Anyone else feel like they need a law degree just to navigate this stuff? 🙃 Maybe we should start a support group: 'EDD Survivors Anonymous

I went through something similar last year! The key thing to understand is that SDI is designed to replace lost wages, so if you're getting 100% pay from your employer, EDD sees that as "no lost wages to replace." When you call for your appeal, ask specifically about: - Whether your employer is paying you directly OR if they're supplementing SDI benefits - If there's a coordination of benefits form your employer should have filed - Whether you can switch to a partial pay arrangement that would make you eligible Also, check your employee handbook - some companies have policies where they pay the difference between SDI and your full salary, which is different from just paying you 100% outright. That distinction matters to EDD! Keep pushing back on the appeal - I've seen cases where it took 2-3 attempts but people eventually got it sorted out. Don't give up! 💪

@f5ca75619235 I can confirm what others said about Claimyr - you only pay after they successfully connect you to EDD. When I used it for my PFL claim a few months ago, the fee was $20 and honestly it was the best money I spent during that whole ordeal. The service connected me within 45 minutes and the EDD rep was able to resolve my issue immediately. Just have all your documents scanned and ready to upload before calling, because you want to take full advantage of that precious time with an actual human! Also keep your confirmation numbers from any uploads - the reps can see those in their system. Six weeks is way too long for a disability claim, especially when you need that income. Really hope Claimyr works for you too!

This entire thread is so eye-opening! I'm dealing with a similar SSN verification request for my PFL claim and was getting nowhere with EDD's phone system. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the combination of uploading ALL possible documents (SS card, ID, birth certificate, paystub) AND using a service like Claimyr to actually reach a human is the winning strategy. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to pay third parties to access our own state benefits, but if it works, it works. @d0ee615c27d1 thank you for posting that detailed update - it gives me hope that this nightmare can actually be resolved! Going to gather all my documents and try Claimyr this week.

This is why I always use PayPal for online purchases. They have buyer protection and it's easier to dispute charges. Plus, you don't have to give your actual card info to every site you buy from.

I've dealt with this exact same issue before! Double charges are super frustrating. Here's what worked for me: First, check if both charges actually posted or if one is still pending - sometimes the first one will drop off automatically within a few days. If they're both posted, definitely contact the company first before going to your bank. Most legitimate businesses will refund the duplicate charge pretty quickly once you explain what happened. Just make sure to have your transaction details ready when you call or email them. Good luck getting this sorted out!

To summarize what you should do: 1. Continue your current SDI claim until it's exhausted (likely 3 more weeks) 2. File your PFL claim about a week before your SDI ends - indicate your employment status has changed 3. Take your full 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding 4. After PFL ends (about 11 weeks from now), file for unemployment 5. Start your job search once on unemployment This approach gives you about 3-4 months total with your baby before you need to start looking for work. And when you do start interviewing, you can honestly tell employers you took standard maternity leave time and are now ready to return to work - many won't even realize you were laid off during that period.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - being laid off with a newborn is incredibly stressful! Just wanted to add one more thing that might help: when you do eventually file for unemployment, they'll likely ask about your "last day worked" versus your "last day of employment." Since you were technically on SDI leave when you got laid off, make sure you're clear about these dates. Your last day physically working was probably before your baby was born, but your employment officially ended when they called you. This distinction can affect your benefit calculation and base period. Also, keep that termination call documented somehow (email follow-up, written notice, etc.) - you'll need proof of the layoff for unemployment. Hang in there, mama!

Oh wow, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! What an awful situation to be in with a newborn. I went through something similar when my company had layoffs during my maternity leave last year. The good news is that you can absolutely continue your PFL claim - being laid off doesn't disqualify you from benefits you were already entitled to when you filed. Finish your full 8 weeks, then immediately apply for unemployment after. But like everyone else has said, that 3-month pending status is a HUGE red flag. You should have received payments by now. The fact that you got the debit card but no award letter suggests there's a documentation issue or system glitch that needs to be resolved by an actual human. When you call EDD, make sure to emphasize that you have TWO separate issues: 1) Your original claim being stuck in pending status since January 1st, and 2) Your recent layoff that needs to be noted on your account. Don't let them try to handle just one or the other. I know how overwhelming this must feel with everything going on, but don't give up! You're entitled to those back payments from January, and you deserve to have this resolved. Keep pushing until you get answers. Your baby needs you to advocate for your family right now! ❤️

I'm so sorry this happened to you - getting laid off while on maternity leave is absolutely devastating! I haven't been in your exact situation, but I wanted to offer some support and what I've learned from reading other experiences here. Everyone's advice about continuing your PFL claim is spot on - you were already eligible when you filed, so the layoff shouldn't disqualify you. But that 3-month pending status is definitely the bigger issue that needs immediate attention. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might want to reach out to your state assemblyperson's office if EDD continues to give you the runaround. They often have dedicated staff who can escalate stuck claims directly with EDD. It shouldn't be necessary, but sometimes it's the only way to get movement on these cases. Also, when you do get through to EDD, ask them specifically about retroactive payments. Since your claim has been pending since January 1st due to what sounds like a system error (not anything you did wrong), you should be entitled to all those back payments once it's resolved. I know this is incredibly stressful with a newborn, but please don't lose hope. The system is broken, but your benefits are valid and you WILL get this sorted out. Keep fighting for yourself and your baby! 💙