How to Call EDD About Paid Family Leave (PFL) in 2026

The EDD Paid Family Leave phone number is 1-877-238-4373. To reach a live PFL agent, press 1 for benefit information, enter your SSN, zip code, date of birth, and weekly benefit amount when prompted, listen through the full automated message, then press 0 to speak with a representative. That last step — pressing 0 at the end — is the one most callers miss.

Below is the complete guide to calling EDD about Paid Family Leave in 2026: the exact IVR menu sequence, what to have ready, the best times to call, common PFL issues you can resolve by phone, and alternatives when you can't get through.

EDD Paid Family Leave Phone Number

EDD has a dedicated phone line for Paid Family Leave, separate from Unemployment Insurance and State Disability:

• English: 1-877-238-4373
• Spanish: 1-877-379-3819
• Other languages: Call 1-877-238-4373 and press 3 for free interpreter services
• TTY: 1-800-445-1312
• California Relay Service: 711 (provide the PFL number to the operator)

Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific, Monday through Friday. Closed on state holidays.

This is a different number than the EDD unemployment line (1-800-300-5616) or the disability line (1-800-480-3287). If you're calling about PFL specifically, use 1-877-238-4373 — you'll reach the right department faster.

Step-by-Step: How to Reach a Live PFL Agent

The EDD PFL automated phone system walks you through several layers of menus before offering the option to speak with a person. Here's exactly what to do:

The IVR Menu Sequence

1. Call 1-877-238-4373
2. Press 1 for English (or 2 for Spanish, 3 for other languages)
3. Press 1 for benefit payment information
4. Enter your Social Security Number when prompted
5. Enter your zip code
6. Enter your date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY format)
7. Enter your weekly benefit amount (found on your Notice of Computation, form DE 429D)
8. Listen through the entire automated message — do not hang up
9. When offered the option, press 0 to speak with a representative

Providing your personal information is optional. If you skip it, you'll still get the option to speak with an agent — it just helps them pull up your claim faster.

The "Press 0 at the End" Trick

This is the step most people miss. The option to press 0 and speak with a live agent only appears after you've listened through the full automated benefit information message. Many callers hang up during the recording, assuming there's no way to reach a person. There is — you just have to wait for it.

If you hear the system start to loop back to the main menu without offering a "press 0" option, say "agent" — the system also responds to voice commands.

What to Have Ready Before You Call

Having these items ready will save you time and help the representative access your claim immediately:

• Claim ID — found on your myEDD SDI Online homepage or your Notice of Computation (form DE 429D)
• Social Security Number or EDD Client Number (ECN)
• Zip code on file with EDD
• Date of birth
• Weekly benefit amount — listed on your DE 429D
• Employer name and dates — especially important for bonding claims
• Baby's birth date or family member's care details (depending on claim type)
• Specific questions written down — calls can be stressful after a long hold, so have your questions ready

Best Times to Call EDD for PFL

The PFL phone line shares the same patterns as other EDD lines — certain days and times give you a much better chance of getting through:

• Best days: Tuesday and Wednesday (lowest call volume)
• Best time to call: 8:01–8:10 AM Pacific — call right after lines open, but not at 8:00 sharp (the initial wave hits exactly at open)
• Second-best window: 4:00–4:30 PM — many callers have given up by then
• Avoid: Monday mornings (weekend backlog), Friday afternoons, first and last days of the month

Even with good timing, expect to redial multiple times. The PFL hold queue has limited capacity, and you may hear a busy signal or "maximum callers reached" message before getting through. Persistence is key — some callers report needing 50+ redials before reaching the hold queue.

Common PFL Issues You Can Resolve by Phone

Not sure if your issue requires a phone call? Here are the most common PFL problems that agents can help with:

Claim Delays and Pending Status

If your PFL claim has been "pending" for more than two weeks, a phone call is often the fastest way to find out why. Common causes include missing documentation, employer verification delays, or system processing backlogs.

Certification Problems

PFL requires periodic certification that you're still providing care or bonding with your child. If your certification was rejected or you missed a deadline, an agent can walk you through resubmission or explain what went wrong.

Bonding Claim Issues

Bonding claims (for new parents) are the most common PFL claim type and also the most common source of problems. Employer date discrepancies — where your employer submitted a different transition date from pregnancy disability to baby bonding — frequently delay payments. An agent can identify and flag the discrepancy.

Benefit Amount Questions

If your weekly benefit amount seems incorrect, an agent can explain the calculation (based on your highest-earning quarter) and submit a recalculation request if needed.

Extending or Stopping Benefits

Need to extend your PFL claim or stop benefits early? Both require contacting EDD. You can manage some of this through SDI Online, but complex situations usually require a phone call.

Online Alternatives to Calling

If your issue isn't urgent or you can't get through by phone, EDD offers several online options for PFL:

• SDI Online (myEDD): Check your PFL claim status, view payment history, and upload documents. This is the fastest way to check basic claim information without calling. Visit myEDD.
• Ask EDD: Submit PFL questions online at askedd.edd.ca.gov. Select "Paid Family Leave" as the category. Response times are typically 5–10 business days.
• Mail: Employment Development Department, PO Box 826880 - DICO, MIC 29, Sacramento, CA 94280-0001. Do not mail claim applications to this address — it's for correspondence only.

Note: EDD's live chat feature (launched July 2025) is currently only available for Unemployment Insurance customers. It does not support PFL or SDI inquiries yet.

Skip the Redial — Use Cal EDD Connect

If you've been redialing the PFL line all morning with no luck, Cal EDD Connect can handle the redialing for you.

Here's how it works:

1. You sign up and enter your phone number
2. Our auto-dialer calls the EDD PFL line on your behalf — hundreds of attempts per minute
3. When it detects you've been placed in the actual hold queue (not just a busy signal), it calls your phone and bridges you in
4. You get real-time SMS updates throughout the process so you know exactly what's happening

The service costs $11.99 one-time with a full money-back guarantee if we can't get you connected within 2 business days.

This is especially useful on Mondays and at the beginning of the month, when PFL call volume peaks and manual redialing is nearly impossible.

Cal EDD Connect is an independent service — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the California Employment Development Department or the State of California.

Get Connected to EDD Now →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EDD Paid Family Leave phone number?

The EDD Paid Family Leave phone number is 1-877-238-4373 (English) or 1-877-379-3819 (Spanish). For other languages, call the English line and press 3 for free interpreter services. Representatives are available 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific, Monday through Friday.

How do I talk to a live person at EDD about PFL?

Call 1-877-238-4373, press 1 for benefit information, enter your personal information when prompted, and listen through the full automated message. When it finishes, press 0 to speak with a representative. The option to press 0 only appears after the recorded message — don't hang up early.

Can I call EDD about Paid Family Leave on weekends?

No. EDD PFL phone lines are only open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific time. They are also closed on state holidays. For basic claim information outside these hours, you can use SDI Online at any time.

How long does it take to get through to the PFL line?

Wait times vary widely. On a good day (mid-week, mid-morning), you might get through in 30–60 minutes. On high-volume days, many callers can't even reach the hold queue and hear "maximum callers reached" repeatedly. Using an auto-dialer service like Cal EDD Connect can save hours of manual redialing.

Is there a direct line that bypasses the PFL menu?

No. There is no publicly available direct line to a PFL agent. The only way to reach a live representative is through the automated system at 1-877-238-4373. However, if you have a complex or escalated issue, contacting your state assembly member can sometimes get results faster than calling.