Welcome to the confusing world of EDD taxes! 😅 As a fellow new parent, I can tell you that yes, you'll definitely get that 1099-G form. Just went through this myself last year. One tip that saved me - when you get the form, double-check the amount against your benefit payment history in your EDD account. I found a small discrepancy on mine and had to get it corrected. Also, since you're a first-time parent, don't forget about the Child Tax Credit - it can help offset some of those federal taxes you'll owe on the EDD benefits. The whole system feels overwhelming at first but you've got this! And congrats on your little one! 🍼

Just want to echo what others have said about updating your address with EDD! I moved right after my baby was born and almost missed my 1099-G because it went to my old place. The online portal under "Contact Information" is usually the fastest way to update it, but if that's not working (like others mentioned, their site can be glitchy), you can also update it by phone. Also, since you mentioned you're a first-time mom - don't stress too much about the tax part! The amount you'll owe federally isn't usually huge, and like @Nia Wilson mentioned, the Child Tax Credit really helps. Plus there are other new parent deductions you might qualify for. You're being super responsible by thinking about this early instead of scrambling in April like I did! 😊

I just went through this exact situation a couple months ago and it was beyond frustrating! Here's what finally worked for me: • I started calling at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - way better success rate • Used the online chat feature during off-peak hours (like 2-3 PM) - sometimes gets you to someone faster than phone • Filed a complaint through their website when I hit the 4-week mark with no response - that seemed to shake something loose • Asked my employer's HR if they had a direct contact - turns out they did! The whole process took about 6 weeks total, but once I got someone on the line, they were actually pretty helpful and got things moving quickly. Don't give up! The system is definitely broken but persistence eventually pays off. Also, if you're dealing with time-sensitive medical issues, mention that upfront - they sometimes have expedited processes for urgent cases. Good luck! 🍀

I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago and it was honestly one of the most frustrating experiences of my life! Here's what I learned: **For getting through on the phone:** - Call at exactly 8:00 AM when they open (set multiple alarms!) - Try calling on Tuesdays/Wednesdays - seemed less busy than Mondays/Fridays - Have ALL your info ready: SSN, case number, dates, etc. **Alternative approaches that worked:** - The online portal actually does get updated before they call you (check daily!) - Faxing documents got faster responses than email or mail - Your state representative's office can sometimes help - they have direct contacts **The waiting game:** - It took about 5-6 weeks total for me, which seems to be pretty normal unfortunately - Document every attempt to contact them (dates, times, who you spoke to) - Don't be afraid to escalate after 4 weeks with no response The system is absolutely broken, but almost everyone I know who stuck with it eventually got their stuff approved. It's just a matter of outlasting their terrible customer service! Hang in there and keep us updated on your progress. We're all rooting for you! 💪 Also, if anyone finds any new tricks for getting through faster, please share them here - we're all in this together!

Quick question - does anyone know if changing your name affects your claim in any way? Like, does it reset anything or cause delays? I'm in the middle of receiving benefits and don't wanna mess that up.

Just wanted to share my recent experience - I actually managed to get through to EDD on my third try by calling right when they opened at 8am. The agent was super helpful and walked me through everything. She said the name change usually takes 5-7 business days to process once they receive your documents. Also, pro tip: they prefer if you send a certified copy of your marriage certificate rather than just a regular photocopy. It might take a bit longer to get one, but it speeds up their processing time. Hope this helps someone! 🤞

Ana, congratulations on your little one and I'm so glad you were able to find your remaining PFL balance! As someone who also navigated the EDD system as a new parent, I completely understand the frustration with their phone system - it's absolutely terrible. Since you discovered you still have 3 weeks available, I wanted to share a tip that really helped me: consider keeping a simple calendar or planner specifically for tracking your PFL usage and deadlines. I marked down when I took each week, when I submitted forms, and set reminders for important dates like the one-year deadline. It helped me stay organized when my brain was total mush from sleep deprivation! Also, since you mentioned struggling with childcare and your husband's work stress, you might want to look into local parent groups or mom groups in your area - they're often great resources for childcare recommendations, emergency babysitting swaps, and just general support during those overwhelming early months. The fact that you can use those remaining weeks flexibly throughout the year is such a blessing - you'll figure out the perfect timing for your family's needs. You're doing great mama, even when it doesn't feel like it!

Ana, I'm so relieved you were able to find your remaining balance without having to deal with EDD's nightmare phone system! As a mom who went through this exact same confusion with my son last year, I totally get the panic of thinking you might have missed out on benefits you're entitled to. Those 3 remaining weeks are such a gift - especially with everything you mentioned about childcare struggles and your husband's work stress. One thing that really saved me was creating a simple note in my phone with all the key dates and deadlines related to my PFL benefits. I included things like when my year expires, how many weeks I had left, and even screenshots of the claim balance page. That way I could reference everything quickly without having to dig through the EDD website again when my brain was fried from lack of sleep. Also, since you mentioned potentially using the weeks throughout the year, don't forget that you need to give your employer proper notice each time - but the flexibility of being able to split them up is honestly one of the best parts of the California PFL system. You're doing amazing navigating all this bureaucracy while caring for a new baby - that's no small feat! Congratulations on your little one and I hope those remaining weeks give you some much-needed relief when you need it most.

I'm jumping into this incredible thread as someone who's been battling the same EDD phone nightmare for my PFL claim! I've been trying for 9 days straight with zero luck, but reading through everyone's detailed strategies is giving me so much hope. This community has essentially become a masterclass in reverse-engineering a completely broken government system - from @Emily Sanjay's scientific approach with tally marks and the 1-3-4 button sequence, to @Millie Long's 30-second wait discovery, to @StardustSeeker's weather timing strategy. It's both amazing and absolutely ridiculous that we need to coordinate like military strategists just to access benefits we're entitled to! I'm definitely going to combine the multi-phone 8:00 AM sharp approach with all these crowd-sourced hacks tomorrow morning. The solidarity and shared knowledge in this thread is incredible - it's proof that when official systems fail us completely, we can still help each other find solutions. Planning my own coordinated phone assault and will report back with results. Thank you everyone for not suffering in silence and actually sharing what works. This community is what's keeping me motivated when the system feels impossible! 💪🙏

This thread has been an absolute game-changer for me! I'm dealing with the exact same EDD nightmare trying to reach someone about my PFL claim. I've been stuck in the "maximum callers" loop for almost two weeks and was honestly starting to think it was impossible until I found this community. The level of strategic coordination we've all had to develop just to access basic government services is both inspiring and completely insane. Reading through everyone's battle-tested methods - @Emily Sanjay's scientific approach with the 67-call tally system and that brilliant 1-3-4 button sequence hack, @Millie Long's 30-second wait discovery instead of immediate hang-up, @StardustSeeker's weather timing strategy, and the consistent success with the multi-phone 8:00 AM sharp approach - it's like having a complete intelligence briefing for cracking this broken system. I'm definitely combining all these crowd-sourced tactics for my assault tomorrow morning. It's ridiculous that we need to become phone system ninjas with military precision just to discuss our own benefits, but the solidarity and shared knowledge in this thread is incredible proof that we can overcome even the most bureaucratic obstacles when we help each other. Going to report back with results - hopefully I can add to the success stories instead of the battle plans! Thanks to everyone for not giving up and creating this amazing support network. This community is what's keeping me sane through this nightmare! 💪🙏