I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my claim 5 weeks ago and still stuck on "pending." It's so stressful not knowing what's happening. I've tried calling but like everyone else said, can't get through. Thanks for all the suggestions in this thread - I'm going to try contacting my assembly member next. We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to. Hang in there, hopefully we'll both get some movement on our claims soon! 🤞

I'm dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been pending for about 3 weeks now. One thing that helped me was logging into my account and checking if there are any "action items" or document requests that might not be obvious at first glance. Sometimes they'll request additional verification docs but it's buried in the interface. Also, I found that calling the technical support line (not the main claims line) can sometimes get you through faster, and they can at least tell you if there are any obvious issues with your claim. The wait times are still brutal, but it's another option to try. Really hoping both of our claims get processed soon - this whole system needs a serious overhaul!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I was in almost exactly the same boat! I switched jobs at 33 weeks pregnant after 7 years at my previous company and was absolutely panicking about SDI eligibility. Here's what I learned: Your base period wages are what matter, not your current job status. Since you worked for 8.5 years at your previous job, you'll have WAY more than enough wage credits for SDI - you only need about $300 in your base period to qualify, and you'll have thousands. A few things that helped me stay organized: - Started collecting pay stubs from both jobs early (better to have them and not need them) - Got my OB to complete the medical portion of DE2501 about 6 weeks before my due date (some offices are really slow!) - Filed exactly 4 weeks before delivery, which gave me peace of mind The best part? My new employer ended up being incredibly supportive throughout my entire leave - way more than my old company ever was. Sometimes these "scary" timing changes end up being exactly what we needed! You're going to be absolutely fine. With your work history, this should be a straightforward approval. Try to relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy! 💕

Hey there! I'm new to this community but had to jump in because I literally just went through this exact scenario 6 months ago! I switched jobs at 31 weeks pregnant after working at my previous company for 10 years, and I was absolutely terrified about SDI eligibility. The relief I felt when I got approved was incredible - and you're going to feel the same way! With 8.5 years of work history, you have MORE than enough wage credits. The base period calculation goes back over a year, so all those wages from your previous job absolutely count. Here's my advice from someone who stressed unnecessarily: Start the paperwork process NOW. Get your OB on board early (mine took 2 weeks to complete their portion!), gather pay stubs from both employers, and file about 4-6 weeks before your due date. EDD was able to pull all my wage data automatically once I listed both employers. The cherry on top? My new company's parental leave policy ended up being SO much better than what I would have gotten at my old job. Sometimes these scary changes end up being exactly what we needed at exactly the right time! You've got this mama - your work history speaks for itself and everything is going to work out perfectly! 💕

This thread has been SO helpful! I'm in the exact same boat - took 6 weeks of bonding leave when my son was born in February, went back to work for a project, and now want to use my remaining 2 weeks before his first birthday. Based on all the success stories here, I'm definitely going to try calling 1-877-238-4373 tomorrow morning at 8:05 AM sharp with my claim number and documents ready. It's such a relief to hear from multiple people that this actually works and doesn't require filing a new claim. @Victoria Jones @Jacinda Yu @Alejandro Castro thank you all for sharing your experiences! One quick question - for those who successfully reactivated, did you notice any difference in how the weekly certifications worked compared to your original claim, or was the process exactly the same once reactivated?

This thread is a goldmine of information! I'm in almost the exact same situation - used 4 weeks of bonding leave when my daughter was born in March, had to return to work for a critical product launch, and now I want to use my remaining 4 weeks before she turns one. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me so much confidence that this is actually doable. I'm planning to call 1-877-238-4373 tomorrow at 8:05 AM with my claim number and all documents ready. @Victoria Jones @Jacinda Yu @Alejandro Castro thank you for the detailed step-by-step experiences! Just to confirm - when you called to reactivate, were you able to specify that you wanted to take the remaining weeks in smaller chunks (like 1-2 weeks at a time), or did they expect you to use all remaining time in one continuous period? My work situation is pretty flexible so I'm hoping I can split the remaining 4 weeks into two 2-week periods if needed.

Sending positive vibes your way, OP! This process is tough, but remember why you're doing it. That quality time with your family is priceless. ❤️

I just went through this process about 3 months ago! It took me exactly 12 days to hear back from EDD after I submitted my bonding claim paperwork. The key thing that helped me was calling their automated line every few days to check the status - you can do this without waiting on hold. Also, make sure you have your SDI number handy when you call. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking, but try to stay positive! In my case, everything went smoothly once they processed it. Hope this helps ease your anxiety a bit! 🤞

Hey Brooklyn! Congratulations on your upcoming baby! 🎉 As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to add my support to all the excellent advice you've already received. I recently went through a very similar situation - I was working part-time at a bookstore and also providing IHSS care for my disabled aunt (about 14 hours/month, around $220). I was absolutely terrified about reporting my IHSS income because I thought it might disqualify me or reduce my benefits, but everyone here is 100% right - you MUST report it, and it won't hurt you at all! When I spoke with my EDD case worker, she actually thanked me for being so thorough with my income reporting and said it makes their job much easier when people are upfront about everything. The key thing that helped me understand is that your SDI benefit calculation is primarily based on your highest-earning quarter during your base period. That small IHSS income might actually help boost your benefits slightly if it's been consistent! And since pregnancy disability is task-specific, you can absolutely continue caring for your son if you're physically able to do those duties while being unable to perform your retail job. Your timing filing on Feb 1st is perfect - don't second-guess that! I filed the day after my last shift and had no issues whatsoever. Just make sure you have all your IHSS pay stubs organized and ready when you're filling out the application. You're asking all the right questions and being so proactive. That preparation is going to make this whole process much smoother than you're probably imagining right now. Best of luck with everything - you've absolutely got this! 💪✨

Hey Brooklyn! Congratulations on your upcoming little one! 🎉 As someone new to this community, I wanted to add my voice to all the amazing advice you've already received. I just went through this exact process a few months ago with a very similar situation - I was working part-time at a pharmacy and also providing IHSS care for my grandmother (about 16 hours/month, roughly $250). I was SO nervous about reporting my IHSS income because I was worried it would complicate my SDI application, but everyone here is absolutely right - you must report it, and it won't negatively impact your benefits! When I finally got through to speak with an EDD representative (after a 2+ hour wait, ugh), she told me that IHSS + part-time work is literally one of the most common combinations they see for pregnancy disability claims in California. Your $170/month from IHSS is such a small amount that it will have zero negative impact on your eligibility. If anything, having that consistent income throughout your base period might give you a tiny boost in your benefit calculation! And since you're caring for your son (which involves different physical demands than retail work), you'll likely be able to continue that work during your pregnancy disability. Filing on Feb 1st right after your last day of work is perfect timing - that's exactly what I did and it worked seamlessly. Just make sure you have all your IHSS pay stubs organized beforehand so you're not scrambling for paperwork while filling out the application. You're being incredibly smart by asking these questions now and planning ahead. That preparation is going to make this whole process so much smoother than you probably expect. You've absolutely got this, mama! 💪