Best ways to contact EDD PFL agents without endless hold times?

good luck lol edd is impossible to reach these days. i had my baby in january and STILL havent got through to fix a problem with my claim... at this point i've given up 🤷‍♀️

Call early in the morning right when they open at 8am, specifically on Tuesday or Wednesday (those are typically their least busy days). Also, make sure you're calling the correct number for PFL questions: 1-877-238-4373. The regular UI/disability number won't be able to help with PFL transition questions. When you do get through, ask specifically about the DE2501F form which is what you'll need for transitioning from pregnancy disability to baby bonding leave. They'll need to confirm you've used all applicable SDI benefits before PFL baby bonding can start.

I had THE EXACT same problem last month!!! After trying for 2 weeks and getting nowhere I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an EDD agent in like 20 minutes. They charge a fee but honestly it was worth every penny to not waste hours of my life on hold. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The EDD agent I spoke with was super helpful and walked me through the whole transition process from SDI to PFL. Made sure all my documents were in order so there wouldn't be any payment gaps.

It's definitely legit - they basically just automate the redial process and secure your place in line. The actual conversation is directly with a real EDD agent. It saved me literally days of frustration.

Here's a step-by-step approach to contacting PFL that has worked consistently for my clients (I'm a benefits coordinator): 1. Call the dedicated PFL number (1-877-238-4373) between 8:00-8:30am or 4:00-4:30pm when call volumes are lower 2. Have your claim number, EDD Customer Account Number, and the last 4 digits of your SSN ready 3. For your specific situation (transitioning from pregnancy disability to baby bonding), you need to start the PFL claim process during your final weeks of pregnancy disability. Don't wait until after your SDI ends or you'll have a gap. 4. The DE2501F form needs to be submitted no more than 41 days before you want your baby bonding to begin 5. If calling fails, try visiting an EDD office in person - many have returned to taking walk-ins with much shorter wait times than phone queues Let me know if you need any clarification on the process!

Yes, at 36 weeks you should definitely start the PFL claim process now! The ideal window is between 36-38 weeks to ensure everything is processed in time. You'll still need to complete your full pregnancy disability period before PFL baby bonding begins (typically 6-8 weeks depending on delivery type), but having the paperwork ready to go is crucial. And yes, in-person offices can be a good option, though I'd recommend calling the office first to check their current walk-in policy as some locations still require appointments.

just want to add that when i had my baby in november i didnt have ANY issues with the transition from disability to PFL... the system auto-processed everything and i never even had to talk to anyone. my disability ended on a friday and the PFL kicked in the following monday. i think sometimes it just depends on if the computer system flags your account for some reason.

UPDATE: I got through!!! I used the PFL-specific number at 8:02am this morning and only waited about 35 minutes. The rep confirmed I need to file my DE2501F now (at 36 weeks) so it's ready when my SDI period ends. She also gave me a direct extension to use for any follow-ups about my specific claim. I feel SO much better now. Thanks everyone for the advice!

Congrats on getting through, Yara! That's such a relief. For anyone else reading this thread, I'd also recommend documenting everything in writing after your call - date, time, agent name if they give it, and all the key points discussed. I learned this the hard way when I had conflicting information from different EDD reps and needed to reference my previous conversations. Also, that direct extension number is gold - definitely save it! Wishing you a smooth transition and congratulations on your little one coming soon! 🎉

Another tip that worked for me - if you're still having trouble getting through by phone, try reaching out to your local state assembly member's office. They often have direct contacts at EDD and can help expedite issues for constituents. I was stuck in a similar situation last year and my assembly member's office got me connected with an EDD supervisor within 48 hours. You can find your representative at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov. It's a free service and they're surprisingly helpful with state agency issues!

Another option that worked for me when I couldn't get through by phone was using the "Contact EDD" feature in the UI Online portal, but instead of selecting the general inquiry option, I specifically chose "Paid Family Leave" from the dropdown menu. The response time was much faster - I got a callback within 3 business days instead of waiting weeks for a generic email response. When they called back, the agent was already familiar with PFL processes and could answer all my transition questions right away. Just make sure to be very specific about your due date and current disability claim status in your message so they have all the context they need!

As someone who just went through this exact process 3 months ago, I want to add a few more tips that really helped me. First, if you're calling the PFL number and getting the "high call volume" message, don't hang up immediately - sometimes they'll still put you in the queue even after that recording. Second, I found that calling on Thursdays around 2-3pm actually worked better than the traditional "early morning" advice - maybe because people think it's a bad time so fewer are calling then? Also, make sure you have your doctor's estimated delivery date ready when you call, as they'll need that to properly calculate your transition timeline. The whole process was way less scary once I actually got to talk to someone! Good luck to everyone still trying to get through! 🍀

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently 8 weeks postpartum and dealing with my own EDD nightmare - my PFL claim has been "pending" for 3 weeks now with no updates. I've tried calling multiple times but keep getting the runaround between different departments. Reading through all these strategies gives me hope that I can actually get this resolved. I'm definitely going to try the Thursday afternoon calling tip and the assembly member contact route if that doesn't work. It's so frustrating that we have to become detective-level experts just to access benefits we've already paid into, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share what actually works. Thank you everyone for taking the time to share your experiences - it really makes a difference for those of us still fighting the system!

One more resource that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're in the Bay Area, San Francisco, or LA County, some local workforce development offices have EDD liaisons who can help with complex cases like yours. I used the WorkSource center in Oakland when I had issues with my claim last year, and their EDD specialist was able to make direct contact and get my case escalated within a week. They don't charge anything and it's way less stressful than trying to navigate the phone system yourself. You can search for "America's Job Center" or "WorkSource" locations near you - not all of them have EDD specialists, but it's worth calling to ask. They're also really helpful for understanding all the paperwork and making sure you don't miss any deadlines. Just another option to add to your toolkit!

Wow, this thread is absolutely incredible! As someone who just found out I'm pregnant with my first baby, I'm bookmarking this entire conversation. The level of detail and practical advice here is amazing - from the specific PFL phone number and best times to call, to the assembly member contact strategy and WorkSource center option. I had no idea there were so many different ways to actually reach EDD beyond just calling the main number and hoping for the best. It's honestly both reassuring and frustrating that we need this many workarounds just to access benefits we pay into, but I'm so grateful that people like you all are willing to share what actually works. This community is a lifesaver for navigating these systems! Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and strategies. 🙏

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and was already starting to stress about the EDD transition process, but reading through everyone's experiences and strategies has given me a clear action plan. I love how this went from Yara's initial panic to a comprehensive guide with so many different approaches - the specific PFL number, timing strategies, assembly member contacts, WorkSource centers, and even the UI Online portal dropdown tip. I'm going to start calling at 36 weeks using the early morning strategy, but it's so reassuring to know there are backup options if that doesn't work. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - both the successes AND the horror stories (looking at you, Javier's audit situation 😅). This kind of community knowledge-sharing is invaluable when dealing with these complex systems. Definitely saving this entire thread for reference!