To summarize the correct information in this thread: 1. For SDI pregnancy disability claims, you DO NOT need to certify weekly or bi-weekly 2. Payments are based on your doctor's initial certification 3. You MUST notify EDD if: - You return to work before your claim end date - Your delivery date differs significantly from estimated date - You have a C-section instead of vaginal delivery (or vice versa) 4. Apply for Paid Family Leave about 2 weeks before your pregnancy disability ends 5. Your doctor may need to submit updated certification if your disability extends beyond the initially certified period Hope this helps clear up the confusion!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this! I was on pregnancy disability for preterm labor at 32 weeks and had the exact same confusion about certification. Like everyone said, no need to certify - but I did have to update EDD when my baby was born earlier than expected. One tip: keep all your paperwork organized and take screenshots of your SDI Online account regularly. I had a payment delay issue that took weeks to resolve, and having documentation really helped when I finally got through to someone. Also, if you end up needing extended disability beyond what your doctor initially certified (like I did due to complications), make sure your doctor submits the supplemental forms promptly - any delay in paperwork means delay in payments. Wishing you a smooth rest of your pregnancy and delivery! 💕

Based on all the comments, it sounds like you now understand you can't postpone SDI after birth. But I wanted to add that it's worth comparing these two scenarios with actual numbers to see which is better financially: 1) Receiving SDI + company supplemental pay during recovery period, then PFL for bonding 2) Using company leave for part of your recovery time, then SDI for remaining recovery, then PFL In almost all cases, scenario #1 works out better because you don't risk losing any SDI benefits. Remember that SDI and PFL pay approximately 60-70% of your wages up to a maximum weekly benefit amount ($1,620 in 2025), so if your company is offering full salary, you're better off getting both simultaneously.

I went through this exact situation 18 months ago and totally understand your confusion! I also thought I could strategically time my benefits to maximize my time off, but learned the hard way that SDI isn't flexible like that. What ended up working for me was having a detailed conversation with both my doctor and HR about the timeline. My doctor certified me for 6 weeks post-delivery (vaginal birth), and my company's policy was to supplement my SDI payments to bring me up to 100% salary during those 6 weeks. Then I used PFL for bonding time after that. The key thing I learned is that "disability" for pregnancy purposes is a medical determination, not a personal choice. Once you give birth, you're medically considered disabled for recovery purposes regardless of how you feel or what your company offers. One tip: make sure you file your SDI claim within 49 days of your delivery date, even if you're still getting paid by your company. You can always coordinate the payments later, but you can't get the benefits back if you miss the filing deadline. Good luck with your pregnancy and figuring out the best plan for your family!

Yo finalmente recibí mi pago ayer, después de 5 semanas de espera. No pierdan la esperanza, amigos!

Yo acabo de recibir mi primer pago después de 6 semanas de espera! Lo que más me ayudó fue llamar múltiples veces al día hasta que alguien contestara. También recomiendo verificar que su información bancaria esté correcta en el sistema - aparentemente ese fue parte del problema en mi caso. No se rindan, eventualmente llega! 💪

i had a baby in 2023 and the BEST advice i can give you is document EVERYTHING. time of calls, who you talked to, what they said. because when i finally got thru they tried to tell me different things each time. when i could quote exactly what the last person said they suddenly "found" my paperwork lol

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress during your pregnancy! I just went through something similar last month and wanted to share what finally worked for me. After weeks of getting nowhere with the regular phone lines, I ended up contacting my local state senator's office (not just assembly - try both!). They have dedicated EDD caseworkers who can expedite urgent cases. Since you have preeclampsia concerns and are due in 3 weeks, this definitely qualifies as urgent medical need. When I called, I explained that I was pregnant with complications and hadn't received SDI payments for 6 weeks despite proper documentation. They submitted a priority inquiry that same day, and EDD called ME back within 48 hours to resolve the issue. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that flagged my claim for manual review but no one was assigned to review it. Also, if you haven't already, try logging into your SDI Online account from a different browser or device. Sometimes their website doesn't display all the information properly, and there might be a document request or message you can't see. The representative told me that pregnancy disability claims with medical complications (like preeclampsia) should be processed as priority cases, so definitely mention that when you do get through to someone. Hang in there - you WILL get your money, and it should be backdated to your first day of disability. Focus on your health and that baby! 💕

guys. GUYS. i just got my money today after waiting for 3 months. there is hope! hang in there! 🎉🎉🎉

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 6 weeks ago and radio silence since then. It's so frustrating because you're dealing with a disability AND financial stress at the same time. I've been reading through all these comments and it sounds like persistence is key. Maybe we should start a support group for people stuck in EDD limbo 😅 Seriously though, thanks for posting this - it helps to know we're not alone in this mess.