Can I file for EDD SDI for pregnancy complications requiring bed rest? (thin cervix + hospitalizations)
I'm 23 weeks pregnant and my OB just put me on complete bed rest due to having a dangerously thin cervix. I've been hospitalized twice in the last three weeks for monitoring and treatments. My doctor says I absolutely cannot continue working at my retail job as it requires standing for long periods. I've never filed for disability before and I'm confused about whether pregnancy complications qualify for SDI before maternity leave actually starts? My HR person mentioned something about a "disability claim" but wasn't very helpful with the details. Has anyone gone through this process for pregnancy complications rather than regular maternity leave? What forms do I need and how soon could benefits start? I'm really worried about paying bills since I only have about 2 weeks of PTO left.
26 comments


Lena Müller
Yes, you absolutely qualify for SDI! Pregnancy complications that prevent you from doing your regular work are covered before the standard 4-week pre-delivery disability period. This is different from regular maternity leave/PDL. You'll need your doctor to complete the medical certification (Form DE 2501) stating that you can't work due to your condition. File through SDI Online as soon as possible - there's a 7-day waiting period before benefits start paying. Make sure your doctor includes details about your thin cervix and hospitalizations to avoid certification issues. I had a similar situation (though with preeclampsia) and was out from week 24 until delivery. My doctor just had to recertify every 30 days that I still couldn't work.
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Raj Gupta
•Thank you so much! Do you know if I need anything from my employer before I apply? And how long did it take for your benefits to start once you applied? I'm so stressed about the financial side of all this.
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TechNinja
i had same thing happen in 2023! thin cervix + cerclage procedure. got on disability at 19 weeks. just have ur doctor fill out the medical part and say u cant work. my checks came like 2 weeks after filing online. super easy.
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Raj Gupta
•That's such a relief to hear! Was your doctor's office familiar with the process or did you have to explain what forms they needed to complete? Also, did you have to do anything special since your disability started before the regular maternity disability period?
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Keisha Thompson
I'm a disability case manager and see this situation frequently. Here's what you need to know: 1. Yes, pregnancy complications qualify for SDI separate from regular pregnancy disability 2. Your doctor's medical certification is crucial - they must clearly document why you can't perform your job duties 3. Your claim will initially be approved for 30 days, then requires recertification 4. Your weekly benefit amount will be about 60-70% of your wages (up to the maximum of $1,620 in 2025) 5. There's no transitional paperwork needed when you move from complication-based disability to regular pregnancy disability The most common issue I see is doctors not providing sufficient medical details. Make sure your OB clearly documents the thin cervix measurements, hospitalization dates, and specific work restrictions (no standing, lifting, etc.).
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Paolo Bianchi
•This isn't entirely accurate. EDD only approves pregnancy disability claims for 4 weeks before due date and 6-8 weeks after. They'll deny anything beyond that without serious documentation!!!!
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Yara Assad
The EDD system is ridiculous with pregnancy claims!! When I filed for similar issues last year they kept sending requests for more medical info even though my doctor sent everything. Then they randomly closed my claim saying I didn't respond to some notice I NEVER received! Had to appeal and it took 2 months to fix while I had NO INCOME. Call them CONSTANTLY to check status once you apply - don't trust the online system to show accurate info. And DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.
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Raj Gupta
•Oh no, that sounds horrible! Did you ever figure out what caused the problems with your claim? I'm already stressed about the medical situation and now I'm worried about dealing with bureaucratic nightmares too.
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Yara Assad
•The EDD rep eventually admitted they had sent the additional info request to my old address even though I'd updated it online months before! Their systems don't talk to each other properly. Just be super vigilant checking your claim status - I recommend calling at least weekly.
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Olivia Clark
my sister just went thru this exact thing! said the worst part was getting thru to EDD on the phone to ask questions. she kept getting disconnected after waiting for like an hour. super frustrating when ur already dealing with pregnancy stress!
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Javier Morales
•I had the same phone issues but found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. They basically call for you and connect you when an agent answers. Saved me so much stress during my complicated pregnancy claim process. Their website claimyr.com has a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Totally worth it for peace of mind when you're already dealing with health issues and need answers about your disability claim.
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TechNinja
Dont forget u still have 2 pay ur health insurance while on disability!! my job didnt tell me and i almost lost coverage. had 2 send them checks every month.
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Lena Müller
•This is an important point! SDI doesn't handle your health insurance payments. Some employers will continue your benefits and collect the premiums when you return, while others require you to pay your portion during leave. Check with HR about your specific situation.
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Paolo Bianchi
everyone keeps saying this works but i know someone who got DENIED for early pregnancy disability!!! u need REALLY good documentation. dont just assume you'll get approved.
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Keisha Thompson
•You're right that documentation is key, but pregnancy complications absolutely do qualify when properly documented. The most common reasons for denial are: 1. Doctor didn't clearly explain why the condition prevents working 2. Medical certification was incomplete 3. Doctor listed restrictions that could be accommodated by employer 4. Certification was submitted late With proper medical documentation of a thin cervix requiring bed rest, hospitalizations, and inability to stand for long periods, this claim should be approved without issue.
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Natasha Petrov
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! I had to go on bed rest at 25 weeks and it was so stressful. One thing nobody told me - if your claim gets approved, make sure you complete your continued claim forms every two weeks! I missed one deadline and my payments got delayed for almost a month. Sending you positive thoughts for your pregnancy!
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Raj Gupta
•Thank you so much for the support and advice! I'll definitely be careful about submitting everything on time. How did your pregnancy turn out after the bed rest if you don't mind me asking?
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Natasha Petrov
•After 13 weeks of bed rest (which was absolutely miserable), I delivered at 38 weeks! Healthy baby girl who's now a very active 2-year-old. The bed rest was worth it even though it was incredibly boring and uncomfortable. Hang in there!
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Lena Müller
Just want to add something important about your return to work. Once your pregnancy complication disability ends (either because you improve or deliver), you'll need a release from your doctor to return to work. If you deliver, you'll transition to regular postpartum disability (6 weeks for vaginal delivery, 8 weeks for c-section). Also, after SDI ends, you may qualify for Paid Family Leave (PFL) to bond with your baby for up to 8 weeks. That's a separate claim you'll need to file, but it provides the same benefit amount as your disability payments.
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Raj Gupta
•Thank you for explaining the transition process! I hadn't even thought that far ahead yet. It sounds like I need to file for SDI now for my current complications, then it somehow transitions to regular pregnancy disability when I deliver, and then I can apply for PFL after that? Do I need to file separate claims for each of these stages?
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Lena Müller
•You'll file your initial claim now for the pregnancy complications. When you deliver, your doctor will need to update your claim with the delivery date and method (vaginal or c-section). This extends your disability automatically without a new application. Then, when your postpartum disability ends, you'll file a separate PFL claim for bonding time. The EDD website has a transition calculator that helps determine exact dates: https://edd.ca.gov/disability/PFL_Mothers.htm
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Jamal Wilson
I'm going through something similar right now! I'm 20 weeks and just got put on modified bed rest due to placenta previa. My doctor told me that pregnancy complications like yours definitely qualify for SDI before the standard maternity leave kicks in. One thing I learned - make sure your doctor is really specific about your work restrictions on the DE 2501 form. Mine initially just wrote "bed rest" but EDD asked for more details about why I couldn't do my desk job. Had to get an amended form that specifically mentioned "no prolonged sitting, no lifting over 5 pounds, frequent position changes required" etc. Also, don't panic if your first payment takes a bit longer than expected. There's the 7-day waiting period plus processing time. I filed on a Monday and got my first payment about 2.5 weeks later. The weekly benefit amount was pretty close to what the online calculator estimated. Wishing you and your baby the best! Take care of yourself and don't stress too much about the paperwork - it's more straightforward than it seems at first.
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Kiara Fisherman
•Thank you for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone going through something similar right now. I'm glad your doctor was able to provide the more detailed restrictions - that's a great tip about being specific on the DE 2501 form. My situation involves a lot of standing at my retail job, so I imagine my doctor will need to be very clear about the "no standing for extended periods" restriction due to my thin cervix. How are you managing the bed rest mentally? I'm already feeling anxious about being stuck at home for potentially months, especially with all the financial stress on top of the health concerns.
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Jordan Walker
I'm so sorry you're going through this - pregnancy complications are scary enough without having to worry about finances too! I went through a similar situation with my first pregnancy (emergency cerclage at 22 weeks) and was approved for SDI without any issues. A few practical tips that helped me: - Apply online through SDI Online ASAP - don't wait for your doctor's office to send the forms - When your doctor fills out the DE 2501, make sure they include specific measurements of your cervix length and mention the hospitalizations - Keep copies of everything you submit - I had to resend documents twice because they got "lost" in the system - Set up text alerts for your claim status so you know immediately if they need additional info The hardest part for me was the mental aspect of being on bed rest for 16 weeks, but having that financial security from SDI made it so much easier to focus on staying healthy. Your baby is lucky to have a mom who's taking these precautions seriously. Feel free to reach out if you have questions as you go through the process - this community has been incredibly helpful during tough times!
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Aisha Hussain
•Thank you so much for sharing your story and all the practical advice! The tip about applying online right away is really helpful - I was waiting for my next OB appointment to get the forms, but I'll start the process now. It's also reassuring to hear that your claim was approved without issues when you had proper documentation. I'm definitely going to ask my doctor to include the specific cervix measurements and hospitalization details on the DE 2501. The mental health aspect is something I hadn't fully considered yet, but 16 weeks does sound incredibly challenging. Did you find any good ways to stay occupied or maintain some sense of normalcy during that time? I'm already feeling isolated after just a few days of modified activity.
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Mei Liu
I'm currently going through this exact situation! I'm 24 weeks pregnant and was just approved for SDI due to incompetent cervix and preterm labor scares. Here's what I learned from my recent experience: 1. File your claim online immediately - don't wait for your doctor's office to handle it 2. Make sure your OB includes your exact cervical measurements on the DE 2501 (mine was 1.8cm when normal is 3-4cm) 3. List all your hospitalizations with dates - this strengthens your case significantly 4. Be very specific about your job duties that you can't perform (standing, lifting, walking, etc.) My claim was approved within 10 days and I received my first payment about 2 weeks after filing. The weekly amount was around 60% of my regular wages, which has been a lifesaver. One thing that really helped me was joining some online bed rest support groups - the isolation is real, but connecting with other moms going through similar situations has made a huge difference for my mental health. Your health and baby's safety come first. Don't feel guilty about needing this time off - pregnancy complications are legitimate medical conditions that absolutely qualify for disability benefits. Sending you strength during this challenging time!
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