I went through this exact situation two years ago! The key thing to remember is timing - you want to apply for State Disability Insurance (SDI) about 4 weeks before your due date, not wait until after the baby is born. I made that mistake and lost out on some pre-birth benefits. Also, make sure your doctor knows they need to be specific about your disability dates on the DE2501 form. Some doctors are vague about the timeline which can cause delays in processing. Ask them to clearly state when you became unable to work due to pregnancy complications or when you'll need to stop working. One more tip - if you're having trouble reaching EDD by phone (and you probably will), try calling right when they open at 8am. I had better luck getting through early in the morning. Good luck with everything, and congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

I'm in a similar boat - my unemployment just ended and I'm 32 weeks pregnant! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful. I didn't realize I could apply for SDI benefits before giving birth. I've been panicking about having no income for the next few months, but it sounds like there's actually a pathway here. Quick question for those who've been through this - when you apply online at edd.ca.gov, do you apply under "Disability Insurance" or is there a specific "Pregnancy" section? I want to make sure I'm filling out the right forms. Also, has anyone had experience with how long it takes to get approved once you submit everything? I'm trying to figure out if there will be any gap in payments. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been a lifesaver!

Just a heads up, make sure all your docs were submitted correctly. My payment was delayed becuz I forgot to sign one form. Double check everything!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My payment was supposed to come through on 4/12 and still nothing. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money. I've been checking my account obsessively and calling every day. The worst part is not knowing if there's an issue with your claim or if it's just their slow processing. Have you tried reaching out through their social media accounts? Sometimes companies respond faster there when they know it's public. Stay strong - we'll get through this! 💪

I'm currently going through this exact same nightmare! Had my baby 18 days ago and submitted my delivery date verification 11 days ago through the online portal. My claim has been stuck on "pending" ever since and I'm starting to panic because rent is due next week. I've called that useless number from the notification probably 15 times with zero callbacks. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (knowing I'm not alone) and infuriating (that this is such a widespread problem). I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy with the main disability number tomorrow using the script that worked for others. It's absolutely ridiculous that new parents have to deal with this bureaucratic mess when we should be focusing on our babies and recovery. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. I'll update once I hopefully get through to someone who can actually help!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress with a newborn! This exact same thing happened to me in November. After reading through all these responses, I want to add one more tip that really helped me: when you do get through to EDD (and you will!), ask the representative to verify that your uploaded documents are actually readable in their system. Sometimes the files get corrupted during upload or their system can't open certain formats, but they won't automatically tell you this. In my case, my PDF was "received" but couldn't be opened, so I had to resubmit as a JPEG. Once I did that and called back to confirm they could access it, my payment was processed within 3 business days. Also, keep screenshots of your online account showing when you submitted everything - it can be helpful proof if there are any disputes about timing. The whole system is definitely broken, but don't lose hope! You WILL get your payments eventually, including all the back pay you're owed.

Based on my experience with EDD's Paid Family Leave claims, I recommend taking these specific steps: 1. Contact your father's doctor's office and request: - Confirmation number from their submission - Exact date they submitted the DE2501F form - Verification of how they listed your father's name 2. Call EDD using the timing suggestions others mentioned (8:00-8:30am) and have your claim confirmation number ready 3. If your claim is still pending after 30 days, you have the right to file a formal inquiry through your state representative's office. Their constituent services can often expedite EDD issues. For your upcoming second leave period, you can actually combine it with your current claim if it's within the same 12-month period for the same care recipient. This requires less paperwork than filing a completely new claim.

I'm so sorry you're going through this during such a difficult time with your father. I went through something similar last year when my grandmother was in hospice care. The lack of transparency in the PFL system is honestly heartbreaking when you're already emotionally and financially strained. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of every attempt to contact EDD - dates, times, reference numbers, and what happened. When I finally got through to someone, having that documentation ready actually seemed to help the agent take my case more seriously. Also, if your dad's oncologist office has a patient advocate or social worker, they might be able to help navigate this. Mine was familiar with EDD's system and knew exactly what to ask for when following up on submissions. Thinking of you and your father during this tough time. The system shouldn't add this much stress to families already dealing with so much. ❤️

Quick question for those who've been through this before - do they backpay from the date you submitted the claim, or only from when they approve it?

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - submitted my PFL claim 5 weeks ago and it's still showing "pending" with no updates. I've been checking the portal daily but nothing changes. The financial stress is real! From what I'm reading here, it sounds like persistence with calling is key, even though it's a nightmare to get through. @Toot-n-Mighty your suggestion about contacting a state representative is interesting - I hadn't thought of that. Has anyone actually tried that route and seen results? Also wondering if there are specific times of day that work better for calling? Like early morning or late afternoon when they might be less busy?