EDD SDI/PFL mix-up after maternity leave - facing repayment demand

This happens more often than you'd think. The issue is that you can't receive PFL and SDI benefits for the same time period - they're mutually exclusive programs even though they're both administered by EDD. Your psychiatrist is right that ideally your SDI claim should have continued seamlessly after your OB's release, but with the PFL in between, it created a gap. You'll need to fill out the DE 2501 Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits form for the psychiatric disability period. For the repayment, request a payment plan by submitting a DE 428P Overpayment Recovery Plan Request. Explain your financial hardship, and they can often set up very reasonable monthly payments.

omg I had almost the exact same thing happen to me last year!! it was a NIGHTMARE. took like 4 months to sort out and i ended up having to pay back like $1900 for the PFL part. soooo confusing why they don't explain this stuff better to new moms!!

THIS IS RIDICULOUS! The EDD system is COMPLETELY broken especially for mothers! I had a similar issue in 2023 and literally spent HOURS on the phone trying to get through to someone who knew what they were talking about. Most of the time they just disconnect you after being on hold for an hour. When I finally got through, I got 5 different answers from 5 different reps. It's like they don't even train their people!!!!! You shouldn't have to pay back ANYTHING because this is THEIR FAULT for not explaining the programs properly. Fight this!!!

I work in HR and see this confusion all the time. Here's what you need to understand: 1. SDI covers YOU being unable to work (including pregnancy/childbirth recovery and mental health conditions) 2. PFL covers bonding with new child OR caring for sick family member 3. You can't receive both simultaneously Your situation is actually pretty common. Your OB ended your physical recovery SDI claim, then you got PFL for bonding, but your psychiatrist wanted to start a new SDI claim for postpartum depression that overlapped with your PFL. Your options: 1. Accept the overpayment and request a payment plan 2. Appeal the overpayment with a DE 1000A form within 30 days of receiving the notice 3. Request a waiver if repayment would cause financial hardship For the ongoing claim, make sure your psychiatrist completes the DE 2501 form properly indicating 5/19/25 as the start date.

Ugh EDD is the worst!!!! i had my baby in December and my claim is STILL messed up. Been trying to call them every day for weeks and cant get through!

I'm going through something similar right now. My doctor wanted to continue my disability after my maternity SDI ended, but there was confusion with the paperwork. Have you filled out a DE 2501FP? That's the form I had to use to transition from pregnancy disability to a different medical condition. Also, did you receive an actual notice of overpayment yet or is this just what the rep told you over the phone?

To clarify some of the advice here - for the appeal process, you'd need to show that: 1. You didn't knowingly receive incorrect benefits (which seems to be the case here) 2. The overpayment wasn't your fault The hardship waiver (DE 538H) requires documentation of your income, expenses, and assets to prove repayment would cause financial hardship. Having your psychiatrist write a letter explaining she wanted to start your disability claim earlier would definitely help your case. In the meantime, make sure you're certifying correctly for your current SDI claim to prevent any further issues.

btw when u get the notice did it say anything about interest?? when i had to repay mine they charged me interest which was so messed up!!

After dealing with EDD for months about my own disability claim, I finally got through to them by using Claimyr. It was a lifesaver - I'd spent weeks trying to reach someone. The service connects you with an actual EDD rep who can access your claim details and make real changes. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video (https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd) that shows how it works. Once I got through to a rep, I found out they had been sending notices to the wrong address and my claim was actually ready for payment. For your situation, you really need to speak with someone in the overpayment department specifically - regular reps often give incorrect information about these complex situations.

One more important thing - make sure you request the payment plan BEFORE the due date on your overpayment notice. If you miss that deadline, they can start collection activities including garnishing any current benefits you're receiving. Also, the appeals process (if you go that route) can take 2-3 months, so plan accordingly for your finances in the meantime. If you win the appeal, they would refund any payments you've already made toward the overpayment.

this happened to my cousin and she said just ignore it and they eventually stopped sending letters lol but probably not the best advice