Can I claim EDD SDI benefits for reduced pregnancy hours while still working part-time?

Yes! What you're describing is called Partial Disability. You can absolutely file for SDI for the reduced hours. Your doctor needs to complete the medical certification (Form DE 2501) indicating you're on partial disability due to your high-risk pregnancy. You'll receive benefits proportional to your income loss. Make sure your doctor clearly documents that you're medically restricted to 20 hours weekly due to pregnancy complications. When you file, indicate you're still working but at reduced hours. This is a common situation for pregnancy disability!

i did this last year!! its called prtial disability. my doc put me on 24hrs instead of 40 for my back problems. EDD paid me for the differenc but they calculate it weird so dont expect exactly half ur normal pay

I just want to add that you should prepare for some delays in getting your first payment. EDD is incredibly backed up with claims right now in 2025. When I filed for pregnancy disability (although mine was complete, not partial), it took nearly 5 weeks to get my first payment. Make sure you have some savings to cover that gap. Also, keep very detailed records of your work hours because sometimes they'll request proof of your reduced schedule.

I tried calling EDD about my partial pregnancy disability claim for WEEKS with no luck. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a real person in like 20 minutes who fixed my claim issues. They have a demo video if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. Definitely worth it when you're pregnant and don't have the energy to keep calling all day!

BE CAREFUL! Make sure your HR department knows what you're doing. My sister tried this and her employer contested it because they said she didn't properly notify them about filing for partial disability. It was a HUGE mess and she had to pay back benefits. Different employers handle this differently so COMMUNICATE CLEARLY with your HR!!!

One other important thing - when you file for partial pregnancy disability, you'll need to report your earnings each time you certify for benefits. Be extremely accurate with this because if you make a mistake, it can trigger an overpayment situation. The certification forms will ask for your work hours and wages for each week. Keep a detailed log of your hours and pay stubs to make this easier.

Everyone's giving good advice but missing one CRITICAL thing - SDI for pregnancy has a 7-day unpaid waiting period before benefits start. So plan for that too. And when your baby comes and you transition to regular pregnancy disability (if you go on full leave for delivery), you WON'T have another waiting period as long as it's for the same pregnancy condition. Also know that after delivery, you can transition to Paid Family Leave to bond with baby which is a separate benefit. You don't need to figure that out now though.

This whole system is RIDICULOUS. I went through this last year and my claim got stuck pending for 10 weeks!!! I almost lost my apartment. They don't care at all about pregnant women. I filed all my paperwork correctly and my doctor did everything right but EDD still messed it up. Just prepare for a disaster because that's usually what happens.

im on partial pregnancy disability right now!!! 18 weeks pregnant with twins. one thing to remember is you need to have earned enough in your base period to qualify for any SDI benefits. i think its like $300 minimum in a previous quarter or something. but sounds like you work full time normally so shouldnt be a problem for u

Based on everyone's comments, here's a summary of steps to take: 1. Ask your OB to complete the medical certification (DE 2501) specifying you need reduced hours 2. Notify your HR department in writing about your situation 3. File for SDI online through SDI Online portal 4. Indicate you're working partial hours when you file 5. Keep detailed records of your work hours and pay 6. Prepare for the 7-day waiting period 7. Be patient with potential processing delays If you run into problems getting through to EDD, consider using a service like what was mentioned above to avoid the frustration of constant busy signals.

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your employer offers any supplemental disability insurance that might help bridge the gap during that 7-day waiting period. Some companies have short-term disability policies that can complement SDI benefits. Also, when you're calculating your expected benefit amount, remember that SDI typically pays about 60-70% of your average weekly wages (up to the maximum), but since you're doing partial disability, it gets more complicated. The formula considers your reduced earnings vs. your pre-disability earnings. Don't stress too much about the exact math - EDD will calculate it for you once your claim is approved. The most important thing is getting that medical certification completed accurately by your OB!