Don't panic! I made this exact same mistake last year. Here's what worked for me: I called the EDD PFL line first thing in the morning (around 8:02 AM) and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The rep was super helpful and explained that they can switch your application type pretty easily if you catch it early. She submitted a correction form on her end and told me to watch for an email confirmation within 3-5 business days. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes once I got someone on the phone. Your benefits won't be affected as long as you get it corrected soon. Hang in there! 💪

I had the exact same panic attack when I did this last year! 😅 Here's what saved me: instead of just calling randomly, I used the EDD callback feature on their website. You request a callback and they actually call YOU back within 24-48 hours. Way less stressful than sitting on hold forever. When they called, I explained the mistake and the agent was like "oh this happens all the time, no worries." She switched it from Care to Bonding in literally 2 minutes and sent me a confirmation email the same day. Your benefits timeline shouldn't be affected at all - they just update the form type in their system. Breathe, you got this! 🌟

This is so helpful to read everyone's experiences! I'm actually going through something similar right now - got denied for PFL about a month ago and the reason was confusing but now I think it might be related to this "full wage continuation" issue. I was on unpaid leave for 3 weeks to care for my newborn but didn't really understand the denial letter at the time. Reading through all these detailed success stories is giving me the motivation to look into appealing. @Olivia Harris your breakdown is super clear - I had no idea you could request your wage history for free to see what data EDD has on file. That seems like such a smart first step to figure out what went wrong. @Marcus Marsh I hope your appeal goes smoothly! It sounds like this is definitely a fixable problem based on everyone's experiences here. This thread is proof that the EDD system has some serious glitches but they can be corrected with the right documentation.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! I went through something very similar about 6 months ago - got denied for PFL because of "full wage continuation" even though I was on completely unpaid FMLA leave. It's such a frustrating error! What really helped me was getting super organized with my documentation. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. Request your wage and claim history from EDD (it's free through your online account) - this will show you exactly what wage data they have on file that's causing the denial 2. Get a detailed letter from your payroll department confirming you received $0 wages during your leave dates 3. Gather your actual pay stubs showing zero earnings for those weeks 4. If you have any emails or texts about requesting unpaid time off, include those too The appeal took about 6 weeks for me, but I got approved with full back pay. Don't let their broken system discourage you - this type of denial gets overturned all the time once you provide proof that you weren't actually getting paid. You've got this! 💪

I'm currently going through this exact situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far! My company also provides supplemental pay to bring benefits up to 100%, and I was initially terrified about potential complications. After reading through all these helpful responses and doing my own research, here's what seems to be the key takeaways: 1. **Proper coding is everything** - Make sure your paystubs show these as "supplemental disability benefits" or "leave supplement," NOT regular wages 2. **Documentation is your friend** - Keep records of everything, especially any HR communications about coding corrections 3. **Timing matters** - Filing PFL about a week before SDI ends seems to be the sweet spot 4. **Tracking helps** - Creating a spreadsheet with dates, amounts, and coding details makes certification much easier @StarStrider - it sounds like you're handling this perfectly! Getting HR to fix that payroll error and document it is exactly what you should do. The fact that you're being so proactive about understanding the process shows you'll navigate this successfully. One thing that's given me peace of mind is learning that EDD deals with employer supplemental benefits all the time - it's not unusual or problematic as long as everything is coded correctly. The system is designed to handle these situations. For anyone else following this thread, the consensus seems clear: report employer supplements as "other benefits" during certification, but since they're not wages for work performed, they won't reduce your state benefits. This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding the real-world aspects of this process! 🙏

I'm currently preparing for maternity leave and have been following this thread closely - it's been incredibly helpful! My employer also has a supplemental pay policy, and I was initially worried about how to handle it properly. Based on everything I've read here, it seems like the key is making sure these payments are coded correctly on paystubs as "supplemental benefits" rather than regular wages. I'm planning to have a conversation with my HR department before my leave starts to ensure we're both clear on the proper coding. @StarStrider - I hope your PFL application went smoothly this week! You've handled everything so professionally and thoroughly. The way you proactively addressed the payroll error and got documentation from HR is exactly the right approach. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned much - for those who've completed the PFL certification process with employer supplemental pay, is it pretty straightforward to report these payments, or are there any tricky aspects to watch out for? This whole discussion has given me so much confidence about navigating this process when my time comes. Thank you to everyone who's shared their real experiences - this community is amazing! 🙏

Just want to add some encouragement as someone who went through this exact transition in August 2025! The anxiety about that first payment is so real when you're dealing with a new baby and bills piling up. My timeline was: - Approved on a Friday - First payment hit exactly 8 business days later (the following Wednesday) - Every payment after that came like clockwork every 14 days The automatic nature of PFL payments is honestly amazing - no certifications, no weekly check-ins, just money appearing in your account every two weeks. It's one of the few things EDD actually does well! **What saved my sanity during the wait:** - Set up direct deposit immediately (definitely faster than BofA card) - Started checking EDD account daily on day 7 for the "Paid" status change - Used the BofA app with notifications so I knew instantly when money hit You're in the hardest part right now - waiting for that first payment. But based on everyone's consistent experiences here, you should see money very soon! Once it starts, you can finally relax and focus on enjoying your bonding time instead of stressing about finances. Hang in there Ryan - you've got this! Your little one is lucky to have such a caring parent who's working hard to make sure everything is taken care of. The relief when that first payment hits is incredible! 🍼💙

Hey Ryan! I just went through this exact same transition from SDI to PFL in October 2025 and completely feel your stress! The not knowing when money will actually show up is the worst part, especially with a new baby and bills due. Here's what happened with mine: - Approved on a Tuesday - First PFL payment hit my account 9 business days later (Thursday of the following week) - After that, payments came automatically every 14 days - never had an issue The relief of not having to certify for PFL is incredible! Once you're approved, you literally just wait for money to appear every two weeks until your claim ends. **What helped me survive the waiting:** - Set up direct deposit through EDD portal right away (saves 1-2 days vs BofA card) - Starting day 7, checked my EDD account every morning for status changes - When it switched from "Pending" to "Paid," money usually hit within 24-48 hours - Downloaded BofA app and enabled instant notifications for deposits I know you're probably refreshing your account constantly right now (I did the same thing!), but based on everyone's timeline here, you should see that first payment very soon. Once it starts, PFL is honestly one of the most reliable EDD programs - you can finally focus on bonding with your little one instead of stressing about finances. You're doing great navigating all this with a newborn! That first payment will come through and then you can actually enjoy your leave time. Congrats on your baby! 🍼

For split periods of baby bonding leave, your husband would file an initial claim for the first period. Then for subsequent periods, he'd need to file a "Notice of Reestablished Claim" when he wants to use the remaining weeks. It's still under the same claim, but he needs to notify EDD each time he starts a new period of leave. Make sure he notifies his employer according to their policy as well.

Just wanted to add my experience from having our baby in February 2025! My husband's PFL baby bonding claim was super straightforward - no doctor certification needed at all. He just filled out the DE2508 form online and uploaded a copy of our baby's birth certificate. The whole process took about 10 minutes and he got his first payment within 2 weeks. One tip: make sure he selects the right claim type on the EDD website. There are different options and "baby bonding" is specifically listed as separate from disability claims. Also, he can actually start his claim on any date after the birth - doesn't have to be immediately. We waited a month so I could go back to work part-time first, then he took his 8 weeks. The system is way more flexible than we expected!