How to extend EDD SDI claim with postpartum therapy documentation?

i think u need a new claim for this? its not really an extension its like a new issue technically? postpartum depression is diff than pregnancy disability iirc

Your social worker is right about extending, but it's not something you do through the online portal. For postpartum mental health conditions following a pregnancy claim, you need to have your mental health provider submit a supplemental medical certification (DE 2501) specifically for the postpartum depression diagnosis. This will essentially continue your claim but with a different medical reason. You won't upload the therapist letter yourself - the medical provider needs to submit the certification directly to EDD. Call your therapist's office and make sure they know they need to submit this form ASAP. They can usually fax it directly to EDD. Also, call EDD to notify them about the transition from pregnancy disability to postpartum depression disability. This helps prevent any gaps in payment.

same thing happened to me last year!! my regular pregnancy disability ended and then i got diagnosed with PPD. the most important thing is having your therapist submit that form ASAP because there can be delays. also make sure they use the right diagnosis codes or it'll get rejected (ask them to specifically note it's postpartum depression, not just depression

I had about a 2 week gap before payments started again, but they did backpay me for those weeks once it got approved. Just make sure your therapist submits that paperwork ASAP!!

I went through this exact situation in January! You actually DO need to file a new claim if your original pregnancy disability claim has already ended. If it hasn't officially ended yet, then your doctor can submit a form to extend it. Based on your timeline (ending 3/18 and already received last payment), you'll likely need a new claim. Your therapist needs to complete a new DE 2501 form with the postpartum depression diagnosis and submit it. You'll need to complete a new claim form as well. One thing that helped me tremendously was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to an EDD agent. I was stuck in the same confusion, and after trying for days to get through on the phone, I used their service and got connected with an agent in about 20 minutes who walked me through exactly what I needed to do. They have a video demo here if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd The agent clarified everything and even noted in my file that I had new medical documentation coming in.

I want to clarify something important - whether you need a new claim or an extension depends on timing: 1) If your pregnancy disability claim is still active (not past end date): Your doctor submits a supplemental certification to EXTEND the existing claim. 2) If your pregnancy disability claim has already ended: You need to file a NEW claim for the postpartum depression, with new DE 2501 from your therapist. Since you mentioned your claim ended 3/18 and you already received your last payment, you likely need a new claim. There's a 7-day waiting period for new claims, but you can have your doctor backdate the start date to minimize gaps. This distinction causes a lot of confusion!

Just to add some helpful information: when filing a new claim for postpartum depression after pregnancy disability, make sure to: 1. Have your therapist use diagnosis code F53.0 (Postpartum depression) specifically on the DE 2501 form 2. Note in your claim that this is continuing care related to your pregnancy 3. If you're breastfeeding, mention that as well as it can sometimes affect approval 4. Keep documentation of all your therapy appointments The connection between your pregnancy disability and postpartum condition should be clearly established to help with claim processing. Also, be aware that postpartum claims can be approved for up to a year after delivery, depending on the severity and medical necessity.

when i had my baby in 2023 i had regular disability then i got ppd and had to get a new claim. took FOREVER to get approved but they did backpay everything. make sure u save all ur $$$ just in case there's a gap!!! also my therapist had to submit paperwork multiple times because edd kept "losing" it 🙄

Quick update: I just checked and the 7-day waiting period is actually waived when transitioning from pregnancy disability to PPD disability if there's no gap in time between them. So if you file your new claim with a start date immediately following your pregnancy claim end date, you shouldn't have to do another waiting period. Just ask your therapist to date the medical certification for the day after your pregnancy disability ended.

I'm new to this community but going through something similar - my pregnancy disability just ended and I'm dealing with postpartum anxiety. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It sounds like since your claim already ended on 3/18, you'll need to file a new claim rather than extend. One thing I learned from my OB's office is that they recommend calling EDD first to let them know you're filing a new claim for a related postpartum condition - apparently this can help flag your case and reduce processing delays. Also, make sure your therapist includes in their notes that the PPD is directly related to your recent pregnancy and delivery. The waiting period waiver mentioned by NebulaNomad is huge - I had no idea about that! Definitely going to ask my doctor to backdate appropriately. Good luck with everything, and thank you everyone for sharing your experiences!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm currently 6 weeks postpartum and just starting to realize I might need to extend my disability for postpartum depression. My pregnancy disability doesn't end until next week, so based on what everyone's saying, I should be able to get my therapist to submit a supplemental certification to extend my existing claim rather than filing a new one. Does anyone know if there's a specific timeframe I need to submit this before my current claim ends? I'm seeing my therapist tomorrow and want to make sure we get the timing right. Also, should I call EDD to give them a heads up like Amara mentioned, or is that only for new claims? Thank you Paolo for posting this question - I had no idea this was even an option and would have probably just let my claim end thinking that was it!

I went through this exact situation last year! Since your claim already ended on 3/18, you'll definitely need to file a NEW claim rather than an extension. The key things that helped me: 1. Had my therapist complete the DE 2501 form with postpartum depression diagnosis (F53.0 code as Emma mentioned) 2. Asked them to backdate it to 3/19 to avoid gaps 3. Called EDD first to let them know I was filing a related postpartum claim - this really helped with processing 4. Made sure the therapist clearly noted the connection to my recent pregnancy The good news is that since there's no time gap between your pregnancy disability ending and the PPD starting, you should qualify for that waiting period waiver that NebulaNomad mentioned. I didn't have any waiting period and they backdated everything perfectly. One tip: have your therapist submit the paperwork via fax AND mail if possible. I've heard too many stories about EDD "losing" documents. Get a fax confirmation receipt! The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, but I got backdated payments for the entire period. Don't stress too much - you've got all the right documentation and everyone here has given you great advice!

I'm currently going through a similar transition from pregnancy disability to postpartum mental health treatment. Based on all the helpful advice in this thread, it sounds like you're on the right track! Since your claim ended on 3/18, you'll need to file a new claim rather than extend. A few things that might help: I just learned that many therapist offices aren't familiar with the EDD process, so when you call them tomorrow, you might want to specifically mention that they need to complete form DE 2501 with diagnosis code F53.0 for postpartum depression. Also, ask them to clearly state in their documentation that this condition is directly related to your recent pregnancy and delivery. The tip about submitting via both fax and mail is brilliant - I've heard too many horror stories about EDD losing paperwork. And definitely call EDD first to flag your case as a related postpartum claim before your therapist submits anything. It's encouraging to see so many people who've successfully navigated this process. The system is confusing, but with all the detailed advice shared here, it seems much more manageable. Wishing you the best with getting your claim processed smoothly!

I'm new to this community but have been following this thread because I'm in a very similar situation - my pregnancy disability ended last month and I'm now dealing with postpartum anxiety and depression. This has been incredibly informative! Just wanted to add one thing that might help - when I called EDD to give them the heads up about filing a related postpartum claim (as several people suggested), the agent told me to make sure my therapist includes the specific dates of my pregnancy disability claim in their DE 2501 form. They said this helps establish the clear connection between the two claims and can speed up processing. Also, my therapist's office told me they prefer to submit EDD forms via their secure fax line rather than regular fax because it provides better tracking. Might be worth asking your therapist if they have that option! Paolo, it sounds like you have a solid plan now with all the great advice from everyone here. The community knowledge shared in this thread is invaluable - I wish I had found this before I started my own process! Best of luck with everything.

I'm also new to this community but currently going through the exact same transition! My pregnancy disability ended two weeks ago and I've been struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no idea about any of these processes. Based on everything shared here, it's clear you need to file a new claim since your pregnancy disability already ended. The step-by-step advice from NeonNova and the additional tips from Mei about including your pregnancy claim dates are gold. I'm definitely going to use all of this information for my own situation. One thing I wanted to add - my therapist mentioned that when completing the DE 2501, they can also note if you're participating in group therapy (which you mentioned you are) as this shows ongoing, structured treatment which can strengthen your claim. Group therapy for PPD is considered evidence-based treatment, so make sure that's clearly documented. Thank you Paolo for asking this question and everyone for sharing your experiences! This community is such a lifeline when dealing with these confusing systems during an already difficult time.

I'm new to this community but currently dealing with a very similar situation! My pregnancy disability is ending next week and I've been experiencing postpartum anxiety. This entire thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the process for transitioning to postpartum mental health disability. Based on everyone's experiences shared here, it sounds like since your pregnancy claim already ended on 3/18, you'll definitely need to file a new claim rather than extend. The comprehensive advice from NeonNova about the step-by-step process is exactly what I needed to see, and all the additional tips about diagnosis codes, documentation requirements, and submission methods are so valuable. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - when I spoke with my OB about potentially needing postpartum mental health support, she mentioned that EDD recognizes postpartum mental health conditions as legitimate disability reasons for up to a year after delivery, so don't feel like you're pushing any boundaries by filing for this. Your mental health is just as important as physical recovery. Thank you Paolo for asking this question and creating such a helpful discussion. The community knowledge shared here is going to help so many people navigate this confusing transition during an already challenging time. Wishing you success with your new claim!

I am in a dilemma. My last payment for PDI was 10/14. But I gave birth on 8/23 and my first day back was supposed to be 10/6 but EDD Payed me until 10-14? Im facing PPD and called my psych office and they are telling me I need to submit a new claim and they can’t extend original claim since original claim I had a different doctor and no PPD diagnosis. I called EDD and they said all I needed was to have my new doctor fill in extension form not make a new claim since PPD is due to pregnancy? But most threads I’m reading say to make a new claim please advise

I'm new to this community but currently dealing with postpartum depression after my pregnancy disability ended last month. This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no idea about any of these processes and was completely lost until I found this discussion! Based on everyone's shared experiences, it's clear that since your pregnancy disability claim already ended on 3/18, you'll need to file a NEW claim rather than extend. The detailed step-by-step guidance from NeonNova is incredibly helpful, and all the additional tips about the F53.0 diagnosis code, backdating to 3/19, and submitting via both fax and mail are exactly what I needed to know for my own situation. One thing I wanted to add that my therapist mentioned - when they complete the DE 2501 form, they can include information about any other postpartum symptoms you might be experiencing alongside depression (like anxiety, sleep issues, etc.) as long as they're all related to the postpartum period. This can provide a more comprehensive picture of your condition. Also, I learned that it's helpful to keep a simple journal of your therapy sessions and how the PPD is affecting your daily functioning - this can be useful if EDD requests additional documentation later. Thank you Paolo for asking this question and everyone for sharing your experiences! The community knowledge here is going to help so many new parents navigate this confusing system during an already overwhelming time. Wishing you success with your new claim processing!

I'm new to this community but facing a similar situation with my pregnancy disability ending soon and needing to transition to postpartum mental health support. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this was even possible until reading everyone's experiences! Based on all the detailed advice shared here, it sounds like you'll definitely need to file a new claim since your pregnancy disability already ended on 3/18. The step-by-step guidance from everyone, especially about using the F53.0 diagnosis code and backdating to 3/19, is exactly what I needed to learn for my own upcoming transition. One thing I wanted to add that my doula mentioned - when you call EDD to give them the heads up about your new claim (which seems like a crucial step based on everyone's advice), ask them to put a note in your file about the connection to your recent pregnancy disability claim. This can help the reviewer understand the continuity of care rather than seeing it as a completely separate issue. Also, since you mentioned group therapy specifically, make sure your therapist emphasizes that this is structured, evidence-based treatment for postpartum depression. Group therapy shows you're engaged in comprehensive care, which can strengthen your claim. Thank you for asking this question - it's going to help so many people navigate this confusing transition! The community knowledge shared here is invaluable during such a vulnerable time.

I'm new to this community but currently going through the exact same situation! My pregnancy disability ended in February and I'm now dealing with postpartum anxiety and depression. This thread has been absolutely lifesaving - I was completely lost before finding all this detailed advice. Based on everyone's experiences, it's clear you'll need to file a NEW claim since your pregnancy disability already ended on 3/18. The comprehensive guidance from NeonNova and others about using diagnosis code F53.0, backdating to 3/19, and submitting via both fax and mail is incredibly valuable. One additional tip I learned from my mental health clinic: when your therapist completes the DE 2501 form, ask them to specifically mention how your postpartum depression impacts your ability to work or perform daily activities. EDD wants to see functional impairment, not just the diagnosis itself. My therapist included details about concentration issues, fatigue, and emotional instability affecting my job performance, which helped strengthen the medical justification. Also, since you mentioned weekly group therapy, that's actually really strong evidence of ongoing structured treatment. Make sure your therapist emphasizes the frequency and evidence-based nature of this care in their documentation. The waiting period waiver for seamless transitions between pregnancy and postpartum claims is huge - I wish I had known about that earlier! You've got such great advice from this community. Wishing you success with your new claim!