When does EDD deposit PFL payments? Payment schedule confusion after first deposit

congrats on finally getting paid! mine always came every 2 weeks on tuesday but sometimes wednesday. good luck!

Thanks! At least I know to expect something roughly every 2 weeks. Were your payments always the same amount?

PFL pays you every two weeks after you submit your certification. The certification periods are 14 days long, and you need to certify that you're still on leave and still eligible. If you're using the online system, you'll get a notification when it's time to certify. Payment typically comes 2-3 days after certification if there are no issues.\n\nThe payment dates aren't on specific calendar days (like the 1st and 15th) but rather depend on when your certification period ends and when you submit the certification. Hope that helps!

This helps a lot, thank you! So I should be watching for the certification notification rather than a specific date on the calendar. I was trying to time my bill payments around a fixed schedule but sounds like I need to be more flexible.

When my wife was on maternity leave last year, the EDD payments were completely RANDOM! Sometimes they came 2 days after certifying, other times it took 9 DAYS!!! The EDD has no consistent system at all and you can't count on them for anything. We almost missed our mortgage payment twice because of their incompetence.

While the timing can vary somewhat, it's not actually random. After certification, there's usually a processing period of 2-3 business days before the payment is issued. Bank holidays and weekends can affect this timeline. If it took 9 days, there may have been an issue with the certification that required manual review.

I just finished my baby bonding PFL in January 2025 and can share my experience. EDD pays every two weeks but only after you complete your certification. Important things to know:\n\n1. You'll get notified when it's time to certify (usually at the end of each 2-week period)\n2. Payments generally arrive within 3 business days after certification if there are no issues\n3. If you have direct deposit, it's faster than debit card or paper check\n4. Weekends and holidays can delay payments\n5. The amount should be consistent each time (based on your benefit calculation) unless you reported income\n\nOne tip: certify as soon as you're notified to avoid delays. The system will tell you the earliest date you can certify for each period.

This is super detailed, thank you! Do you know if I need to do anything special for the certification or is it just confirming I'm still on leave? I'm worried about making a mistake and delaying payments.

The certification is pretty straightforward! You'll answer questions like:\n- Are you still on leave for baby bonding?\n- Did you work during this period?\n- Did you receive any other income?\n- Are you able and available to provide care?\n\nJust answer honestly. If you did work any days, report them accurately. The system will calculate any partial payments needed. Don't worry too much - the questions are designed to be clear and the system guides you through it step by step.

my friend got her payments on fridays but mine always came on tuesdays so i think it depends on when ur claim started?? the whole system is confusing tbh

You're right that it can vary. The payment day depends on when you certify and how long processing takes, not a fixed day of the week. If you and your friend certified on different days, your payments would naturally arrive on different days.

Wait you're already getting paid? I applied for PFL baby bonding 6 weeks ago and haven't received ANYTHING! No payments, no updates, nothing! I've been calling EDD for two weeks straight and can't get through to a human being. How did you get your claim processed so \

Mine was delayed too but I finally got through to someone who fixed whatever the hold-up was. Try calling right when they open at 8am - that's when I finally got through.

I had the same issue last month - calling hundreds of times with no luck. I finally used Claimyr.com to get through to an EDD agent in about 30 minutes. It connected me directly to a rep who fixed my claim and my payment was released that same day. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 I was skeptical but it saved me days of frustration and calling.

Thank you! I'm desperate at this point, I'll check it out. Did the rep explain why your claim was delayed in the first place?

Yes! Turned out they were missing confirmation of my last day worked even though I included it in my application. The rep fixed it while I was on the phone and released my payment. Worth every minute not spent redialing EDD for days!

To clarify some confusion in this thread:\n\nCalifornia PFL payments work on a certification-based schedule, not a fixed calendar schedule. Here's the accurate process:\n\n1. After your claim is approved, you're placed on a biweekly certification schedule\n2. You must certify at the end of each 2-week period\n3. Payments are typically processed within 2-3 business days after certification\n4. Deposit timing depends on your bank and payment method (direct deposit is fastest)\n\nImportant: While many people receive payments on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, this isn't a fixed rule. It depends entirely on when you certify and how quickly EDD processes it. If your certification period ends on a Thursday, for example, your payment timeline will be different than someone whose period ends on a Monday.\n\nTo maximize consistency, try to certify on the same day each period (the first day you're eligible to do so).

Thank you for explaining this so clearly! So if I understand right, I need to make sure I certify right away when prompted, and then I can expect payment within 2-3 business days after that (assuming no issues). That helps me plan much better!

by the way did u get ur payment on the edd debit card or direct deposit? the card took way longer for me

I set up direct deposit when I applied so it went straight to my checking account. One thing they got right at least!

I had my baby in December and started PFL after my disability ended in January. For me, they actually changed my certification schedule halfway through which was super annoying! I was certifying on Sundays and getting paid Wednesdays, then suddenly they switched me to certifying on Thursdays and getting paid the following Monday.\n\nThe EDD rep told me this happens sometimes when they're balancing their workload. So don't be surprised if your schedule shifts at some point. Just keep checking your online account for notification of when to certify!

Oh that's good to know, thank you! I'll make sure to keep checking the online portal regularly then. Did you get any notification when your schedule changed or did you just have to notice it yourself?

They sent an email saying to check my account for

As someone who just went through this process, I can confirm the biweekly certification schedule is accurate! One tip I wish I'd known earlier - if you're planning your budget, give yourself a buffer of 3-5 business days after certification just in case there are any processing delays or bank holidays. Also, make sure your direct deposit info is correct in your EDD account - I had a friend whose payments got delayed because her bank account number had a typo. The whole system becomes much more predictable once you get into the rhythm of certifying every two weeks!

Just wanted to add my recent experience - I finished my PFL leave in February 2025. The key thing that helped me was setting up text notifications in my EDD account so I'd get alerted immediately when it was time to certify. I also kept a simple calendar note of my certification dates so I could predict roughly when payments would come. One thing to watch out for - if you return to work early or take any unpaid time off, make sure to report it accurately during certification or it can cause delays in future payments. The system is actually pretty reliable once you understand the rhythm, but those first few weeks definitely felt chaotic while figuring it all out!

I'm currently on PFL for baby bonding and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was getting stressed about the irregular timing but now I understand it's all based on the certification schedule. One question - has anyone had issues with the EDD portal being down when it's time to certify? I'm worried about missing my certification window if the system is having technical problems when I need to submit it.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm also on PFL baby bonding and was getting anxious about the payment timing. Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is to certify as soon as you're eligible and then expect payment within 2-3 business days. I really appreciate all the practical tips like setting up text notifications and keeping a calendar tracker. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone noticed if the payment amounts ever vary from what EDD initially calculated, or do they stay consistent throughout your leave period?

I'm currently in week 3 of my PFL baby bonding leave and this whole thread has been a lifesaver! I was getting really anxious about when my next payment would come since my first one arrived last Thursday. Based on what everyone is sharing, it sounds like I need to focus on watching for my certification notification rather than trying to predict exact dates. The tip about setting up text notifications is brilliant - I had no idea that was even an option. And @Hassan Khoury your advice about building in a 3-5 day buffer for budgeting is so practical. I was trying to time my mortgage payment perfectly but clearly I need to be more flexible. One follow-up question - when you all talk about certifying "as soon as you're eligible," does that mean the very first day the certification period opens up? I want to make sure I'm not missing any opportunities to speed up the process!

This thread is amazing! I'm in week 2 of my baby bonding leave and was completely confused about the payment schedule until reading everyone's experiences. I got my first payment last Monday but had no idea when to expect the next one. Now I understand it's all about the certification cycle - that makes so much more sense than trying to figure out some mysterious calendar schedule. I'm definitely going to set up those text notifications right now and start keeping track of my certification dates like @Katherine Hunter suggested. The tip about certifying first thing in the morning when you're eligible is super helpful too. I've been so stressed about budgeting but the advice about building in a 3-5 day buffer is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is way more helpful than anything I found on the official EDD website!

This has been such a helpful thread! I'm just starting my PFL baby bonding leave next week and was totally clueless about how the payment schedule works. Reading everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease - I was expecting some kind of fixed monthly payment like a regular paycheck, but the certification-based system actually makes more sense once you understand it. I'm definitely going to set up those text notifications and direct deposit right away based on all your advice. The tip about certifying on the very first eligible day and then expecting payment within 2-3 business days is exactly the kind of concrete timeline I needed. And building in that 3-5 day buffer for budgeting is so smart - I was planning to cut things way too close. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and timelines. This community is way more informative than any official EDD documentation I've found!