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One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that your husband should also check if his employer offers any additional paternal leave benefits beyond what the state provides. Some companies supplement PFL with additional paid time or allow employees to use accrued vacation/sick time alongside PFL to get closer to their full salary (since PFL only covers 60-70% of wages). My brother's company let him combine PFL with vacation days so he didn't take such a big pay cut during his leave. Worth asking HR about!
I'm so sorry you're going through this - postpartum anxiety is incredibly difficult and you're not alone. I went through something similar with my second baby. One thing that really helped me was working with a perinatal mental health specialist rather than a general therapist. They understand the specific challenges of postpartum conditions and are much better at documenting the severity for disability claims. If you can find one through Postpartum Support International's directory, they're usually very experienced with writing the medical documentation EDD needs. Also, don't let your HR department discourage you - they often don't understand that mental health disability is separate from pregnancy-related leave. You have the right to apply for additional time if your condition prevents you from working safely. The worst they can do is deny it, but many people do get approved for postpartum mental health claims. Take care of yourself mama. Your mental health matters and your baby needs you healthy. ❤️
This is such valuable advice about perinatal mental health specialists! I didn't even know this was a thing. I've been seeing a regular therapist who's nice but doesn't seem to really understand the intensity of what I'm going through. I'll definitely look into the Postpartum Support International directory - having someone who knows how to document things properly for EDD could make all the difference. Thank you for taking the time to share this and for the encouragement. It helps to know I'm not the only one who's been through this. ❤️
I'm dealing with something similar right now and wanted to share what I've learned. After my PFL ended, my psychiatrist helped me file for regular SDI based on postpartum depression and anxiety. The key was having her document specific symptoms that prevent me from working - like panic attacks, inability to concentrate for extended periods, and severe sleep deprivation affecting my judgment. One thing that helped my claim get approved was having my doctor explain how my symptoms could create safety risks at my job (I work with heavy machinery). EDD seems to take workplace safety concerns seriously when evaluating mental health claims. I also recommend starting the application process at least 2 weeks before your PFL ends if possible. There can be processing delays, and you don't want a gap in benefits. My claim took about 3 weeks to get approved, but I got backpay for the waiting period. Hang in there - postpartum anxiety is so hard, but there are options available. Don't let anyone make you feel like you should just "tough it out." Your mental health is just as important as physical health.
This is incredibly helpful - thank you for sharing your experience! I never thought about framing it in terms of workplace safety, but that makes so much sense. My job requires me to make quick decisions and handle sensitive information, and with the panic attacks and brain fog I'm experiencing, I definitely don't feel like I could do that safely right now. I'm going to talk to my psychiatrist about documenting these specific work-related safety concerns. Did your doctor use any particular language or forms besides the DE2501? I want to make sure we cover all the bases to avoid delays or denials. Starting the process 2 weeks early is great advice too - I had no idea there could be such long processing times. It's reassuring to know that backpay is possible if there are delays. Thank you for the encouragement and for taking the time to share what worked for you!
I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: I kept a detailed log of every time I called, what time, and how long I waited before hanging up. Then I filed a complaint with the state's consumer protection agency citing the unreasonable wait times. Within 48 hours, I got a callback from a supervisor who was able to fix my date errors in about 10 minutes. Sometimes you have to escalate to get results. Also, if you have any medical documentation that supports the correct dates, make sure to have that ready when you do get through to someone. Good luck!
This is incredibly helpful advice! I never thought about keeping a detailed log or filing a complaint with consumer protection. That's really smart thinking. I'll definitely start documenting my call attempts now. Do you remember which consumer protection agency you used? Was it through the state attorney general's office or a different department?
I'm dealing with the same issue right now! Made a mistake with my claim dates and it's been such a headache trying to get it fixed. Reading through everyone's suggestions here - seems like there are a few different approaches that might work. I'm going to try calling first thing in the morning like Oliver suggested, and if that doesn't work I'll consider the in-person route that Malik mentioned. The idea of keeping a detailed log like Myles did is really smart too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one struggling with this system!
idk if this helps, but I had a similar issue last year. Turns out there was a problem with my employer's wage report. Had to bug my HR dept to fix it. Maybe check with your work?
@Vanessa Chang - I went through something similar last year with my PFL claim. A few things that helped me: 1) Check if your claim status changed in UI Online - sometimes there are hidden issues that aren't obvious. 2) If you got the first two checks, your claim is likely approved, so this might just be a processing backlog. 3) Try faxing a follow-up inquiry to their PFL unit - sometimes fax gets through faster than calls. The number should be in your UI Online messages. Don't give up! It's frustrating but they usually sort it out eventually. Keep us posted on how it goes! 🙏
Anastasia Sokolov
Have you checked your online account? Sometimes they update the status there before they actually contact you. Might give you some insight into whats going on with your application.
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Natasha Volkova
•I didn't even think of that! I'll check right now, thanks for the tip!
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Sean O'Donnell
pro tip: if u can, go to ur local edd office in person. sometimes face-to-face works better than tryna deal w/ this stuff online or over the phone
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Zara Ahmed
•This! I did this last month and got my issue resolved in one day. Def worth the trip if you can make it.
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Zoe Papadakis
•That's actually really smart advice! I never thought about going in person. Do you know if they take walk-ins or do I need to make an appointment first? Also, which documents should I bring with me?
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