I work at a nonprofit that helps people navigate EDD issues, and I see this exact scenario almost weekly. The good news is that date entry errors for SDI-to-PFL transitions are among the most straightforward appeals to resolve - you're definitely not alone in making this mistake! Here's my recommendation based on what I've seen work best: 1. File your DE 1009A appeal immediately (don't wait) with clear documentation of your actual SDI end date 2. Try calling EDD early morning (8:00-8:30 AM) on Tuesday/Wednesday for best chance of getting through 3. If you can't reach anyone by phone after a few days, consider visiting your local EDD office - yes, there's a wait, but sometimes face-to-face gets faster results Most importantly: keep certifying for PFL while your appeal is pending! I've seen people lose benefit weeks because they stopped certifying thinking they had to wait for the appeal decision first. The typical timeline I see for these types of clerical error appeals is 3-5 weeks once properly documented. Since you're already caring for your mom, make sure you're tracking all your caregiving activities/hours as you'll need to report those when your benefits get approved. Stay persistent - this will get resolved!

I'm sorry you're dealing with this stress while trying to care for your mom! I went through something very similar last year when transitioning from SDI to PFL for my newborn. The date confusion is SO easy to make when you're juggling everything. What helped me was creating a timeline document with all my exact dates before filing the appeal - my SDI start date, last payment date, recovery date, and when I needed PFL to begin. Having it all laid out clearly made the appeal process smoother. Also, don't forget that once your PFL gets approved (and it will!), you can use it intermittently if needed. So if your mom has good days where she needs less care, you can potentially stretch those 8 weeks over a longer period by taking partial days off work instead of full days. Hang in there - from everything I've read in these comments, your situation is totally fixable since it's just a clerical error. The system is frustrating but you're doing an amazing thing caring for your mom during her recovery.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! My baby was born in January and I've been on my company's STD plan. What really helped me was calling EDD directly to confirm that I could still file for state PFL even though my employer had their own "bonding leave" policy. The rep explained that as long as I've been paying into the state system through payroll deductions, I'm entitled to those benefits regardless of what my company calls their leave. One tip - when you do apply for PFL, make sure you have all your documentation ready including your baby's birth certificate and your doctor's clearance from disability. The process went much smoother for me when I had everything organized upfront. You've got this! These benefits are yours by right, not by your employer's permission.

I just want to add one more reassurance - I was in a very similar boat about 6 months ago and was SO stressed about potentially losing benefits because of employer confusion. What really put my mind at ease was learning that California designed these systems specifically so that working parents could access their full benefits regardless of how their employer handles things. The key thing to remember is that you've been paying into both SDI and PFL through your paychecks - these are YOUR benefits that you've earned. Your employer can't take that away from you just by calling their leave policy something confusing! Since you mentioned you're super stressed about losing thousands in benefits - don't be! You have a full year to claim PFL bonding, and it sounds like you're on the right track with getting your disability properly extended first. Just make sure you keep copies of all your paperwork and don't let your employer rush you back to work before you're medically ready. You deserve both the recovery time AND the bonding time with your baby!

This thread has been a lifesaver! I just got approved for SDI three weeks ago and have been waiting for my Money Network card to arrive. Based on all the info shared here, I'm definitely going to set up automatic transfers to my regular bank account right away to avoid the ATM fee confusion. One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if there's a minimum amount required for bank transfers? I'm worried about smaller payments (like partial weeks) and whether those would transfer automatically or if there's a threshold where it won't process. Also, for anyone still dealing with the transition confusion - I found that calling EDD's main line and specifically asking to speak with someone about "Money Network card activation and payment issues" seemed to get me transferred faster than just saying "disability payments." Might save others some time navigating their phone system! Thanks again to everyone sharing their real-world experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical info that should have been included in the official materials from EDD!

This is incredibly helpful information! I just received my Money Network card yesterday after being approved for SDI and was completely confused about the fee structure. The materials EDD sent were so vague - just mentioned "new payment method" without any real details about how it works differently from the old BofA cards. Reading through all these comments has been a huge relief. I was especially worried about getting hit with unexpected ATM fees since I rely on cash for most of my expenses. Knowing about the MoneyPass and Allpoint networks is a game changer - I already found two fee-free ATMs within walking distance using the app! The automatic transfer feature sounds perfect for my situation. I prefer having my money in my regular checking account anyway, so I'm definitely going to set that up once I activate the card. Thanks to everyone who shared the step-by-step process for verification - that would have taken me forever to figure out on my own. One thing that's been stressing me out is timing - my next SDI payment should hit this week but I wasn't sure if there would be any delays with the new card. Has anyone experienced payment delays during the transition, or do they typically arrive on schedule once the card is activated? Really grateful for this community and everyone taking the time to share their experiences! This is exactly what people going through the disability process need - real practical advice from people who've been there.

lol welcome to EDD hell. where everything's made up and the rules don't matter 🤡

I went through this exact same thing a few months ago! The trick that finally worked for me was going to a local EDD office in person with two forms of ID. I know it's a hassle, but they were able to update my phone number on the spot and I could log in again that same day. Might be worth checking if there's an office near you that's doing walk-ins. Good luck! 🤞

This exact same thing happened to me about 6 months ago! EDD sent me a notice saying my doctor wasn't licensed and that I owed back $3,000 in "overpayments." I was absolutely panicking because my doctor has been practicing for over 20 years and obviously has a valid license. What ended up happening was that EDD's system had somehow pulled an old, expired license number instead of his current one. It took me about 6 weeks to get it sorted out, but here's what worked for me: 1. I got a certified letter from my doctor's office with his current license info 2. I also got the official verification from the Medical Board like someone else mentioned (totally worth the fee) 3. I filed the appeal within the 30-day window - super important! 4. I kept calling EDD every few days to check status The most frustrating part was that even after I submitted all the proof, it took them forever to actually process it and restart my payments. But they did eventually fix it AND they paid me all the back benefits I was owed during the time it was suspended. Don't let them intimidate you with the "overpayment" stuff - if your doctor is legitimately licensed (which it sounds like they are), you're entitled to those benefits. Just stay persistent and document everything!

Hey Megan, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! I just went through something almost identical a few months back. EDD flagged my doctor as "unlicensed" when she's been treating me for years and is obviously still practicing. It turned out they had some old database info that hadn't been updated properly. Here's what I learned from my experience: definitely get that official verification from the California Medical Board that others mentioned - it carries way more weight than just a letter from your doctor's office. Also, when you file your appeal, be super specific about the error and include exact dates. I found that being really detailed in my documentation helped move things along faster. The overpayment notice is scary, but don't panic! If your doctor is legitimately licensed (which it sounds like they absolutely are), you're not actually going to owe that money back. EDD will restore your benefits once they fix their mistake. One more tip - if you can, try to get through to someone at EDD who can put a note on your file explaining that this is a licensing database error, not a fraud case. That seemed to help prevent further complications in my situation. Hang in there - this bureaucratic mess is totally fixable, it just takes patience and persistence! 💪