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!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I have an ongoing UI overpayment from 2021 that I'm still paying off, and I'm expecting in April. From what I've learned through my research and talking to others, the key thing is getting that balance to zero before you file your claim. One thing I discovered that might help you - if you're making monthly payments, you might be able to make a larger payment in December or early January to clear the balance faster. I called EDD's overpayment department (different from the regular benefits line) and they were able to tell me my exact remaining balance and let me know I could pay extra to finish it off early. The number for overpayments is different from the main EDD line and tends to be less busy: 1-866-962-0741. They're usually more helpful since they're specifically dealing with collections rather than new claims. Since you're due in February and planning to take leave beforehand, having that extra month buffer should really help. Best of luck with everything!

I'm in a very similar situation! I have an unemployment overpayment from 2020 that I'm still paying off, and I'm due in March 2025. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I didn't realize there were so many nuances to consider. One thing I wanted to add based on my recent experience: when I called the main EDD line to ask about this, the rep told me that even if your overpayment is fully paid off, they sometimes put a "verification hold" on new claims from accounts that previously had overpayments. She said it usually only lasts 1-2 weeks while they confirm everything is cleared, but it's something to be aware of. I'm planning to follow the advice here about getting written confirmation once my balance is zero and keeping all that documentation with my claim. It's so stressful trying to navigate all this while pregnant, but at least knowing what to expect helps a lot. Good luck with your baby and hopefully we both get through this process smoothly!

I work for a nonprofit that helps people navigate EDD issues, and I wanted to clarify a few things based on what I've seen: The 25% garnishment rate mentioned is accurate for active overpayments, but there's actually some flexibility in how EDD handles this. If you can demonstrate financial hardship (which having a newborn often qualifies as), they may reduce the garnishment percentage or temporarily suspend collections. Also, make sure you understand the difference between "overpayment" and "fraud overpayment" on your account. Regular overpayments (like receiving benefits you weren't entitled to due to income changes) are handled differently than fraud cases. If yours is just a regular overpayment from 2020, you should have more options. One more tip: if you do end up with reduced benefits, you can request a hardship review by submitting form DE 1447H (Request for Hardship). This can potentially restore your full benefit amount during your maternity leave period. Document everything and don't give up if the first person you talk to can't help. Different EDD representatives sometimes give different answers, so persistence really matters here.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation in 2023! I had an unemployment overpayment from 2020 that I was still paying off when I went on maternity leave. The good news is that I was able to get it resolved, but it did require some proactive steps. What worked for me was calling EDD about 6 weeks before my due date to discuss my situation. I explained that I had a newborn coming and needed to make sure my PFL wouldn't be affected. The rep was actually really helpful and noted my account that I was expecting, which seemed to help when I later filed my claim. They did initially reduce my first PFL payment by 25%, but after I called and referenced my earlier conversation, they were able to set up a separate payment arrangement that allowed me to receive my full benefits. The key was being proactive and getting ahead of the issue rather than waiting for problems to arise. Since you're due in February and should have your overpayment paid off by January, you're in a much better position than I was! But I'd still recommend calling them in early January once your balance is zero to get confirmation on your account and maybe flag that you'll be filing for maternity benefits soon. It gives you a paper trail and shows you're being proactive about resolving any potential issues. Congratulations on your pregnancy, and try not to stress too much - it really does usually work out in the end! 🤗

I went through something very similar in early 2024! I had an old UI overpayment from 2020 that I was paying off monthly, and I was terrified they'd mess with my maternity benefits. Here's what I learned: The most important thing is getting that balance to ZERO before you file any claims. Even $50 remaining can trigger their system to flag your account. I ended up paying off my last $200 in one lump sum in December just to be safe. Once it was paid off, I immediately requested written confirmation from EDD showing a zero balance. This was crucial because when I filed for pregnancy disability in January, there was initially some confusion on their end about my account status. Having that documentation helped me get it sorted out quickly. The good news is that since you'll have yours paid off by January and you're not due until February, you should be fine! Just make sure to: 1. Get written proof of zero balance 2. Keep copies of all your payment records 3. File your disability claim as soon as you're eligible (usually 1-4 weeks before your due date) Don't stress too much - you're being proactive by planning ahead, which is exactly the right approach. Once that debt is cleared, you should be good to go for your full benefits! Wishing you a smooth process and congratulations on your upcoming little one! 💕

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm in a somewhat different situation but wanted to share in case it helps anyone else. I had an old SDI overpayment (not unemployment) from 2021 that I was still paying off when I went on maternity leave last year. What I discovered is that EDD treats all overpayments the same way regardless of which program they're from - UI, SDI, PFL, etc. So even though my overpayment was from State Disability Insurance, it still affected my PFL benefits initially. However, I was able to get it resolved by calling the overpayment collections line (the separate number someone mentioned earlier - 1-866-962-0741) and explaining my situation. They were able to put a temporary hold on collections during my maternity leave period, which allowed me to receive my full PFL benefits. The key was calling them BEFORE I filed my PFL claim and getting the arrangement set up in advance. Once I returned to work, the collections resumed automatically. It saved me so much stress during those first few months with my baby. For anyone dealing with any type of EDD overpayment (not just unemployment), that collections line is definitely worth calling to discuss your options. They seem to have more flexibility than the regular benefits line when it comes to working out arrangements.