Thanks for all your helpful responses! It sounds like the current benefit is definitely 8 weeks for PFL baby bonding. I guess my coworker either confused the terminology or was talking about her total leave with PDL combined. Does anyone know if the 8 weeks of PFL has to be taken immediately after PDL/SDI ends? Or can I take a few weeks of unpaid leave in between?

Just wanted to add that I'm currently going through this process and can confirm it's still 8 weeks for 2025. I applied in February and got approved for 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding. One thing that helped me was calling the EDD customer service line early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) - much shorter wait times than later in the day. Also, make sure you have your doctor's certification ready before you apply because that can slow things down if it's not complete. The whole system is confusing but once you get through it, the benefits are really helpful for new parents!

Second update: My PFL claim was just approved! Only took 5 days to process. No gap in payments between SDI and PFL. For anyone reading this in the future - you definitely DON'T need to submit any recovery notification when transitioning from pregnancy disability to baby bonding. Just make sure you note on your PFL application that you're coming from SDI and include your claim number. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on your successful transition! This is such helpful information for other parents going through the same process. I'm currently 8 months pregnant and planning ahead for my own SDI to PFL transition. It's reassuring to hear that it really can be seamless when done correctly. Did you have to submit any additional documentation beyond the DE2508 form, or was that all that was required? Also, did your employer need to do anything on their end during the transition?

I'm going through the exact same thing right now and honestly, this thread is a lifesaver! I've been stuck in limbo for about 6 weeks with zero communication from EDD. The stress is unreal when you're counting on that money to pay bills. I'm definitely trying the 8am call strategy tomorrow with all these tips - especially asking about "pending issues preventing my claim from processing." It's wild that we have to crowdsource solutions just to get basic info about our own claims, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing what actually works. The system is clearly broken when people are paying $20 just to get through on the phone! Will definitely update everyone on how my call goes. Thanks for creating this community where we can actually help each other navigate this mess! 🙏

Just created my account to join this conversation because I'm in the EXACT same boat! Filed my PFL claim about 3 weeks ago and the silence is deafening. I've been lurking here reading everyone's experiences and honestly, it's both comforting to know I'm not alone and terrifying to see people waiting 6+ weeks! 😅 The tips in this thread are pure gold though - I had no idea about calling at 8am sharp or asking about "pending issues preventing my claim from processing." That phrase alone seems worth its weight in gold based on everyone's success stories. Also taking notes about the 11:30am backup time and keeping a log of all interactions. It's absolutely insane that we have to become amateur detectives just to get basic info about our own benefits. The fact that people are paying $20 just to get through on hold shows how broken this system really is. But I'm so grateful this community exists where we can actually help each other with real strategies that work! Planning to call first thing tomorrow morning with my claim number ready and that magic phrase written down. Will definitely report back with how it goes. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - you're literally saving my sanity right now! 🙏

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right at 8 AM when they open - that's when I had the most success. Also, make sure you have all your documentation ready before you call (claim number, social security number, the incorrect date you entered, and the correct date). The rep will need all of this info to make the change. One more tip - if you get disconnected (which happens way too often), don't give up! Keep trying. I know it's frustrating but it's really important to get this fixed before it affects your next payment. You've got this! 🙏

I dealt with this exact same situation a few months ago and it was such a headache! Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800-300-5616 number that others mentioned, but I also sent a detailed message through UI Online at the same time explaining the error. In the online message, I included my claim number, the incorrect date I had entered, and the correct back-to-work date. Make sure to be super specific about the dates. It took about a week to get a response online, but they were able to fix it without me having to stay on hold for hours. The key is to act fast though - the longer you wait, the more complicated it can get. Also, keep records of everything you submit in case you need to reference it later. Don't panic, this happens more often than you'd think and they're used to fixing these kinds of mistakes!

I'm dealing with something similar right now! My partner is at week 6 of his PFL baby bonding and we were also hoping to extend it. After reading all these comments, it sounds like 8 weeks is definitely the hard limit. One thing that might help - I've heard some people mention that if your husband has any unused sick time or personal days, some companies will let you stack those on top of the PFL period. It's not additional paid family leave, but it could give you a few extra days to figure out the childcare situation. Also, with twins, you might want to look into whether there are any emergency childcare resources in your area - some counties have programs that can help with short-term placement while you're searching for permanent care. Good luck!

I'm going through something similar right now with my 3-month-old! The 8-week PFL limit is so frustrating, especially when you're dealing with childcare falling through at the last minute. One thing that helped us was contacting local parenting groups and mom/dad Facebook groups in our area - sometimes other parents know of reliable nannies or smaller daycares that might have openings. Also, if your husband's company has an employee handbook, it might be worth having him check if they offer any unpaid personal leave policies beyond what's legally required. Some smaller companies are more flexible than their HR departments initially let on, especially if he explains the childcare emergency situation. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised! And don't feel bad about being confused - the whole system of different leave types (PFL, CFRA, FMLA, etc.) is unnecessarily complicated and even HR departments get it wrong sometimes.