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.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I literally just finished this process last month! I had the exact same concern about my employer's 40% wage supplement during bonding leave. After reading horror stories online about EDD overpayments, I was paranoid about doing something wrong. Here's what I learned: YES, you absolutely must report it, but it's not as scary as it sounds. I called EDD using the early morning strategy someone mentioned (8 AM sharp) and got through in about 15 minutes. The rep explained that employer supplements specifically designed for parental leave typically don't reduce your PFL benefits if they're classified correctly. My HR department provided a letter stating it was a "Paid Family Leave Integration Benefit" and when I submitted my DE2501F with that documentation, everything processed smoothly. I ended up getting my full PFL benefit PLUS the 40% supplement from my employer - basically 100%+ of my regular pay during leave, which was amazing! The key is transparency and documentation. Don't try to figure out whether it "counts" as income - just report it and let EDD make that determination. It sounds like you're already on the right track by meeting with HR to get proper documentation. One last tip: submit your claim online if possible rather than mailing it in. I got my first payment within 2 weeks of filing. Good luck and congrats on your upcoming arrival! 🍼

Hey Dmitry! I just went through this exact situation with my twins 4 months ago and had the same panic about the employer supplement! You definitely need to report that 30% on your PFL claim - it's required regardless of the classification. But here's the good news: if your employer properly classifies it as a parental leave supplement (sounds like they do), it won't reduce your PFL benefits at all! When I met with my HR team, they provided documentation showing it was classified as "Paid Family Leave Wage Integration" and I got both my full EDD benefit AND the employer supplement. Basically ended up with close to 100% of my normal pay during leave which was a lifesaver with two newborns! My advice: get that HR documentation in writing before you file, be super transparent on the DE2501F form about the supplement, and file online as soon as baby arrives. The whole process was way less scary than I expected once I had proper documentation. You're being so smart to plan ahead - most people figure this out after baby arrives and scramble! Your little one is lucky to have such a prepared parent. Best of luck! 👶✨

Just wanted to chime in as someone who literally went through this transition last month! The confusion you're experiencing is SO normal - I think California could do a much better job explaining how these different leave types work together. Everyone here has given you great advice about the DE2508 form and filing online through SDI. One small tip I'll add: when you file your baby bonding claim, make sure to put the start date as the day AFTER your pregnancy disability ends. EDD doesn't like gaps or overlaps between claims, and if there's any confusion about dates, it can delay your payments. Also, once you file, expect to wait about 2-3 weeks for your first payment. I know money is probably tight during this time, so just plan accordingly! You're doing great navigating all this bureaucracy while caring for a newborn. It's honestly ridiculous that new parents have to figure out all these different forms and deadlines during what should be a peaceful bonding time. But you'll get through it! 💕

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My pregnancy disability ends next week and I was getting the runaround from everyone too. After reading all these responses, I just went straight to edd.ca.gov and found the DE2508 form. You're absolutely right that it should be clearer - I wasted so much time asking my doctor and HR when I could have just filed it myself online from the beginning! One thing that helped me was realizing that your employer literally has nothing to do with PFL claims. They're not supposed to provide forms, fill anything out, or even process your claim. It's 100% between you and the state. Once I understood that, everything made way more sense. Thanks everyone for all the detailed explanations - this thread is going to help so many confused new parents! 🤱

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're going to be fine! I went through this same exact confusion last year and it all worked out smoothly once I understood the system. The biggest relief for me was learning that SDI continues seamlessly after company pay ends. I was SO worried about that gap too, but there really isn't one. Your SDI claim stays active the whole time - EDD just coordinates with your employer so you don't get overpaid while they're covering you. One thing that helped me was creating a timeline chart with all the different phases: pregnancy disability (SDI), company pay period, recovery disability (SDI), and then baby bonding (PFL). Seeing it laid out visually made it much clearer when each benefit would kick in. Also, definitely clarify with HR whether they're talking about job protection (CFRA) vs actual state benefit eligibility when they mention that April 2nd date. Those are two completely different things and companies often mix them up when explaining benefits to employees. You've already done the hard part by filing your SDI claim early. Now you can focus on preparing for baby's arrival instead of stressing about paperwork! 💕

I'm a new mom who just went through this exact situation 3 months ago! The stress you're feeling is so understandable - I was convinced I'd have weeks with no income and was panicking about it. Here's what actually happened: My company paid me for 6 weeks, then SDI automatically picked up and paid me directly for the remaining weeks of my recovery. Zero gap, zero additional paperwork needed. The transition was completely seamless once I stopped overthinking it. The confusion about your April 2nd eligibility date is likely about CFRA job protection, not state PFL benefits. I had the same issue - my HR told me I wasn't "eligible" until my work anniversary, but they were talking about job protection, not the actual state benefits. For state PFL, you just need to have contributed to SDI through payroll, which it sounds like you have. One practical tip: when you get closer to transitioning from SDI to PFL, make sure to file your PFL claim about 1-2 weeks before your SDI ends. This prevents any payment delays. You're already ahead of the game by filing SDI early. Try to relax and focus on your baby's arrival - the system really does work once you understand that state benefits are separate from company policies. You've got this! ❤️