Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
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If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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- DO post questions about your issues.
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- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
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As a newcomer to this community, I just want to express my gratitude for how incredibly helpful and supportive this thread has been! Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me so much insight into navigating the PFL system. The specific advice about calling 877-238-4373 right at 8am, checking the online portal for notices (not just the status page), and having all documentation ready is exactly the kind of practical guidance that makes all the difference. @Jungleboo Soletrain's success story after finding that missed notice is so encouraging - it shows that persistence combined with the right knowledge really does work! I'm not currently dealing with PFL but will likely need it in the future, and I feel so much more prepared now thanks to everyone's willingness to share their hard-won expertise. This is what a supportive community should look like - people helping each other succeed rather than just venting frustrations. Thank you all!
Welcome @Astrid Bergström! I'm also brand new to this community and this thread has been absolutely invaluable. As someone who will likely be applying for PFL in the coming year, I've been taking detailed notes on all the strategies shared here. The transformation from @Jungleboo Soletrain s'initial frustration to their successful resolution really demonstrates the power of community knowledge-sharing. It s'amazing how a simple tip about checking for notices in the online portal made all the difference! I m'bookmarking the 877-238-4373 number and all the timing advice from @Nadia Zaldivar. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical support that makes navigating complex government systems so much easier. Looking forward to contributing to this community as I learn more!
As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by how helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm currently pregnant and will need to apply for PFL bonding leave in a few months, so reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly educational. The step-by-step advice about calling 877-238-4373 right at 8am, checking the online portal regularly for notices, and having all documentation ready is exactly what I needed to know. @Jungleboo Soletrain's journey from weeks of frustration to getting their claim expedited really shows that persistence with the right strategy works! I'm making a checklist based on all the tips shared here - especially @Collins Angel's breakdown of common holdups and @Nadia Zaldivar's timing suggestions. It's so reassuring to see people actually get results when they know the right steps. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where real solutions are shared. This community is a lifesaver for navigating these complex systems!
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This thread has been incredibly helpful for someone like me who's about to navigate the PFL system! I'm due with my first baby in May and my husband is planning to take bonding leave. Reading about everyone's experiences - both the nightmares and the success stories - is giving me a much better idea of what to prepare for. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about keeping meticulous records from day one, taking screenshots of everything, and making copies of all submitted documents. The fact that so many of you were initially approved and then denied seems to suggest this is more of a systemic issue with EDD's processes rather than actual eligibility problems. @Luis Johnson - your success story gives me so much hope! It's encouraging to know that people do win these appeals, especially when the denial was due to EDD's own mistakes. @Aisha Patel and @Gabrielle Dubois - thank you for all the specific procedural advice and phone numbers. I'm saving all of this information for reference. For those of you still waiting on your appeals - I'm rooting for you all! This system is clearly broken but it sounds like persistence and good documentation really do pay off. Please keep us updated on your outcomes!
This is such a thoughtful and supportive comment! It's really refreshing to see someone taking proactive steps to prepare for PFL instead of going in blind like so many of us did. Your approach of learning from everyone's experiences here is so smart - I wish I had found a resource like this before we started our PFL journey. You're absolutely right that this seems to be more of a systemic issue with EDD's processes rather than actual eligibility problems. The number of people who were initially approved and then randomly denied is honestly shocking and points to serious flaws in their system. One additional tip for when you and your husband apply - consider taking photos/videos of yourselves actually submitting documents at EDD offices or getting confirmation receipts if you submit online. I know it sounds excessive, but given how many people here have had EDD claim they "never received" properly submitted paperwork, having that extra layer of proof could be valuable. Best of luck with your pregnancy and hopefully you'll have a much smoother PFL experience than what we've been dealing with! 🤞
I'm currently going through the exact same situation and this thread has been a lifesaver! My wife was approved for PFL in January, received 3 payments, then got hit with a denial letter last week saying she didn't meet eligibility requirements. We filed our appeal immediately but I've been panicking about the timeline. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially @Luis Johnson's success story - gives me so much hope that we can get through this. The consistency in the 6-8 week timeline for hearing dates is actually reassuring, even though it feels like forever when you're living it. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that @Tyrone Johnson recommended since calling EDD has been absolutely impossible. Also planning to request our complete claim file like @Oliver Schulz suggested - that's such a smart move to see exactly what documentation they have. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice. It's amazing how this community is helping each other navigate this broken system. Will keep everyone updated on our progress, and hoping all of you still waiting get positive outcomes soon!
I'm so sorry you and your wife are going through this too! It's unfortunately becoming way too common from what I'm seeing in this community. The fact that she received 3 payments before the denial actually gives me hope for your case - it shows EDD initially determined she was eligible, so this is likely a paperwork or verification issue rather than a fundamental problem with her qualification. Definitely try that Claimyr service - I've seen multiple people here say it's the only way they were able to actually reach a human at EDD. The complete claim file request is brilliant too - it could reveal exactly what triggered the reversal. One thing I've learned from reading everyone's experiences is that these initial approvals followed by denials seem to happen A LOT, which suggests this is more about EDD's internal processes being messy rather than people not actually qualifying. Stay strong and keep fighting - from what I'm seeing here, persistence really does pay off with these appeals. Fingers crossed for both of our families! 🤞
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I just went through this same process about 2 weeks ago! When I called, they mainly wanted to verify my employment dates and make sure my employer info was correct in their system. The rep was actually pretty nice and walked me through everything step by step. The whole call took maybe 15 minutes once I got through. Just make sure you have your Social Security card, recent paystubs, and know your exact start/end dates for work. Also, if you're taking leave for medical reasons, have any doctor's notes ready to reference. Don't worry too much - it's really just a formality to make sure all your info matches up! 😊
This is so reassuring to hear! I'm actually dealing with the exact same thing right now and was worried they were going to make it super complicated. Knowing it was just 15 minutes and pretty straightforward makes me feel way better about calling tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙏
Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this process twice now! The first time I got that letter I was super anxious, but honestly it's usually just routine stuff. They asked me about my employment history, verified my wages, and wanted to confirm the reason for my leave. The second time around (different pregnancy), they mainly just needed updated employer information since I had switched jobs. One tip I'd add - if you're taking leave for bonding with a new baby, make sure you have the birth certificate handy. They didn't ask for it during the call, but they said I might need to submit it later. The whole process was way less intimidating than I expected. You've got this! 🍀
Thank you for sharing your experience with going through this twice! It's really helpful to hear from someone who's been there multiple times. The tip about having the birth certificate ready is super useful - I wouldn't have thought of that. It's so reassuring to know that even though it seems scary at first, it's really just routine verification. Makes me feel a lot more confident about making that call! 😊
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Wow, reading through all these experiences is both frustrating and reassuring! 😅 I'm actually going through a very similar situation right now - my PFL claim got denied for the exact same reason even though I clearly marked "other" for the employer wage question. It's crazy how many people are dealing with this same system glitch! I've been trying to get through on the phone for over a week with no luck, but all the advice here about calling at exactly 8:00 AM is gold. Definitely going to try that tomorrow. Also planning to get that detailed HR letter everyone's mentioning - the "supplemental vs replacement" language distinction seems to be key. Has anyone tried the appeals process if the phone calls don't work out? Just wondering if that's another avenue to explore. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's so helpful to know we're not alone in this mess! 🙏
@Felicity Bud I haven t'had to go through the appeals process yet, but I ve'heard it can take even longer than just getting through on the phone - like 6-8 weeks minimum. Definitely try the 8 AM calling strategy first! I ve'been following this thread closely and it seems like most people who persist with the phone calls eventually get through and get it resolved. The key seems to be having all your documentation ready especially (that HR letter with the supplemental "language" and) being super clear about the other "selection" you made. If the phone route doesn t'work after a few weeks of trying, then maybe consider the appeal as a backup plan. Keep us posted on how your call goes - this thread is becoming like a support group for all of us dealing with this same EDD nightmare! 😂
This thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now - filed PFL after my SDI ended and got the dreaded denial letter saying my employer is paying full wages when they're actually just supplementing my benefits. 😤 Like everyone else here, I marked "yes" with "other" but it seems like their system completely ignores that detail. It's honestly mind-boggling that this is such a widespread problem and they haven't fixed it yet! I've been trying to get through on the phone for days with zero luck, but after reading all these success stories I'm feeling more optimistic. Definitely going to try the 8:00 AM sharp strategy tomorrow with all my documentation ready. Already reached out to HR for that detailed letter with the "supplemental vs replacement" language that @Kelsey Chin mentioned - that distinction seems crucial. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and advice! This community is literally saving my sanity right now. Will definitely update once I make some progress. Fingers crossed we can all get this mess sorted out! 🤞
NebulaNomad
Good luck with your appointment Friday! One more tip - if your doctor seems hesitant about the partial disability certification, you can mention that California specifically allows for "part-time work" while on SDI as long as your earnings don't exceed your weekly benefit amount. Some doctors worry they're committing fraud by certifying someone as disabled who's still working, but partial SDI is totally legitimate and designed exactly for situations like yours. Also, don't forget to ask about backdating your claim - you might be able to recover some of those unpaid hours from recent weeks if your doctor can certify that your condition required reduced hours during that period.
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Noah huntAce420
•This is really great advice about mentioning the legitimacy of partial work while on SDI to doctors! I had no idea about potentially backdating the claim either - that could make such a huge difference financially. @Grace Johnson definitely ask about that backdating option when you talk to the EDD rep through Claimyr. Even getting a few weeks of back benefits could help with all those unpaid hours you ve'been dealing with. Fingers crossed everything works out smoothly!
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Dylan Evans
I went through almost the exact same situation with my rheumatoid arthritis last year! The confusion between FMLA job protection and actual wage replacement benefits is SO common - I think employers sometimes don't explain it clearly because they save money when we don't claim what we're entitled to. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed log of every hour I missed due to my condition for about a month before applying. When I met with my doctor, I could show them exactly how many hours per week I was losing and they understood better why I needed the partial SDI certification. Also, when you get the DE2501 form, there's a specific section where your doctor needs to check "part-time work" or "reduced schedule" - make sure they don't accidentally check "no work capability" which would put you on full disability instead of partial. That mistake cost me an extra 3 weeks of processing time! Hope your appointment goes well Friday - you've got this! 💪
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