Will EDD PFL payments be affected by unemployment overpayment repayment?

yes, based on my experience they do sometimes withhold pfl benefits if u have any outstanding overpayments with EDD. doesnt matter if its unemployment or disability. they consider it all the same system. try to get it paid off before u apply!!

Same thing happened to my sister last year. They took 25% of her weekly benefit to pay back an old unemployment debt. Pretty stressful when you're trying to focus on a newborn and not having your full benefit.

Actually, this is a bit more nuanced. If you completely pay off your unemployment overpayment before filing for PFL, there should be no garnishment or delay. The key is making sure your account shows a zero balance before submitting your DE2501F (Paid Family Leave claim form). If you still have an outstanding balance when you file, EDD typically reduces your weekly benefit amount by 25% until the overpayment is satisfied. For pregnancy disability and PFL, they consider your claim separately from UI, but the collection department can place an intercept on any EDD benefits. I recommend: 1. Get written confirmation once your repayment is complete 2. Print your account statement showing zero balance 3. Keep this documentation with your PFL application materials 4. If you file online, upload this documentation as additional evidence This will help prevent any automatic reductions in your benefit amount.

The EDD system is such a nightmare!!!! I had a similar situation in 2023 and even though I paid off my UI overpayment COMPLETELY, they still put a 2-week "review" hold on my maternity benefits because of the "history of overpayment" on my account. Had to call them 22 TIMES before someone fixed it. The left hand doesn't know what the right is doing there.

When you complete your repayment, request an official clearance letter from EDD showing your overpayment is satisfied. This documentation is crucial. Even though PFL and UI are technically different benefit types administered by EDD, their collection system sometimes flags accounts with previous overpayments for review. The 25% reduction some people mentioned is standard practice for active overpayments, but if yours is fully paid before you file for PFL, you should receive your full benefit amount. However, there might still be a short processing delay while they verify your account status. If you experience any delays or reductions after your overpayment is cleared, you'll need to contact EDD directly. Unfortunately, reaching them can be extremely difficult - their phone lines are notoriously overwhelmed.

Just throwing this out there - are you filing for Pregnancy Disability first, or going straight to PFL? Because if you're doing disability first, make sure you fill out the DE2501 form, not the PFL form (DE2501F). The two benefits are connected but have different paperwork. I got so confused with all the different forms!

One more important note about your situation: when you transition from Pregnancy Disability to PFL baby bonding, there's a specific process to follow. After your disability claim ends, you'll need to file the PFL claim within 41 days to maintain continuous benefits. The good news is that once your disability claim is established without issues related to your overpayment, the transition to PFL is usually smooth since your eligibility has already been verified. If your unemployment overpayment is fully satisfied by January as you mentioned, and your baby is due in February, you should be in good shape. The system will already have processed your eligibility for pregnancy disability without reductions before you transition to PFL.

Congrats on the baby btw! Try not to stress too much about this stuff. It usually works out fine in the end. 😊

I went through something similar in 2022! I had an old UI overpayment that I was slowly paying off, and when I filed for PFL after my son was born, they did reduce my weekly benefit by about 20% to continue paying down the debt. However, I was able to call EDD and set up a separate payment plan for the overpayment so my PFL benefits wouldn't be affected. It took forever to get through to someone (literally hours on hold), but once I explained my situation with a newborn, they were pretty understanding. The key is to be persistent and keep calling until you get someone who can help. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready when you do get through - payment history, account statements, etc. Good luck with your little one!