Can I extend my pregnancy disability after emergency C-section with twins in NICU? Don't want to use PFL yet

the same thing happned to me last yr, edd will only give u the 8 weeks after csection nomatter what. its stupid but thats how they do it. u have to use ur PFL even if babies r still in hospital or wait and not get paid at all until they come home. edd doesnt care if babies r in nicu.

You do have options here. The standard pregnancy disability period is 8 weeks for C-section, but you may qualify for an extension if your doctor certifies that you need additional recovery time beyond the standard period. This would be separate from your baby's NICU stay - it would need to be related to your own medical recovery. To get an extension, you would need your doctor to complete a "Supplemental Medical Certification" (DE 2525XX) form stating that you require additional recovery time due to complications from your C-section or other postpartum medical issues. Common reasons include infection, delayed healing, postpartum depression, or other physical complications. This extension would allow you to preserve your PFL benefits for when your twins come home. You'll need to act quickly though, as this request should be submitted before your current disability period ends.

I've been through this exact situation with my premature twins in 2024! Here's what worked for me: I had my OB document specific recovery complications (in my case, excessive blood loss and an infection at the incision site). My doctor submitted the supplemental certification form about 1 week before my regular disability period ended. EDD approved an additional 4 weeks of SDI benefits before I had to transition to PFL. Not everyone gets approved though - it REALLY depends on having specific medical issues with your own recovery, not just because your babies are in NICU. Also important - make sure your doctor is specific about WHY you need more recovery time. Vague reasons often get denied. And submit everything early because EDD is SLOW to process these requests.

Have u called edd yet?? They might tell u different stuff over the phone than what the website says. Sometimes the rules r different for special cases

Check if you qualify for State Disability Insurance (SDI) extension due to complications from your C-section. I've found Claimyr really helpful for getting through to EDD agents when I was dealing with my disability claim last month. Their service connects you with an EDD agent usually within 30 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com or watch their demo at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. I'd definitely recommend talking directly to an agent about your situation since NICU babies are a special circumstance.

Actually I used it and it saved me literal DAYS of calling. I tried calling EDD myself for a week straight with no luck - always disconnected. With Claimyr I got through in like 20 minutes. Best money I spent during my whole disability claim nightmare.

I HATE how the system works!!!! They treat us like we're trying to scam them when we're just trying to take care of our families! When my baby was in NICU last year, I was forced to use my PFL while she was still in hospital, which is SO STUPID because then I had less time with her when she finally came home. The whole system is BROKEN and nobody at EDD cares about our actual needs as parents!!!! Why can't they understand that NICU time is different????

One important point of clarification - while your disability can potentially be extended based on YOUR medical recovery needs, you also have options with your PFL timing. You don't have to start PFL immediately after disability ends. You can actually choose when to start your PFL bonding time within 12 months of the birth. So technically, you could: 1. Use your normal 8-week disability period 2. If you can't get an extension, go unpaid for a period of time 3. Start your PFL when your babies come home from NICU Obviously, going without income is difficult, but it is an option to preserve your PFL for when they're home. Each parent gets 8 weeks of PFL, so if you have a partner, they could also use their 8 weeks either concurrently with yours or consecutively.

Based on what you've shared about your healing issues, I think you have a good case for extension. When I went through this, my doctor had to be very specific on the form about my recovery complications. Also, prepare for EDD to possibly request additional medical records or even send you to an Independent Medical Examination (they didn't do this for me, but I've heard others mention it). The key is timing - get your doctor to submit that supplemental certification at least a week before your current disability period ends. If approved, they'll just continue your benefit payments without interruption. If denied, they'll send you a notice and you'll have options to appeal.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation with your twins in the NICU. As someone new to navigating EDD benefits, I wanted to ask - for those who have successfully gotten disability extensions, how long did the approval process typically take? I'm in a similar situation (though earlier in pregnancy) and want to understand the timeline in case I need to pursue this option later. Also, did anyone have success getting an extension specifically for mental health reasons like postpartum anxiety/depression related to having babies in NICU? The stress of this whole situation is really taking a toll and I'm wondering if that could be grounds for extended recovery time.

I'm in a very similar situation and wanted to share what I learned from my experience last year. My twins were born at 30 weeks and spent 10 weeks in the NICU. I was initially told the same thing about only getting 8 weeks after my C-section, but I was able to get a 6-week extension through the supplemental certification process that others have mentioned. The key for me was having multiple medical issues documented - I had a severe infection, delayed wound healing, and developed postpartum depression from the stress of having babies in NICU. My OB was very supportive and detailed all of these complications on the DE 2525XX form. What really helped was keeping a detailed log of all my medical appointments, symptoms, and how they were affecting my daily functioning. When my doctor filled out the form, she had specific dates and examples to reference rather than just general statements. One tip - if you're dealing with mental health impacts from this situation (which is totally normal and valid), consider getting evaluated by a mental health professional too. They can provide additional documentation to support your claim. The combination of physical and mental health complications made my case stronger. Also want to echo what others said about timing - submit everything at least 10 days before your current disability period ends. EDD moves slowly and you don't want any gaps in payment. Good luck with your twins - the NICU journey is so hard but you're doing great advocating for yourself and your family!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation with your twins in the NICU. Having premature babies is already overwhelming without having to navigate the complexities of disability benefits on top of it. From reading through all the responses here, it sounds like you have several legitimate medical reasons that could support an extension - the incision healing issues you mentioned are definitely grounds for additional recovery time beyond the standard 8 weeks. I'd strongly encourage you to document everything with your OB at your upcoming appointment. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you also ask your doctor's office about the timeline for getting the supplemental certification completed. Sometimes medical offices can be slow with paperwork, and since you need this submitted before your current disability period ends, you might want to emphasize the urgency when you discuss it with them. Also, don't forget that you're dealing with an incredibly difficult situation emotionally. The stress and anxiety of having babies in NICU while trying to recover from major surgery is real, and as others have mentioned, mental health impacts can absolutely be part of your extension request. Wishing you the best with your appointment tomorrow and hoping your little ones continue to grow stronger each day. You're advocating well for your family during such a challenging time.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences here. I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant with my first baby and after reading through this thread, I'm realizing I should probably start preparing for potential complications since I'm already considered high-risk. For those who successfully got extensions, did you find it helpful to establish documentation of complications early on, or is it something that can be done after the fact? I'm wondering if I should start keeping that detailed log that @AstroAdventurer mentioned now, just in case I end up in a similar situation. Also, @Philip Cowan - I hope your appointment with your OB goes well tomorrow and that you're able to get the extension you need. Your twins are lucky to have such an advocate fighting for them even while you're dealing with your own recovery challenges. Sending positive thoughts your way!

As someone who just went through this exact situation 6 months ago, I want to add a few practical tips that really helped me navigate the extension process. First, when you meet with your OB tomorrow, ask them to be as detailed as possible about your complications - don't let them just write "delayed healing." Have them specify exactly what type of healing issues you're having, how it compares to normal recovery, and how it's impacting your daily activities. Second, if you're dealing with anxiety or depression from the NICU situation (which is SO normal), consider asking for a referral to a perinatal mental health specialist. They understand the unique challenges of having babies in NICU and can provide very specific documentation about how this is affecting your recovery and ability to work. Finally, I'd suggest calling your doctor's office the day after your appointment to confirm they received your request and ask for a timeline on when they'll submit the paperwork. Sometimes these requests get buried on someone's desk, and you really can't afford delays with EDD's timing requirements. Your twins are going to do great - NICU babies are fighters! And you're being such a good advocate for your family by asking these questions and planning ahead. Hang in there! 💙