keep all the other tips in mind. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and advice - it really helps to know we're not alone in this broken system. Fingers crossed we all get some movement on our claims soon!

I'm in the exact same boat - submitted my PFL claim 4.5 weeks ago and it's still showing "pending processing" with zero communication from EDD. It's incredibly frustrating when you're already stressed about caring for a family member and then have to wonder if your claim will ever get processed. I've tried calling at least 25 times but either get busy signals or sit on hold for 2+ hours before getting disconnected. Reading through this thread has been both helpful and terrifying - seeing people wait 11+ weeks is just insane! I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy that several people mentioned, and if I hit the 6-week mark I think I'll contact my assembly member's office. It's ridiculous that we have to become experts at navigating bureaucracy just to access benefits we've paid into. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - at least we know we're not alone in this mess of a system!

I'm completely new to this whole PFL process but will need to file soon for a family care situation. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly both eye-opening and terrifying! It's clear the system has serious issues when so many people are stuck waiting weeks or months for basic processing. I'm definitely taking notes on all the strategies you've shared - calling right at 8am, keeping detailed records, having all paperwork ready upfront, and escalating to assembly members for long delays. It's really sad that we need to become experts at navigating bureaucracy just to access benefits we've already paid into. Thanks to everyone for being so open about sharing your frustrating experiences - at least now I have some idea what I might be up against. Hoping all of you waiting get some movement on your claims soon! 🤞

Just submitted my PFL claim yesterday and already feeling anxious after reading all these experiences! I'm caring for my elderly mother who had a fall, and I was counting on this benefit to help during her recovery period. It's really disheartening to see so many people waiting months with no communication. I'm definitely going to bookmark all the tips shared here - the 8am calling strategy, keeping detailed records, and having assembly member contact info ready just in case. It's crazy that we need a whole game plan just to access something we've been paying into! Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories, even though they're frustrating. At least I know what I might be dealing with now. Fingers crossed the system improves for all of us! 🤞

I'm completely new to this whole PFL process but will likely need to file soon for my own family situation. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly eye-opening - it's shocking how many people are dealing with the exact same issues! The consistent stories about endless busy signals, hours-long holds that end in disconnections, and complete lack of communication from EDD really highlight how broken this system is. I'm definitely taking notes on all the strategies shared here - calling right at 8am seems to be the most consistent advice, along with keeping detailed records from day one and having assembly member contact info ready for longer delays. It's honestly ridiculous that we need to strategize and prepare for battle just to access benefits we've already paid into. Thanks to everyone for being so open about sharing your frustrating experiences - it really helps to know what we might be up against. Hoping all of you still waiting finally get some movement on your claims soon! 🙏