I just went through this exact same situation last month! The online error is super frustrating but unfortunately very common with EDD's system. Here's what helped me get through it: **Calling strategy:** - Call right at 8am PT when they open - I got through in about 25 minutes - Have a backup plan to call again at 11am or 2pm if the morning doesn't work - Don't give up if you get busy signals - keep trying! **Documents to have ready:** - Your SSN and any claim confirmation numbers - Complete employer information (name, address, phone, dates of employment) - If it's medical leave, have your doctor's contact info handy - Write down a timeline of events before you call so you don't forget anything **During the call:** - Be polite but persistent - the reps are usually helpful once you get through - Ask for the representative's name and a reference number for your call - Take detailed notes and ask for specific timelines on next steps The manual processing took about 8 business days for me once they flagged it in their system. The rep told me the error just means their automated system couldn't process something and needed human review - it's not a rejection or indication that anything is wrong with your claim. Hang in there! I know it's stressful when you need those benefits, but you'll get through this. The system is just overwhelmed but the actual people are usually pretty helpful. Good luck with your call! 🤞

I'm dealing with this exact same error right now too! Reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful and reassuring. I was starting to panic thinking I'd done something wrong with my application, but it sounds like this system glitch is way more common than I realized. I'm definitely going to try the 8am calling strategy tomorrow with all my documents organized. A few questions for those who've successfully gotten through: 1. Did anyone have luck with the alternate phone numbers mentioned, or is the main EDD line the best bet? 2. When they manually process it, do they send any confirmation that it's been submitted successfully? 3. For those who used services like Claimyr, was it worth the $20 or would you recommend just being patient with the regular calling process? Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and tips - this community is amazing for helping each other navigate this confusing system! Hopefully I'll have a success story to share soon 🤞

I'm currently going through this exact same process and it's so confusing! Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like there are several acceptable terms - "Salary Continuation," "Supplemental Disability Benefits," "Wage Differential," etc. What I'm taking away from all these responses is that the key is to check with your HR department to see what they officially call it in your company's documentation. That way if EDD needs to verify anything with your employer, the terminology will match up. Also definitely getting those details about payment amounts and timing in writing from HR seems super important for the bi-weekly certifications later. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice I needed!

I'm a new mom who just went through this process last month! I used "Salary Continuation Benefits" on my DE2501 form and it was approved quickly. What really saved me was creating a simple checklist: 1) Get HR's official term for the program, 2) Get written confirmation of payment amounts and schedule, 3) Confirm whether they report to EDD directly or if I need to self-report, and 4) Ask for a contact person in HR for any follow-up questions during leave. The whole thing was much smoother once I had all these details nailed down upfront. Don't stress too much about the exact wording - EDD seems pretty flexible as long as it's clear your employer is supplementing your disability pay!

Quick update on your question about which pays more - to be super clear, both SDI (disability) and PFL (baby bonding) use the exact same calculation: - If you earn less than 1/3 of the state average quarterly wage, you get 70% of your wages - If you earn more than 1/3 of the state average quarterly wage, you get 60% of your wages So there is absolutely no financial benefit to staying on disability versus moving to PFL. The priority should be making sure there's no gap between the two benefits, which unfortunately requires speaking with an EDD representative.

I went through this exact same nightmare 6 months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: Call EDD at 8am SHARP when they open (1-800-480-3287). Don't hang up even if you get the busy message - keep hitting redial. I literally called 47 times one morning before getting through. When you do reach someone, have both your SDI claim number and your PFL claim number ready. Tell them you need to "coordinate the transition between disability and family leave claims" - use those exact words because it triggers them to look at both claims together. The rep will be able to see that your disability should have ended and your PFL should have started, and they can manually process the transition. Mine was fixed within 24 hours after that call. Also, definitely ask them to backdate your PFL start date so there's no gap in payments. And yes, both pay the exact same amount - I was getting $1,180/week on both disability and baby bonding. Hang in there! The system is broken but once you get a human on the phone, they can actually fix it pretty quickly.

Quick update: I took the advice about using Claimyr to get through to EDD and it actually worked! The representative confirmed they received my paper application on 3/22 but it was stuck in the backlog mentioned above. She added notes to expedite it since I'm approaching week 4 with no income. She said I should see it appear in my online account within 5-7 business days. Fingers crossed this actually resolves things!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I just went through something similar last month. My baby bonding application also seemed to disappear after my disability ended, and I was panicking about having no income. After reading through all these comments, it sounds like the March 2025 system upgrade backlog is affecting a lot of us. One thing that helped me was documenting everything - I kept a log of every call attempt, confirmation numbers, and any correspondence. When I finally got through to someone, having all those details ready made the conversation much more productive. Also, if you haven't already, try calling right at 8 AM when they open - I had better luck getting through then. The waiting is absolutely awful when you have bills to pay, but it sounds like your application is in the system and just stuck in processing. Hang in there!

This thread is incredibly comprehensive - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences! I'm expecting my first baby via C-section in about 6 weeks and have been completely overwhelmed trying to navigate the SDI/PFL process. Reading through everyone's real-world advice has been so much more helpful than anything I could find on official websites. I wanted to add one tip that might help other newcomers: I called my insurance company to ask about coverage for the C-section and learned they also have a nurse helpline that can provide guidance on recovery timelines and what to expect post-surgery. They mentioned this could be useful information to share with your doctor when discussing the SDI medical certification, especially if you end up having any complications. Also, after reading about all the potential website crashes and long hold times with EDD, I'm planning to print out physical copies of all the forms as backup. Has anyone tried filling out the paper versions instead of doing everything online? I'm wondering if that might be more reliable, even if it takes longer to process. The community knowledge here is amazing - I feel so much more confident about managing this transition now. Thank you for creating such a supportive resource for those of us trying to figure this out!

This thread is absolutely incredible - I've been lurking in this community for months but had to create an account just to thank everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences! I'm 32 weeks pregnant with my first baby and scheduled for a C-section in early May. My HR department gave me a single pamphlet about "California disability benefits" and basically said "figure it out yourself," so finding this treasure trove of actual user experiences is like striking gold. I've been taking notes on everyone's advice and wanted to share what I'm planning based on all your insights: ✅ Schedule conversation with OB about 8-week C-section recovery certification at my 36-week appointment ✅ Set up dedicated filing system (both physical and digital) for all documents ✅ Screenshot EVERYTHING during online applications ✅ File SDI immediately after delivery, PFL about 10 days before SDI ends ✅ Budget for 2-3 week potential payment gap ✅ Check with employer about supplemental disability benefits ✅ Set phone reminders for bi-weekly certifications One question I haven't seen addressed - has anyone dealt with this process while also managing gestational diabetes or other pregnancy complications? I'm wondering if having additional medical conditions affects the SDI timeline or certification process at all. Also, does anyone have experience with EDD's mobile app, or is the desktop website the way to go? I'm trying to prepare for managing this while potentially stuck on the couch recovering! Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your knowledge - this community is amazing! 🙏