Switching from PFL back to SDI due to doctor's extension - How to notify EDD?

You need to file a NEW disability claim since your PFL is for bonding and your new leave is for medical reasons. Your doctor will need to complete a new medical certification form. I went through this last year when I had postpartum complications after my bonding leave. You can't just upload a note - the system doesn't work that way.

Don't listen to the first response! This is considered a RELAPSE if it's related to your pregnancy. You need to call EDD and tell them you're having a relapse of your pregnancy condition. There's a specific form for this - DE 2501R I think? No waiting period if it's within 90 days of your original claim. Call them ASAP before your PFL ends!!

when i had my baby last fall i had to switch from bonding back to disability bcuz of complications and let me tell u it was a NIGHTMARE!!! took them 6 weeks to process the new claim and i almost got evicted. the whole system is designed to make u give up. good luck!!!!!

The correct answer depends on whether your new medical condition is related to your pregnancy or not. If it's a pregnancy-related condition that has returned or worsened, you'll file a Recurrence (DE 2501R) which has no waiting period. If it's a new condition unrelated to pregnancy, you'll need to file a new claim (DE 2501) with a 7-day waiting period. Your doctor must complete the appropriate medical certification. I recommend having your doctor specify clearly whether this is related to your original pregnancy condition to avoid confusion.

Postpartum depression is considered pregnancy-related, so you should qualify for the recurrence claim without a waiting period. Make sure your doctor clearly indicates it's a postpartum condition on the form. You'll need to contact EDD directly though - you can't just upload documentation to your existing claim.

I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to EDD about a similar situation last year. Their phone system is absolute garbage - it just disconnects you after making you wait forever. I finally got through by using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an EDD agent. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd that shows how it works. You'll definitely need to speak with an agent to sort this out properly.

I had almost the EXACT same situation in 2025! Had my baby in January, went on PFL in March, then needed to go back on disability in April for postpartum thyroiditis. What worked for me was: 1. Had my doctor fill out the DE 2501R form (recurrence form) 2. Called EDD (took forever to get through) and told them I needed to end my PFL early 3. Submitted the recurrence claim 4. Got approved without a waiting period You definitely need to CALL though. The online system isn't set up well for these transitions.

my cousin works for edd and she says theres supposed to be a simple way to switch between programs but nobody at the call center knows how to do it right lol. good luck!

Update: I finally got through to EDD! For anyone with a similar situation - I needed to 1) File a recurrence claim for my postpartum condition 2) Have my doctor complete the DE 2501R form specifying it's postpartum depression related to pregnancy 3) End my PFL claim early. The agent confirmed I won't have another waiting period since it's pregnancy-related. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congratulations on getting through to EDD and getting this resolved! Your experience will definitely help other new parents who run into similar situations. The transition between PFL and SDI for pregnancy-related complications seems to be a common issue that isn't well explained in their materials. Thanks for sharing the specific steps - having the DE 2501R form number and the confirmation about no waiting period for pregnancy-related recurrences is really valuable information for this community.