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!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with overlapping dates between my two jobs. I work part-time at a daycare and full-time at a law firm, and I was planning to take PFL from both employers starting the same week in December. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like I need to stagger the dates so there's no overlap? My daycare job pays less but I've been there longer, so I'm wondering if I should start with that claim first and then transition to the law firm claim, or if it matters which order I file them in. Has anyone dealt with overlapping employer situations specifically?

I went through this exact scenario last year with my nursing job and weekend catering gig! The key thing that helped me was creating a timeline document before filing anything. I listed out exactly which dates I wanted benefits from each employer, made sure there were zero overlapping days, and then submitted both claims about 2 weeks apart (not at the same time). One thing I learned the hard way - when you're working two jobs and taking PFL, your employers might have questions about why you're taking leave at different times. I had to explain to both HR departments that I was staggering the claims to maximize my benefits while staying compliant with EDD rules. Most employers are understanding once you explain it properly. Also, keep detailed records of which employer you're claiming benefits from on which specific dates. I made a simple spreadsheet that I could reference if EDD ever had questions. It saved me so much stress knowing I had everything documented clearly!

Another thing that helped me was calling right after lunch around 1:30-2:00 PM on Wednesdays. I know everyone says mornings are best, but I think fewer people try the afternoon slots. Got through twice using this timing when the 8 AM method wasn't working for me. Also, if you're still having trouble, try reaching out to your state assembly member's office. They have constituent services that can sometimes help escalate EDD issues. I had to do this for my unemployment claim last year and they were able to get movement on my case within a week. Worth a shot when you're dealing with urgent financial needs! One more tip - document EVERYTHING. Keep records of every call attempt, reference numbers from your online messages, screenshots of your claim status, etc. If you end up needing to escalate or file an appeal, having that paper trail is crucial.

Just want to echo what others have said about persistence paying off! I went through this same nightmare in February when my son was born. The key things that finally worked for me: 1) Called at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday using my work landline 2) Had ALL my paperwork organized beforehand - claim numbers, employer contact info, baby's birth certificate details, doctor's clearance dates 3) When I got the busy signal, I immediately hung up and redialed - did this for about 45 minutes straight until I got through to hold music The rep I finally reached was actually really helpful once I got to a human. Turns out my issue was similar to the original poster - my employer had submitted conflicting information about my return-to-work date vs what I put on my PFL application. She fixed it on the spot and I had my first payment within a week. The waiting period between disability and PFL is real and it SUCKS when you're already financially stressed with a new baby. But definitely keep certifying for benefits even while your claim shows pending - you'll get backpaid once it's approved. Don't make the mistake of waiting to certify until after approval! Hang in there everyone - the system is broken but you can get through it with enough persistence!

This thread has been absolutely incredible! I'm expecting in December 2025 and was so confused about how to coordinate all these different leave benefits. Reading everyone's detailed experiences has been more helpful than anything I've found online or gotten from my HR department. A few things that really jumped out at me: - The importance of asking HR specifically about "concurrent vs consecutive" benefit use rather than just asking "can I use both" - Getting the actual employee handbook language in writing, not just verbal explanations - The 41-day application window for PFL - I had no idea about that timing restriction! I'm definitely going to create that timeline document that Ezra mentioned and start gathering all my paperwork early. The stories about HR reps not understanding their own policies are both helpful and concerning - it's clear I need to be really prepared with the right questions and documentation. One thing I'm wondering about: Has anyone had experience with their employer's policy changing between when you first inquired about leave and when you actually needed to take it? I'm still pretty early in my pregnancy and worried about planning around a policy that might not be the same by December. Also, for those who used both state and employer benefits - did you find that your employer required any specific proof that you'd completed the state benefits before starting their leave portion? Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences so openly. This community is amazing! 🙏

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm expecting in January 2026 and had been putting off dealing with the whole leave situation because it seemed so overwhelming. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me a clear roadmap for approaching this. I love how several people mentioned creating a timeline document - that seems like such a smart way to present your plan to HR instead of just asking vague questions. I'm also definitely going to start with getting our actual employee handbook language rather than relying on what HR tells me verbally. One quick question: For those who had success with stacking benefits, about how long did the whole approval process take from your initial HR meeting to getting everything confirmed? I want to make sure I start this process with enough time before my due date. Also, has anyone dealt with a situation where your company uses a third-party leave administrator (like FMLA Source or similar)? I just found out my company outsources leave management and I'm wondering if that changes the process at all. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing your real-world experiences. This is exactly the kind of practical information expectant parents need!