I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Started my PFL claim last week and realized I put the wrong start date that's overlapping with my disability benefits. It's so frustrating because you know it's probably a 2-minute fix on their end but getting to talk to an actual human feels impossible. I've been calling the main number for days and either get busy signals or sit on hold for hours just to get disconnected. Reading through all these comments is giving me hope though - definitely going to try that PFL-specific number (1-877-238-4373) tomorrow morning at 8 AM sharp. Thanks everyone for sharing what actually worked! This community is a lifesaver when dealing with EDD's broken system.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still struggling with this - I had the exact same overlapping dates issue between PFL and disability claims last month. After reading all the great advice here, I called the PFL-specific number (1-877-238-4373) at exactly 8:00 AM on a Wednesday and got through after about 40 minutes on hold. The rep was incredibly helpful and fixed my start date in under 5 minutes once I had my confirmation numbers ready. One thing I didn't see mentioned - they also sent me an email confirmation with a case reference number after making the change, so definitely ask for that! The correction showed up in my online account within 24 hours. Also, pro tip: when you're on hold, don't hang up even if it seems like forever - I was tempted to hang up at the 35-minute mark but I'm so glad I stuck it out. This thread gave me the motivation to keep trying, so thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! 🙏

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! I just moved last month and have been stressing about the same address discrepancy issue. My physical license still has my old address but I updated everything online with DMV. Reading through everyone's experiences here has really put my mind at ease - it sounds like the EDD system is much more straightforward than I was imagining. The consistent advice seems to be: use your current address on all EDD forms, make sure your employer has your updated address, and focus on getting the medical certification done properly since that's where most delays actually happen. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - it's so helpful to hear from people who've actually been through this process successfully! This community is such a great resource for navigating all the confusing aspects of maternity leave benefits.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! I moved during my second trimester and was so worried about the address mismatch between my physical license and current residence. Turns out it was completely unnecessary stress - the EDD system doesn't even cross-reference your DMV records. I filed my SDI claim using my current address on the DE2501 form, and everything processed smoothly. The rep I spoke with said they see this constantly since people move frequently but physical licenses can take 4-6 weeks to arrive. My biggest recommendation is to save your mental energy for making sure your medical certification is completed accurately by your doctor - that's honestly where most people run into delays, not address issues. Also, double-check that your employer's HR department has your updated address since they'll be submitting paperwork on your behalf. Don't let this worry keep you up at night - you've got enough to think about with a baby on the way!

This thread has been so incredibly valuable to read through! I'm currently 8 weeks pregnant with my first baby and had absolutely no clue about how SDI extensions worked or that they were even an option. Samantha, you should be so proud of yourself for advocating for your needs and getting that extension - it really shows how important it is to trust your body and speak up when something doesn't feel right. The practical advice everyone has shared here is pure gold - especially the tips about making sure doctors are specific on the DE2501 form, submitting through multiple channels, and building relationships with your OB's office staff early in pregnancy. I've already started a notebook with all these tips and plan to discuss the process with my doctor at my next appointment so I'm prepared if complications arise. It's both eye-opening and reassuring to see how common extensions actually are and that there are concrete strategies for dealing with EDD's challenges. This community support makes what seemed like an intimidating bureaucratic process feel much more manageable. Thank you to everyone for sharing such detailed, honest experiences - you've given me so much confidence going into this journey!

This whole thread has been such a game-changer for me! I'm 6 months pregnant and honestly felt completely lost trying to understand SDI vs PFL and all the potential complications that could arise. Reading Samantha's journey and everyone's incredibly detailed advice has opened my eyes to so much I never knew I needed to prepare for. The tip about getting your doctor to be super specific on the DE2501 form really stands out to me - I never would have known to ask for that level of medical detail. And the strategy of submitting through multiple channels (fax, mail, AND online portal) is brilliant given all the horror stories about EDD losing paperwork. What really strikes me is how normal extensions actually are - it's such a relief to know that needing more than the "standard" recovery time doesn't make you an exception or a problem case. Samantha, you did exactly what you should have done by trusting your body and advocating for yourself! I'm definitely going to start building that relationship with my OB's office staff now, and I've already bookmarked the Claimyr service for future reference. This community is incredible - thank you all for turning what felt like an overwhelming bureaucratic maze into something I actually feel prepared to navigate!

I'm just starting to navigate the PFL system for my grandmother's care and honestly, this thread is both incredibly helpful and absolutely terrifying! 😅 Reading everyone's experiences makes it clear that I need to prepare for battle from day one. I'm taking notes on all the strategies you've all shared - the survival kit approach, dual submission methods, detailed logging, early morning calls, and escalation tactics. It's insane that we need a whole playbook just to access benefits we're legally entitled to, but here we are. Carlos, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare again. The fact that you go through this "every year" with the same issues shows how fundamentally broken the system is. It's like they're banking on people giving up out of sheer exhaustion. One question for the group - has anyone had luck with getting their doctor's office to help advocate or make calls on their behalf? My grandma's primary care physician seems pretty frustrated with PFL's constant requests for "clarification" on medical forms that are already crystal clear. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and strategies. Knowing there's a community of people fighting the same fight makes this feel less impossible! 💙

This whole thread has been so eye-opening and helpful! I'm currently dealing with my first PFL claim for my dad's care and was starting to think I was doing something wrong with all the delays and confusing requests I've been getting. Reading everyone's experiences makes it clear this is just how the system "works" (or doesn't work, rather). I'm definitely implementing the strategies you've all shared - the dual submission method, detailed documentation, and that "PFL survival kit" idea is genius! It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to become our own case managers and bureaucracy experts just to get support for caring for our loved ones, but I guess that's the reality we're dealing with. Carlos, I really hope your appeal gets resolved soon - the fact that you've been dealing with this same nightmare for years is just unacceptable. You're doing such important work caring for your parent and you deserve so much better from this system. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and strategies. This community support makes what feels like an impossible situation feel a little more manageable. We shouldn't have to fight this hard for basic family leave benefits, but at least we don't have to fight alone! 💪❤️

have you tried going to your local office in person? sometimes face-to-face is the only way to get things done with these bureaucrats 🙄

I went through something similar last year and it was incredibly frustrating. Here's what finally worked for me: I gathered all my pay stubs and tax documents, calculated exactly what my weekly benefit should be based on CA's formula (it's your highest quarter earnings divided by 26, up to the max), and then wrote a clear, concise letter explaining the discrepancy. I sent everything via certified mail AND faxed it on the same day. The key was being super specific about the dollar amounts and showing my math. It took about 6 weeks, but I eventually got the correction plus backpay for the difference. Don't give up - you're entitled to the correct amount! Also, try calling first thing in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) when the hold times are usually shorter.