This is absolutely ridiculous! I'm going through the exact same thing right now - been approved for 3 weeks and still waiting. The worst part is that EDD acts like this is totally normal when people are dealing with serious family situations and counting on this money. I've been calling every day but either get disconnected or told "it's being processed" with no real timeline. Reading everyone's experiences here is both comforting and infuriating - it's clear this is a systemic problem that they just refuse to fix. I'm definitely going to try that complaint form and calling my assembly member's office. Thanks for posting this @Grace - we need more visibility on these delays so maybe something actually gets done about it! 😤

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same issue - got approved for PFL 10 days ago but still no payment in sight. The timing couldn't be worse since I'm already stressed about my family situation and now I'm panicking about rent being due soon. I've tried calling but keep getting the runaround with "it's processing" responses that don't mean anything. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (I'm not alone!) and scary (some of you have been waiting over a month?!). I'm definitely going to try calling first thing in the morning and look into that complaint form and assembly member contact. Thank you @Grace for posting this - it's clear this is a widespread problem that needs more attention. Solidarity to everyone going through this mess! 🙏

I'm going through the exact same frustrating situation! My PFL was approved 6 days ago and still no payment in sight. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief though - I was starting to panic that there was something specifically wrong with my claim, but it sounds like these delays are just the unfortunate norm right now. I've definitely become a member of the "obsessive bank account checking" club too! 😅 I'm probably refreshing my banking app every 30 minutes at this point, hoping to see that magical deposit appear. It's honestly becoming a nervous habit. The 7-14 business day timeline that Yara mentioned after actually getting through to someone is really helpful to know, even though it's longer than I was hoping for. At least now I have realistic expectations instead of just wondering if something went wrong. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy that Caesar suggested tomorrow - sounds like that's our best shot at actually reaching a human. Also planning to triple-check my banking information online tonight just to rule out any issues on my end. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences! It's so comforting to know we're all dealing with this stressful wait together. This community support makes it so much more bearable. Hoping we all see our payments come through soon! 🤞💪

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! My PFL was approved 5 days ago and I'm still waiting for the payment to appear in my account. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - I was starting to worry that there was something wrong with my specific claim, but it's clear that these delays are unfortunately just how the system works right now. I've definitely joined the obsessive bank account checking club! 😅 I'm probably refreshing my banking app every hour hoping to see that deposit finally show up. It's become such a nervous habit at this point. The information that Yara shared about the 7-14 business day processing timeline after approval is really helpful to know, even though it's frustrating when you're depending on that money. At least now I have realistic expectations instead of just wondering what's going wrong. I'm planning to try the early morning calling strategy that Caesar mentioned tomorrow - sounds like that's our best bet for actually getting through to speak with someone. Also going to double-check all my banking information online tonight just to make sure there's nothing on my end causing delays. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and timelines! It's so comforting to know we're all dealing with this stressful wait together. This community has been such a lifesaver for managing the anxiety around this situation. Hoping we all see our payments come through soon! 🤞

Hi Mei! I just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread. I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago - developed gestational hypertension at 36 weeks, went on early disability, then had a c-section with infection complications that extended my total disability time to about 13 weeks. I was absolutely terrified that the extension would somehow eat into my PFL time because my employer's HR person kept making comments about "combined leave limits" (which turned out to be completely wrong!). But I got every single day of my 8 weeks of baby bonding leave after my disability ended! What really helped me was understanding that California specifically designed these programs to be separate so that medical complications wouldn't penalize parents by reducing their bonding time with their babies. It's actually a really parent-friendly system once you understand how it works. One practical tip that saved me stress: I created a simple spreadsheet tracking my disability periods, extension dates, and when to file my PFL claim. Having it all laid out visually made me feel so much more in control during an already overwhelming time. Also, don't let anyone make you feel guilty about taking the full medical time you need. Recovery is recovery, and bonding time is bonding time - they serve completely different purposes and you're entitled to both! You're being so smart to research this ahead of time. Wishing you a smooth rest of your pregnancy and delivery! 💕

Hi Mei! I'm a newer member here but wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar just 4 months ago. I had gestational diabetes that progressed to preeclampsia around 34 weeks, which put me on disability much earlier than expected. Then I had delivery complications that extended my disability to nearly 12 weeks total. I was SO anxious about whether this would affect my PFL eligibility - I remember staying up at night googling and finding conflicting information everywhere! But I'm happy to confirm what everyone else has said: I got my complete 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding after my extended disability ended. What really clicked for me was when an EDD rep explained it this way: "Disability pays you when you CAN'T work due to medical reasons. PFL pays you when you COULD work but choose not to in order to bond with your baby." They're addressing completely different situations, which is why they don't affect each other at all. The paperwork felt overwhelming at first, but staying organized really helped. I kept everything in a binder with dividers for disability forms, PFL forms, and doctor's notes. Also, my OB's office was amazing - they actually have a checklist they use for patients going through extended disability to make sure all the documentation is complete. You're going to get through this just fine! The fact that you're researching early shows you're already on the right track. Focus on your health and trust that you'll get all the benefits you're entitled to. Can't wait for you to meet your little one! 🍼

Congratulations on your baby! I just want to add my voice to everyone else confirming that PFL payments are indeed automatic - no certifications needed! I finished my 8 weeks of baby bonding leave about 6 weeks ago and it was such a relief not having to worry about any paperwork once I was approved. The payments came every two weeks like everyone said, and I literally didn't have to do anything except enjoy (well, try to enjoy through the sleep deprivation!) those early weeks with my daughter. One small thing I noticed that might help you feel more secure: my payments always posted to my account on the same day of the week, so after the first couple payments I knew exactly when to expect them. It's honestly refreshing that EDD got this part of the process right, even if their website explanation is absolutely terrible. Save yourself the stress and trust that it really is this simple! Focus on those newborn snuggles instead of worrying about benefits - they'll take care of themselves. 💕

Congratulations on your new baby! I'm currently going through this same process and was equally confused by the EDD documentation. I can confirm what everyone else is saying - PFL payments for baby bonding are completely automatic once approved! No weekly certifications needed at all. I just received my third payment yesterday and haven't had to do anything except wait for the deposits to hit my account every two weeks. It's such a relief compared to unemployment where you're constantly worried about missing certification deadlines. The EDD website really should make this clearer - I spent way too much time stressing about potentially missing some requirement when the reality is beautifully simple. Just make sure your direct deposit info is current and keep your approval paperwork for your records. One thing I've noticed is that my payments come on the same day every two weeks, so you can start to anticipate when to expect them. Focus on enjoying these precious early weeks with your little one instead of worrying about EDD logistics - the system actually works automatically for once! 💕

This thread has been so educational! I'm a new parent myself and had no idea about the complexity of California's leave system. Reading through everyone's experiences really shows how important it is to advocate for yourself and double-check everything with both HR and EDD. The fact that you almost missed out on 2 weeks of paid PFL because of miscommunication is exactly why these discussions are so valuable. It's frustrating that such an important system is so poorly explained, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences. Congratulations on your new baby and I'm so glad you got those extra paid weeks figured out!

As a California parent who just went through this exact situation last year, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to get everything in writing from both your HR department and EDD! I had a similar experience where my HR initially told me I only had 6 weeks of PFL, but when I called EDD directly, I discovered I was entitled to the full 8 weeks. The key lesson I learned is that even HR departments sometimes aren't fully up to date on all the changes to California's leave laws. I also recommend keeping detailed records of all your leave dates and payments - it really helps when you're trying to figure out what benefits you've used and what's still available. Congratulations on your new baby, and I'm so happy you discovered those extra 2 weeks of paid leave! Those early weeks are so precious.