EDD SDI vs. PFL funds: Are disability and Paid Family Leave separate benefit pools?

thyre different funds i think. i was on disability last yr for 3 months then took pfl to take care of my dad right after with no problems. you should be fine to apply

SDI and PFL actually come from the same State Disability Insurance fund that you contribute to through payroll deductions, but they're administered as separate benefits with different eligibility requirements and separate maximum benefit periods. For 2025, you can receive up to 52 weeks of SDI benefits and up to 8 weeks of PFL benefits within a 12-month period. The key thing to understand is that while they draw from the same funding source, they're treated as separate benefit entitlements. So yes, you can transition from SDI to PFL as long as you meet the eligibility requirements for PFL (caring for a seriously ill family member qualifies).

Be careful! I thought the same thing last year but got denied because I didn't have enough in my wage base or something. They said I had to go back to work for a while before I could qualify for more benefits. CALL THEM TO CHECK YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION!!!!

If you've been trying to call EDD about this, I highly recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation transitioning between benefits and spent days trying to get through to EDD. Claimyr got me connected to an agent within 15 minutes who explained my benefit eligibility clearly. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Definitely worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive benefit questions like this.

I went through this exact situation in February. Had surgery, used my disability, then needed PFL for my kid. What I learned is they're separate benefit periods but from the same pot of money your paycheck contributes to. You don't need to wait between programs - I literally finished SDI on a Friday and started PFL on Monday. Just make sure you have the right medical certification form for your mom from her doctor (it's different from the disability form).

My sister works at EDD and she says they're constantly getting confused calls about this exact issue!!! People think because SDI and PFL come from the same state fund that they share the same eligibility period, but they don't. They're completely separate in terms of how many weeks you can claim. The only thing that matters is if you still qualify based on your base period wages, which can be an issue if you've been on disability for like... a really long time.

also dont forget to file your pfl claim before your sdi ends! you dont want a gap between them or you might lose some money

I'm in a similar situation right now - just finished my SDI benefits last month and need to care for my elderly father who's recovering from hip surgery. From what I've researched and heard from others here, SDI and PFL are definitely separate benefit entitlements even though they come from the same funding source. The main thing to watch out for is making sure you still have enough wage credits in your base period, but since you were working before your surgery in January, you should be fine. I'd recommend applying for PFL as soon as possible since there can be processing delays, and definitely get that medical certification form (DE 2501F) filled out by your mom's doctor right away. Hope your mom recovers well from her stroke - it's tough juggling your own recovery while caring for family.

I went through this transition about 6 months ago and can confirm what others have said - SDI and PFL are separate benefit entitlements! I was on SDI for 5 months after a knee replacement, then immediately transitioned to PFL to care for my spouse during their cancer treatment. The key things that helped me: 1) Apply for PFL about 2 weeks before your SDI ends to avoid any payment gaps, 2) Make sure your mom's doctor fills out the DE 2501F form completely (any missing info will delay processing), and 3) Keep copies of everything you submit. The online portal actually has a "transition between benefits" option that walks you through it step by step. Since you were working full-time before January, your base period wages should be sufficient. Don't let the stress get to you - the system is designed to handle these transitions and you're entitled to both benefits as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. Wishing you and your mom the best during this difficult time!

I just wanted to add my experience since I went through something very similar last year. I was on SDI for about 3 months after a car accident, then my dad had a heart attack and needed care. Like everyone else has confirmed, SDI and PFL are separate benefit periods even though they come from the same fund you've been paying into through payroll deductions. The most important thing I learned: don't wait! I made the mistake of waiting a week after my SDI ended before applying for PFL and it created a gap in my benefits that I couldn't get back. Apply for PFL at least 1-2 weeks before your SDI runs out. Also, make sure your mom's doctor is aware that they need to be very thorough with the DE 2501F form - any incomplete sections will delay your claim. One tip that really helped me: when you call EDD (or use one of those callback services others mentioned), ask them to verify your base period wages while you're on the phone. Since you worked full-time before January, you should be fine, but it's good to confirm so there are no surprises. Hope this helps and wishing you and your mom a smooth recovery process!

I went through this exact transition just 3 months ago! Was on SDI for my shoulder surgery from October through February, then had to take PFL when my grandmother fell and broke her hip. Everyone here is absolutely right - they're separate benefit entitlements from the same fund you've been contributing to. The process was actually smoother than I expected once I understood how it worked. Key things that helped me: 1) I applied for PFL about 10 days before my SDI ended to ensure no gap in payments, 2) Got my grandmother's doctor to fill out the DE 2501F form right away (make sure they don't leave anything blank!), and 3) Used the EDD online portal which has gotten much better recently. Since you were working full-time before January and only been on SDI for about 4 months, your wage base should definitely be sufficient. The base period is calculated from earnings in previous quarters, not affected by your recent SDI claim. One thing nobody mentioned - keep detailed records of your mom's medical appointments and care needs. EDD sometimes does follow-up verification calls, and having documentation ready makes everything go faster. You've got this! The system is actually designed to handle these family care situations. Sending good thoughts for both your recovery and your mom's. Strokes are scary but with proper care and support, many people make excellent recoveries.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been on SDI since December for a work injury and my partner just had major surgery, so I'm looking at potentially transitioning to PFL soon. Based on everything shared here, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) SDI and PFL are separate benefit entitlements even though they come from the same fund, 2) Apply for PFL 1-2 weeks before SDI ends to avoid payment gaps, 3) Get the DE 2501F form filled out completely by the family member's doctor, and 4) Keep detailed records of care needs for potential follow-up verification. @StellarSurfer - it sounds like you should be in good shape to transition to PFL given that you were working full-time before January and have only been on SDI for about 4 months. Your base period wages should definitely be sufficient. I hope your mom's recovery goes smoothly and that you can focus on caring for her without the added stress of benefit uncertainty. This community has been amazing at sharing real experiences! For anyone else reading this thread in the future - the consensus seems clear that these are separate benefits and the transition is definitely possible with proper timing and documentation.

I work as a benefits counselor and see this confusion all the time! Just to reinforce what others have shared - SDI and PFL are absolutely separate benefit entitlements. You contribute to the State Disability Insurance fund through payroll deductions, and that fund covers both programs but with separate weekly limits (52 weeks SDI, 8 weeks PFL annually). The timing advice here is spot-on - apply for PFL about 1-2 weeks before your SDI claim ends to ensure seamless benefits. Since you were working full-time before your January surgery and have only been on SDI for about 4 months, your base period earnings should definitely qualify you for PFL. One additional tip: when your mom's doctor fills out the DE 2501F form, make sure they're specific about the level of care needed and expected duration. Vague descriptions can sometimes trigger additional review. The stroke diagnosis should clearly qualify, but detailed documentation helps expedite processing. You're dealing with a lot right now between your own recovery and your mom's needs, but the benefit system is designed exactly for these overlapping family care situations. You've got this!

I went through this exact transition last year and can confirm what everyone else is saying - SDI and PFL are definitely separate benefit periods! I was on SDI for 6 months after a motorcycle accident, then immediately switched to PFL when my wife had complications after childbirth. The process was actually pretty straightforward once I understood it. Key things: apply for PFL about 10 days before your SDI runs out (don't wait or you'll have a gap like someone mentioned), make sure your mom's doctor fills out every single section of the DE 2501F form, and keep copies of everything you submit. Since you worked full-time before your surgery and have only been on SDI since January, your base period wages should be more than sufficient. The good news is that caring for a parent after a stroke definitely qualifies for PFL - it's exactly what the program is designed for. One tip that saved me: when I called EDD to confirm my eligibility before applying, I asked them to walk me through the transition process step by step. They have a specific procedure for people moving from SDI to PFL and they were actually really helpful once I got through to someone. Hope your recovery continues to go well and that your mom gets the care she needs. You're doing the right thing by planning ahead!