I'm so glad you got it resolved, Omar! Your experience is really reassuring for those of us navigating this system for the first time. I'm currently 10 days into waiting for my PFL claim to process after transitioning from SDI, and your post helped me realize I shouldn't stress too much yet but also shouldn't wait forever. The fact that your claim was actually approved but just not showing in the system is exactly the kind of thing I was worried about. I think I'll give it until day 15 and then call if I don't see any movement. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone - it's really helpful to know how these situations actually get resolved rather than just wondering what happened!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - submitted my PFL claim 16 days ago and have been stressing about the lack of updates. Omar, your experience calling and finding out it was actually approved but just not showing online is exactly what I needed to hear. I've been hesitant to call because of all the horror stories about wait times, but seeing that you got through in about an hour and got real answers makes me feel like it's worth trying. I'm definitely going to call tomorrow morning using the early timing tip everyone mentioned. It's so reassuring to see how supportive this community is - the practical advice about checking for tasks/messages, understanding the SDI to PFL transition, and knowing when to be proactive vs. patient is invaluable for first-time parents navigating this confusing system!

I actually just finished my 8 weeks of baby bonding PFL last month and chose paper checks. First payment took about 12 days after approval, then the rest came pretty regularly about 5-6 days after certifying. I had one check that was delayed in the mail for almost 2 weeks though, which was super stressful since we were counting on that money for bills. If your financial situation is tight, direct deposit might be better just for the reliability factor. Good luck with your decision and congrats on your little one!

I went through this exact decision last October for my PFL claim and ended up choosing direct deposit after going back and forth for days! My biggest concern was also security, but I figured my credit union has pretty good fraud monitoring. The payments came through like clockwork - usually 2-3 days after I certified biweekly. The one thing I'd suggest is setting up account alerts on your bank account so you get notified immediately when deposits hit. That way if something goes wrong, you'll know right away instead of waiting and wondering. Also make absolutely sure you enter your routing and account numbers correctly when you set it up - I triple checked mine because I was so paranoid about typos causing delays. Whatever you choose, just remember the most important thing is getting those benefits to support you and your baby girl during this time!

This is absolutely ridiculous! I'm going through the exact same thing right now - been approved for 3 weeks and still waiting. The worst part is that EDD acts like this is totally normal when people are dealing with serious family situations and counting on this money. I've been calling every day but either get disconnected or told "it's being processed" with no real timeline. Reading everyone's experiences here is both comforting and infuriating - it's clear this is a systemic problem that they just refuse to fix. I'm definitely going to try that complaint form and calling my assembly member's office. Thanks for posting this @Grace - we need more visibility on these delays so maybe something actually gets done about it! 😤

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same issue - got approved for PFL 10 days ago but still no payment in sight. The timing couldn't be worse since I'm already stressed about my family situation and now I'm panicking about rent being due soon. I've tried calling but keep getting the runaround with "it's processing" responses that don't mean anything. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (I'm not alone!) and scary (some of you have been waiting over a month?!). I'm definitely going to try calling first thing in the morning and look into that complaint form and assembly member contact. Thank you @Grace for posting this - it's clear this is a widespread problem that needs more attention. Solidarity to everyone going through this mess! 🙏

I'm going through the exact same frustrating situation! My PFL was approved 6 days ago and still no payment in sight. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief though - I was starting to panic that there was something specifically wrong with my claim, but it sounds like these delays are just the unfortunate norm right now. I've definitely become a member of the "obsessive bank account checking" club too! 😅 I'm probably refreshing my banking app every 30 minutes at this point, hoping to see that magical deposit appear. It's honestly becoming a nervous habit. The 7-14 business day timeline that Yara mentioned after actually getting through to someone is really helpful to know, even though it's longer than I was hoping for. At least now I have realistic expectations instead of just wondering if something went wrong. I'm going to try the early morning calling strategy that Caesar suggested tomorrow - sounds like that's our best shot at actually reaching a human. Also planning to triple-check my banking information online tonight just to rule out any issues on my end. Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences! It's so comforting to know we're all dealing with this stressful wait together. This community support makes it so much more bearable. Hoping we all see our payments come through soon! 🤞💪

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! My PFL was approved 5 days ago and I'm still waiting for the payment to appear in my account. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - I was starting to worry that there was something wrong with my specific claim, but it's clear that these delays are unfortunately just how the system works right now. I've definitely joined the obsessive bank account checking club! 😅 I'm probably refreshing my banking app every hour hoping to see that deposit finally show up. It's become such a nervous habit at this point. The information that Yara shared about the 7-14 business day processing timeline after approval is really helpful to know, even though it's frustrating when you're depending on that money. At least now I have realistic expectations instead of just wondering what's going wrong. I'm planning to try the early morning calling strategy that Caesar mentioned tomorrow - sounds like that's our best bet for actually getting through to speak with someone. Also going to double-check all my banking information online tonight just to make sure there's nothing on my end causing delays. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and timelines! It's so comforting to know we're all dealing with this stressful wait together. This community has been such a lifesaver for managing the anxiety around this situation. Hoping we all see our payments come through soon! 🤞

Hi Mei! I just wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread. I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago - developed gestational hypertension at 36 weeks, went on early disability, then had a c-section with infection complications that extended my total disability time to about 13 weeks. I was absolutely terrified that the extension would somehow eat into my PFL time because my employer's HR person kept making comments about "combined leave limits" (which turned out to be completely wrong!). But I got every single day of my 8 weeks of baby bonding leave after my disability ended! What really helped me was understanding that California specifically designed these programs to be separate so that medical complications wouldn't penalize parents by reducing their bonding time with their babies. It's actually a really parent-friendly system once you understand how it works. One practical tip that saved me stress: I created a simple spreadsheet tracking my disability periods, extension dates, and when to file my PFL claim. Having it all laid out visually made me feel so much more in control during an already overwhelming time. Also, don't let anyone make you feel guilty about taking the full medical time you need. Recovery is recovery, and bonding time is bonding time - they serve completely different purposes and you're entitled to both! You're being so smart to research this ahead of time. Wishing you a smooth rest of your pregnancy and delivery! 💕

Hi Mei! I'm a newer member here but wanted to share my experience since I went through something very similar just 4 months ago. I had gestational diabetes that progressed to preeclampsia around 34 weeks, which put me on disability much earlier than expected. Then I had delivery complications that extended my disability to nearly 12 weeks total. I was SO anxious about whether this would affect my PFL eligibility - I remember staying up at night googling and finding conflicting information everywhere! But I'm happy to confirm what everyone else has said: I got my complete 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding after my extended disability ended. What really clicked for me was when an EDD rep explained it this way: "Disability pays you when you CAN'T work due to medical reasons. PFL pays you when you COULD work but choose not to in order to bond with your baby." They're addressing completely different situations, which is why they don't affect each other at all. The paperwork felt overwhelming at first, but staying organized really helped. I kept everything in a binder with dividers for disability forms, PFL forms, and doctor's notes. Also, my OB's office was amazing - they actually have a checklist they use for patients going through extended disability to make sure all the documentation is complete. You're going to get through this just fine! The fact that you're researching early shows you're already on the right track. Focus on your health and trust that you'll get all the benefits you're entitled to. Can't wait for you to meet your little one! 🍼