This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - took 4 weeks of bonding leave when my daughter was born in April, had to go back for a product launch, and now I want to use my remaining 4 weeks before her first birthday. Reading everyone's detailed experiences gives me so much confidence that I can actually make this work. I'm definitely going to call 1-877-238-4373 tomorrow at 8:05 AM with my claim number and all my documents organized. @Victoria Jones @Jacinda Yu @Alejandro Castro thank you all for sharing such specific details about your calls - it's incredibly helpful to know this process actually works! One quick question for anyone who's done this - when you reactivated your claim, did the agent ask for any additional documentation beyond your claim number and basic verification info, or was it pretty straightforward once they had your original claim details? I want to make sure I have absolutely everything ready before I call tomorrow morning!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you everyone for sharing such detailed experiences! I'm in almost the identical situation: took 6 weeks of PFL bonding leave when my son was born in February, had to return early for a critical project, and now I want to use my remaining 2 weeks before his first birthday. Based on all the success stories here, I'm definitely calling 1-877-238-4373 tomorrow morning at exactly 8:05 AM with my claim number ready. @Victoria Jones @Jacinda Yu @Alejandro Castro your step-by-step experiences have given me so much confidence this will actually work! Quick question - I found my claim number in my EDD account under "Claim History" like @Alejandro Castro mentioned, but I'm seeing both a "Claim Number" and a "Confirmation Number" - which one should I have ready for the call? Also, for anyone who's done this recently, are you finding the 8:05 AM timing is still working well for getting through, or have wait times gotten longer? I really want to make sure I get this sorted out at least 3-4 weeks before I plan to take my remaining time off!

I'm 25 weeks pregnant and just found this incredible thread! Like so many of you, I've been dealing with a toxic manager who keeps making comments about my "dedication level" since announcing my pregnancy and has been slowly removing me from high-visibility projects. I've been having stress-induced migraines and my blood pressure has been elevated at my last few appointments, but I kept telling myself to just push through until maternity leave. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a revelation - I had no idea that workplace stress causing pregnancy complications could qualify for early SDI benefits! The fact that these are insurance programs we've been paying into through our paychecks makes me feel so much more confident about exploring this option. I'm calling my OB first thing Monday to discuss how my work situation is affecting my physical symptoms and to ask about getting proper medical documentation. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to be very specific about the migraines, elevated BP, and anxiety that started after the workplace hostility began. Thank you all for sharing your stories so courageously - you've transformed what felt like a hopeless situation into one where I actually have options and rights. This community proves that we don't have to choose between our babies' health and our financial security. Knowledge really is power, and you've all given me the tools I need to make the best decision for my family! 💕

I'm 21 weeks pregnant and just discovered this amazing thread while searching for help with my own workplace situation! Reading through everyone's stories has been incredibly validating - I thought I was going crazy dealing with my manager's subtle comments about my "changing priorities" and the way they've been gradually shifting my responsibilities to other team members "to reduce my stress." I've been experiencing terrible anxiety, frequent headaches, and my blood pressure readings have been concerning at recent appointments. Like so many of you mentioned, I kept thinking this was just normal pregnancy stress, but seeing all these similar experiences makes me realize this is actual workplace discrimination causing real health complications. What's given me the most hope from this thread is understanding that SDI and PFL are insurance programs we've paid into - not handouts we're asking for. I had no idea that benefits could be based on medical necessity regardless of whether you quit voluntarily. This completely changes how I'm thinking about my options! I'm scheduling an appointment with my OB this week to discuss how workplace stress is manifesting in my physical symptoms and to get proper documentation. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to be very specific about when these symptoms started and their connection to the discrimination I've been experiencing. Thank you all for sharing your journeys so openly - you've shown me that I don't have to endure months more of this toxicity just because I'm pregnant. This community is proof that we have more power and options than we realize when we support each other with knowledge and solidarity! 💪

Protip: If you can, try calling right when they open. I got through pretty quick that way. Also, be super nice to the person who answers - they deal with angry people all day and being kind can go a long way!

I went through this exact process about 6 months ago! Here's what worked for me: call first thing in the morning (around 8:05 AM), have your social security number and original claim details ready, and don't hang up even if you get that "high call volume" message. Also, if your situation hasn't changed much from your original claim, mention that upfront - it seemed to speed things up for me. The whole process took about 10 days once I got through to someone. You got this! 💪

This is such valuable info, thank you for sharing! I'm expecting my first baby in April and just realized I need to update my name with EDD too - got married last summer but completely forgot about updating it with them. Quick question: did you need to bring any specific forms or just the marriage certificate? Also, do you know if they can update it the same day you file your PFL claim or do you have to make separate trips?

Just wanted to add another data point - I went through this exact same situation last month! Got married in December and needed to file PFL for January. The EDD office in Sacramento was actually pretty efficient - I went on a Wednesday around 10am and was in and out in 45 minutes including the name update and filing my claim. One thing that helped was having everything organized beforehand: marriage certificate in a folder, copies of my old and new ID, and all my PFL paperwork filled out. The rep told me that people who come prepared like that make the process so much smoother for everyone. She also mentioned they see this situation A LOT, especially with new parents, so don't feel embarrassed about it - you're definitely not alone!

This thread has been incredibly enlightening as someone who's currently pregnant with twins and works both as a graphic designer at an agency and freelances on the side. Reading everyone's experiences, especially Santiago's $2300 repayment story and Maria's smart decision to call EDD first, has completely changed my approach to planning my leave. I was initially thinking I could do some small freelance projects during bonding time since it's "different work" from my agency job, but clearly EDD doesn't make those distinctions. The fact that so many parents had to learn these rules through expensive mistakes shows how poorly EDD communicates their policies. It's infuriating that they reduce our income to 60-70% but then penalize any attempts to supplement it, even from completely separate work sources. Maria, thank you for sharing your Claimyr experience - I'll definitely be using that service to get official guidance before I apply. The peace of mind is worth way more than risking thousands in repayments. This community is saving so many families from financial disasters during what should be a joyful time!

This thread is absolutely invaluable! As a first-time parent who just had my baby 3 weeks ago, I'm so grateful I found this before making any decisions about my weekend catering job. I'm currently on PFL from my main office job and was considering picking up a few catering gigs to help with expenses, but after reading about Santiago's $2300 repayment and seeing how strict EDD is about ANY work during leave, I'm definitely not going to risk it. The system really is broken when they give you 60-70% income but penalize you for trying to survive on that reduced amount. Maria, thank you so much for calling EDD and sharing their response - it probably saved me and countless other parents from making costly mistakes. I'm also shocked that you had to use a paid service just to get through to them, but I'll definitely keep Claimyr in mind if I need to contact EDD about anything else. It's heartbreaking that new parents have to choose between financial stability and following confusing rules, but this community is amazing for helping us navigate these impossible situations together!