Just to update with accurate information: for a pregnancy-to-bonding transition in 2025, you can receive up to 8 weeks of PFL benefits after your pregnancy disability ends. Make sure to specify it's for bonding with your new child. The benefit amount should be the same as what you received for disability. And yes, definitely apply now rather than waiting until tomorrow - there's no benefit to delaying.

Congratulations on your new baby! I just went through this exact same transition a few months ago and it was much smoother than I expected. You definitely made the right choice applying today rather than waiting. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure to keep checking your SDI Online account regularly over the next week or two because sometimes they'll request additional verification or documentation for the PFL portion. I almost missed a request for my baby's birth certificate because I wasn't checking frequently enough. Also, if you don't see your first PFL payment by the expected date, don't panic! Mine was delayed by 3 days but it was just a processing issue and I got the full amount. The transition really is designed to be seamless once you get through the initial application. Best of luck with your bonding time!

Based on your latest comment about the denial being for "insufficient medical documentation," that's a completely different issue than what you originally thought. This actually changes things significantly. If the doctor didn't properly complete the medical certification (form DE 2501) or didn't provide enough supporting information about the disability, that would be the reason for denial - not the wages checkbox. For future reference for anyone reading this thread: Always make sure your doctor fully completes the medical certification form with detailed information about your condition, limitations, and expected recovery time. Vague or incomplete medical documentation is one of the most common reasons for SDI denials.

Don't feel embarrassed about the confusion - it's actually really common for people to focus on the wrong part of their denial when they're stressed and dealing with medical issues. The fact that you're looking into this now shows you care about getting answers. Since the denial was for insufficient medical documentation, you might want to contact your husband's doctor from 2022 to see if they have any records of what was submitted. Sometimes doctors don't realize how detailed EDD needs the medical certification to be. Even though it's been 3 years, understanding what went wrong could help if you ever need to file for SDI again in the future. The medical documentation requirements are really strict - they need specific details about functional limitations, treatment plans, and expected recovery timelines. A simple note saying "patient is disabled" usually isn't enough for EDD approval.

When I had pneumonia last year I thought it wasn't worth filing either but then it took me way longer to recover than expected and I ended up wishing I'd started the claim earlier! Just something to consider. I thought I'd be better in a week but ended up out for almost a month.

I went through something similar last year. Had a back injury claim that ended in December, then got COVID in February. Unfortunately you do need to serve the full 7-day waiting period again since they're completely different conditions. One thing I learned though - if you're unsure about how long you'll be out, it might be worth filing anyway. You can always withdraw the claim if you recover quickly, but if COVID hits you harder than expected (which happens a lot), you'll be glad you started the process early. The paperwork isn't too bad if you have your doctor's info ready, and you can do most of it online now.

It just showed up on its own. I was planning to call today if it didn't appear!

I'm new to this community but dealing with the exact same thing right now! My SDI payment showed "paid" on 11/25 but still nothing on my card as of today. Reading through all these comments is actually really reassuring - I was starting to think something was wrong with my claim specifically. It's frustrating that EDD doesn't communicate these system issues to us, we just have to figure it out ourselves or panic. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know we're not alone in dealing with these delays!

That's really good to know! I've already been hit with a late fee on my rent and had to use a credit card for groceries last week. I'll start keeping better records of these expenses. I hope it doesn't come to filing for compensation, but I'll be prepared if needed. Thanks again!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! I just went through something similar with my SDI claim that got stuck for 6 weeks. What finally worked for me was faxing a "hardship expedite request" directly to the SDI processing center (fax: 916-464-3183) along with copies of all my original documentation. Include a cover letter explaining your financial hardship situation and reference your claim number. They're supposed to respond to hardship requests within 10 business days. I also recommend calling your county's 2-1-1 helpline - they can connect you with emergency rental assistance programs while you're waiting for your claim to process. Hang in there, you're doing everything right!