Hi Diego! Welcome to the community and congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 I'm also new to this group and just started navigating the PFL baby bonding process for our 3-week-old. This entire thread has been such a goldmine of information! Based on everyone's shared experiences, it really sounds like May 8th should be your husband's next payment date (14 days after April 24th). The consistency stories from people who've completed the full cycle are so reassuring. I'm definitely taking notes on all the crucial tips mentioned here - especially about certifying immediately when the period opens (those Sunday evening reminders seem essential!), keeping all contact info updated in UI Online, and screenshotting those certification confirmations for your records. With newborn sleep deprivation being so real, having these automated systems and backup documentation feels absolutely necessary. One thing that's really stood out to me from reading everyone's experiences is how important that initial direct deposit setup seems to be for consistent timing. Also, the tip about checking your UI Online inbox regularly for any messages from EDD - I wouldn't have thought to do that proactively but it makes total sense. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive space for new parents to share real experiences rather than just pointing to confusing government websites! This community is already proving to be such a valuable resource as we navigate the EDD system with newborns. Looking forward to learning from and supporting others here as we all go through this journey together! 💙

Hi Diego! Welcome to the community and congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 I'm also a newcomer here - just started my own PFL baby bonding claim for our 8-week-old twins (yes, double the fun and double the sleep deprivation!). This thread has been absolutely incredible - I've learned more about the PFL payment schedule from everyone's real experiences here than from hours of trying to decipher the EDD website! Based on what everyone is sharing, May 8th definitely sounds right for your husband's next payment (14 days after April 24th). I'm frantically taking notes on all the amazing tips shared here - the immediate certification when periods open, direct deposit setup, enabling all notifications, and especially those calendar reminders that everyone keeps emphasizing. With twins keeping us up around the clock, I know I'll forget everything without automated systems in place! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from calling EDD yesterday - they mentioned that if you ever have questions about your specific payment schedule, you can actually see your projected payment dates in the UI Online portal under the "Payment Information" section. It's not super obvious where to find it, but it shows your full payment schedule for the entire claim period once it's approved. Thanks to everyone for making this community so welcoming and helpful for new parents trying to navigate this system while running on caffeine and baby snuggles! Looking forward to supporting others here as we all figure this out together. 💙👶👶

Hey Paolo! As a fellow new parent who just navigated this process, I wanted to share my experience. I started my bonding leave 3 weeks before my PFL claim was approved and it worked out perfectly - got all the retroactive pay in one lump sum once everything went through. A couple things that really saved me stress: First, I kept a simple log of every single day I was off (even just dates in my phone notes worked). Second, I made sure my employer's HR department had clear documentation about my intended start date matching what I put on the DE2508 form. The waiting period is definitely anxiety-inducing, especially when you're trying to balance new parent finances, but EDD does honor that retroactive payment from your official start date. In my case it took about 6 weeks total to see the first payment, but once it hit, it covered everything from day one. One small thing - when you do start your leave, resist any urge to "just quickly" check work emails or take calls. EDD can be surprisingly strict about you being completely off work during claimed days. Good luck with everything, and enjoy those precious bonding weeks with your little one!

Adding to all the great advice here - I'm currently going through this exact same process! Started my baby bonding leave 2 weeks ago while my claim is still pending. The financial uncertainty is definitely stressful, but I've been documenting everything like others suggested. One thing I learned from calling EDD (after many attempts) is that they actually expect people to start their leave before approval - it's totally normal and built into their system. The rep told me that as long as your DE2508 form clearly states your intended start date and you're eligible, the retroactive payment is guaranteed. What's been helping my anxiety is treating it like any other benefits situation - unemployment, disability, etc. The government programs are designed to help, they just move slowly. Keep all your paperwork, stay in touch with your employer's HR, and try not to check the EDD portal obsessively (easier said than done!). Hang in there Paolo - sounds like you're doing everything right. These bonding weeks are going to be amazing once all the paperwork stress is behind you!

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress - the 41-day deadline is such a harsh rule, especially when you're dealing with everything that comes with a new baby! Reading through all the advice here, it definitely seems like you have options with the "good cause" appeal process. The combination of detailed guidance from people like @Javier Hernandez about what qualifies as good cause, plus the practical tips about calling early and using the DE 1000M form, gives you a solid roadmap forward. What really strikes me is how many people in this thread have dealt with similar situations and successfully fought through the appeals process. The fact that medical recovery, employer miscommunication, and lack of proper notice can all potentially qualify as good cause means you shouldn't give up hope. I'm also new to navigating PFL claims, but this thread has been incredibly eye-opening about how common this issue is. It really seems like the system needs to do better at communicating these critical deadlines upfront instead of catching exhausted new parents off guard. Keep documenting everything you can find - even small details about confusing communications might help your case. And definitely try that early morning calling strategy! Persistence seems to be the key with getting through to them. You've got a whole community here rooting for you - please keep us updated on how the appeal goes! 💪

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - missing that 41-day deadline is incredibly frustrating, especially when you're already juggling everything that comes with a new baby! From reading through all the amazing advice in this thread, it's clear you shouldn't give up yet. The "good cause" exception seems to be a real lifeline, and people have shared such helpful specifics about the appeals process. The DE 1000M form that @Rudy Cenizo mentioned, the early morning calling strategy, and documenting everything for your appeal - these are all concrete steps you can take. What really gives me hope for your situation is hearing from folks like @Malik Johnson who went through something similar and successfully got their benefits. Medical reasons, employer miscommunication, lack of proper notice - all of these can potentially qualify as good cause for missing the deadline. I'm fairly new to navigating PFL myself, but this thread has been such an education on how broken the communication around these deadlines really is. You're definitely not alone in this - it seems like way too many people get caught off guard by rules that should be made crystal clear upfront. Keep fighting for what you've paid into and deserve! The persistence and documentation approach that others have outlined here seems to be the key. Wishing you luck with getting through to them and with your appeal! 🤞

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a new parent (baby arrived last month) and I was completely overwhelmed trying to figure out the PFL system. Based on everyone's advice, I ended up taking 3 weeks initially, then I'm planning to take my remaining 5 weeks in two chunks - 3 weeks in the spring and 2 weeks in the summer when my partner has more availability to help. One thing I learned that might help others: when you're planning intermittent leave, it's worth having a conversation with your payroll department too, not just HR. They need to coordinate with EDD on the wage verification, and mine mentioned that having the dates planned out in advance makes their job much easier. Also, for anyone worried about the paperwork - yes, there are additional forms for each period, but it's not nearly as complicated as the initial claim. The "Notice and Request for Additional Period" form is pretty straightforward once you've been through the process once. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it made navigating this whole system so much less stressful!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm that intermittent PFL for baby bonding is absolutely allowed! I took mine in three chunks: 3 weeks right after birth, 2 weeks when my partner went back to work, and then my final 3 weeks during the holidays when childcare was harder to arrange. A few practical tips that saved me headaches: - Submit your paperwork at least 3 weeks before you need each period to start (processing takes time!) - Keep a calendar specifically for tracking your PFL usage - it helps when filling out forms - If your employer uses a third-party leave administrator (like UNUM or MetLife), make sure they understand California's intermittent PFL rules too The 12-month window to use all 8 weeks gives you SO much flexibility. Just remember that your employer's policy might be more restrictive than EDD's, so definitely get that conversation with HR sorted out first. Good luck with your little one!

I'm really sorry about your uncle's heart condition, Malik. This thread has been incredible to read - seeing how this community has rallied around you with so many creative solutions despite the PFL limitation. As someone who's navigated international family medical situations before, I wanted to add one more thing to your already comprehensive plan: consider reaching out to any universities or medical schools in Buenos Aires. Many have English-speaking medical students who offer companion services or light caregiving assistance at very reasonable rates. This could give you scheduled breaks to focus on remote work while still ensuring your uncle has proper support. Also, since you're planning to be there during his recovery, you might want to research what the hospital discharge planning process looks like in Argentina. Understanding their post-surgery protocols ahead of time will help you advocate for the services and support he'll need once he's home. The combination approach everyone has outlined really seems like your best bet. You're going into tomorrow's HR meeting incredibly well-prepared with multiple options and backup plans. Your uncle is so lucky to have someone willing to think through every angle to be there for him. Keeping both of you in my thoughts for a successful surgery and smooth recovery. Please do keep us updated on how your HR conversation goes - I think we're all invested in seeing how this works out for you! 💙

I'm so sorry to hear about your uncle's heart condition, Malik. This has been such an enlightening thread to read through - it's frustrating how the system defines "family" but inspiring to see all the creative solutions people have shared. I wanted to add something from a different angle: have you considered looking into whether your company offers any kind of volunteer time off (VTO) or community service leave? Some employers have policies that allow paid time off for caregiving that falls outside traditional family definitions, especially if you can frame it as humanitarian assistance. It's a long shot, but worth asking about alongside all the other options. Also, since you mentioned your Spanish is decent, you might want to connect with local expat Facebook groups in Buenos Aires before you go. They often have incredibly helpful advice about navigating healthcare, finding temporary accommodations near hospitals, and even connecting with other English speakers who've been through similar situations. Reading through all these suggestions, you've got such a solid foundation for your HR conversation. The fact that you're approaching this with multiple backup plans and have researched everything so thoroughly shows how much you care about both your uncle and maintaining your professional responsibilities. Wishing your uncle a successful surgery and hoping you can piece together a solution that works. This community has really shown how much we can support each other through tough times! 🙏