Can I transition directly from SDI to PFL without returning to work first?
I'm currently on disability from an injury I got during a company softball game (torn ACL and meniscus). My doctor estimates I'll be cleared to return to work sometime in September. Here's my situation - I have PFL benefits that I need to use before October to bond with my 9-month-old daughter. If my SDI claim ends in September, can I immediately start my PFL bonding time without going back to work first? Or is there some requirement that I have to physically return to my job between the two benefits? I'm worried about losing my bonding time since the October deadline is approaching fast. Has anyone done this transition from injury SDI directly to bonding PFL?
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Madison King
Yes, you can transition directly from SDI to PFL without returning to work! I did this last year when I had surgery and then needed bonding time with my twins. There's no requirement to physically return to work between the two benefits as long as you're eligible for both. Just make sure you submit your PFL claim before your SDI claim ends to avoid any gap in payments. You'll need to get the proper forms filled out for the PFL portion - the DE 2501FP form for bonding.
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Vanessa Chang
•Thank you so much! That's a relief. Do you know if my company can require me to return before I start PFL even if EDD doesn't? My HR person was kind of vague about it.
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Julian Paolo
wrong info above!!! u HAVE to go back at least 1 day before starting PFL after disability. my sister tried to do this last yr and got denied because she didn't return for a day. EDD told her its in the rules, look it up
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Ella Knight
•This is actually incorrect information. California law allows you to transition directly from SDI to PFL without returning to work in between. I work with disability claims and see this situation regularly. What might have happened with your sister is that her employer had a specific policy, or perhaps she was trying to take PFL for the same condition as her SDI claim. For bonding, there's definitely no return-to-work requirement between benefits.
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William Schwarz
I just went through this exact situation in February!!! I had a back injury (had surgery) then went straight to bonding with my son. Make sure you file your PFL claim at least 10 days before your disability ends to avoid payment gaps. My last check was delayed by 3 weeks because I waited too long.
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Vanessa Chang
•That's super helpful! I'll definitely file early. Did you have any issues with the transition process? Did they make you fill out all new medical forms?
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Lauren Johnson
The California EDD system is literally designed to confuse people about this exact situation. They purposely make it unclear whether you can go from SDI to PFL without returning to work because they WANT people to miss out on their benefits! It's ridiculous how they hide this information. And good luck trying to call them to get a straight answer - you'll be on hold for 4+ hours if you even get through at all. The whole system is designed to make people give up. I lost out on 4 weeks of bonding time because I couldn't get anyone to give me a straight answer about this last year.
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Jade Santiago
•I had the SAME frustrating experience trying to call EDD about transitioning from SDI to PFL. After trying for days and getting nowhere, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual EDD representative in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd. It was the only way I actually got through to confirm I could transition directly to PFL. Saved me from missing out on bonding time with my daughter.
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Caleb Stone
my HR told me you have to check with your employer too because some companies have policies about this even if EDD allows it. might wanna double check with your work
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Madison King
•This is an important point. While EDD allows direct transition from SDI to PFL, your employer might have specific policies about continuous leave. Some employers require you to use PFL concurrently with FMLA/CFRA, which might impact how much protected leave time you have available. Definitely check your company's specific policies on this.
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Vanessa Chang
Update: I talked to an EDD rep (thanks for the Claimyr tip!) and confirmed I CAN go directly from SDI to PFL without returning to work. The key points they told me: 1) File the PFL claim 1-2 weeks before SDI ends, 2) The medical release from SDI doesn't affect PFL eligibility for bonding, 3) I need to specify on the PFL application that I'm coming directly from disability. Just wanted to share this info in case it helps someone else!
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William Schwarz
•Thanks for the update! This will definitely help future readers who have the same question. Glad you got it sorted out!
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Mei Chen
This is such valuable information! I'm in a similar boat - currently on SDI for a work injury and expecting my first baby in a few months. I was stressed about potentially losing PFL time if I couldn't transition smoothly. Your experience and the confirmation from EDD gives me so much peace of mind. I'm definitely going to save that Claimyr service info too in case I need to call EDD. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone with what you learned!
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