Can't reach California Paid Family Leave? Claimyr connects you to a live EDD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the EDD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the EDD drops your call
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!
Really made a difference
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.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Congrats on your baby boy! Mine just turned 1 and I miss those newborn days so much. Enjoy every minute!
Thank you! It's going by so fast already 💙
Just wanted to add - when you file your PFL claim online, make sure you have your baby's birth certificate or hospital discharge papers ready. They'll ask for documentation to prove the birth date and that you're the parent. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks consecutively, you can indicate that on the application, but if you want to take it intermittently (like a few weeks now and a few weeks later), you'll need to file separate claims for each period. The system doesn't handle intermittent leave as smoothly as continuous leave unfortunately.
Thanks for the detailed info! I have all his birth documents ready. One quick question - if I want to take maybe 6 weeks now and save 2 weeks for later in the year, do I need to specify that on this first application or can I just apply for the 6 weeks now and then file a separate claim later for the remaining 2 weeks?
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I went through something similar with my PFL claim last year! The activity record showing "determination, payment 0.00, reduction 0.00" with no reason is pretty standard when they're still processing your claim. It's essentially a placeholder entry that gets created when they start reviewing your case. Since your claim summary still shows "pending," that's actually a good sign - it means they haven't made a negative determination yet. When PFL claims get denied, you'll typically see a clear denial reason and they'll send you a Notice of Determination explaining why. A few things that might help while you wait: - Check if you have any outstanding documents they requested - Make sure your certifications are up to date - Look for any interview notices in your inbox The waiting is definitely stressful, but "pending" usually just means they need more time to process everything. PFL claims can take a few weeks, especially if they need to verify your medical certification or employment information. Hang in there!
@Xan Dae Thanks for sharing your experience! That s'really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I ve'been checking my inbox obsessively but haven t'seen any requests for additional documents or interview notices yet. Mary, I m'in a similar boat with my PFL claim - seeing those zeros in the activity record had me convinced I was denied too! But reading these responses makes me feel better that it s'just part of their processing system. How long did your claim end up taking to get approved @Xan Dae? I m'trying to manage my expectations on timing since I really need these benefits to kick in soon.
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Hey Amara! I had a similar issue a few months back. One thing that helped me was checking my mail - sometimes they send paper notices that don't show up online right away. Also, if you're still within your benefit year, your claim should automatically remain active as long as you're eligible. The tricky part is making sure all your paperwork is processed. Have you tried calling the PFL line specifically? It's different from regular unemployment and sometimes has shorter wait times. Hang in there - the system is frustrating but you'll get through it!
This is really helpful advice! I never thought about checking regular mail - I'm so used to everything being digital these days. Do you remember roughly how long it took for your paperwork to get processed once you submitted everything? I'm trying to get a sense of the timeline here.
@Isabella Ferreira Thanks for mentioning the PFL-specific line! I didn t'even know there was a separate number. Do you happen to remember what that number is? And yeah, I should definitely check my mailbox - I ve'been so focused on the online portal that I forgot they still send physical mail sometimes. Really appreciate the encouragement too, this whole process has been so stressful! 😊
Hey Amara! I went through this exact same thing last year. Here's what worked for me: First, check if you can see your claim in the "SDI Online" portal (that's the State Disability Insurance system that handles PFL). Sometimes the regular EDD site doesn't show PFL claims properly. Also, look for any mail from "State Disability Insurance" - they send updates separately from regular EDD correspondence. If your claim was recently filed, it can take 14+ days just for initial processing. One more tip: if you need to call, try the automated phone system first (1-877-238-4373) - you can sometimes get basic status info without waiting for a human. The system is definitely frustrating but don't give up! Your benefits are worth fighting for. 💪
This is super helpful @Dmitry Petrov! I had no idea about the SDI Online portal - I've been banging my head against the regular EDD site this whole time. 🤦♀️ The automated phone system tip is gold too, thanks! Quick question - when you say "State Disability Insurance" mail, does it come in a specific type of envelope or have any particular markings? I want to make sure I don't accidentally toss anything important. Really appreciate you sharing your experience!
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Great update! I'm so relieved you got through to someone who actually understood the situation. The Claimyr service sounds like a lifesaver - I've been putting off calling EDD about my own issues because I dreaded the wait times. Quick question: when you file the new claim, are you planning to explicitly mention the previous overpayment and repayment in your application, or just let the notes the rep added to your account speak for themselves? I'm curious how transparent you need to be when filing the second claim to avoid any red flags in their system.
That's a great question! I was wondering the same thing. From what the EDD rep told me, I should be transparent about it being the "second portion" of my baby bonding benefit, but she said the notes in my account should handle most of the backend confusion. I'm planning to write something like "This claim is for the remaining 4 weeks of my 8-week baby bonding entitlement, following repayment of overpayment notice #[whatever number]" in the additional comments section. Better to be upfront than have them discover it later and think I'm trying to double-dip!
This is exactly why I always recommend documenting EVERYTHING when dealing with EDD! For anyone else reading this who might face a similar situation, here are some key takeaways from this thread: 1. Keep detailed records of your original intent to split claims (emails to employer, calendar entries, family visit plans, etc.) 2. Screenshot your EDD account regularly - claims can disappear without warning 3. When filing for partial benefits, be extremely explicit about it being "X weeks of Y total weeks entitled" 4. If you get an overpayment notice, act quickly - don't let it sit while you figure out what to do 5. The Claimyr service seems to be a game-changer for actually reaching EDD reps @Lim Wong - smart move being transparent on your new claim. That approach should prevent any fraud flags from popping up. Hopefully this whole mess gets resolved quickly for you!
This is such valuable advice! I wish I had seen a list like this before I went through my own EDD nightmare last year. One thing I'd add - if you do end up appealing, make sure to request the appeal in writing AND follow up with a phone call to confirm they received it. I sent my appeal by mail and it somehow got "lost" for 6 weeks, which delayed everything even more. Also, when documenting your original intent to split claims, save any text messages or emails you might have sent to family members about your leave plans - EDD actually accepted screenshots of my texts to my mom as evidence of my planned timeline!
Lauren Wood
I'm currently going through this exact situation too! My disability got extended due to postpartum depression, but I had already filed my PFL claim to start next week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - especially knowing that this is actually pretty common. I tried calling EDD yesterday but couldn't get through after 2 hours of trying. Going to check out that Claimyr service that @Ava Garcia mentioned since so many people had success with it. It's really reassuring to know that EDD can adjust the dates as long as you catch it in time. Thanks @Fatima Al-Suwaidi for posting this and to everyone who shared their tips! It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in dealing with this confusing system while trying to recover and care for a newborn.
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Camila Jordan
•@Lauren Wood I m'so glad this thread is helping you too! I went through something very similar with postpartum anxiety extending my SDI. The whole situation is stressful enough without having to navigate EDD s'complicated system. Just wanted to add that when you do get through to them, make sure to ask for confirmation that your PFL start date has been pushed back AND that there won t'be any gap in your benefits. The rep I spoke with was really helpful once I finally connected, but it took using that Claimyr service to actually get through. Hang in there - it s'frustrating but definitely fixable! Also, don t'feel bad about the timing mix-up - I think most of us underestimate how long recovery actually takes, especially when mental health complications come into play.
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Oscar Murphy
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm 3 weeks postpartum and my doctor just extended my SDI for another week due to breastfeeding complications, but my PFL was already approved to start Monday. I've been stressing about this all weekend thinking I'd lose benefits or create some kind of overpayment issue. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially @Fatima Al-Suwaidi's successful resolution, has given me so much peace of mind. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service first thing Monday morning since it seems like multiple people had success with it. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops when we're already dealing with recovery and newborn care, but at least knowing it's fixable makes it less overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community is such a lifesaver for navigating California's confusing benefits system!
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StarStrider
•@Oscar Murphy I m'so glad this thread is helping you feel less stressed about the situation! Breastfeeding complications are definitely a valid reason for extending SDI, and you re'absolutely right that it s'ridiculous we have to navigate this bureaucracy while recovering. Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - when you call whether (through Claimyr or directly ,)have both your SDI claim number and your PFL claim number ready, plus the exact dates you need. The reps can process the change much faster when you have all the info organized. Also, if your doctor hasn t'already sent the updated medical certification to EDD, make sure they do that ASAP with your claim number on it. The whole process really is fixable once you get through to someone - the hardest part is just making that connection with EDD! You ve'got this!
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