36 weeks pregnant and completely lost on how to start EDD maternity leave process - HELP!

Deep breath! You still have time to get everything set up. Here's what you need to do: 1. First, you'll apply for Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) through California's State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This covers you for 4 weeks before your due date and 6-8 weeks after delivery (depending on vaginal vs. C-section). 2. You need form DE2501 (Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits) - you can complete most of it online through SDI Online, but your doctor needs to certify your disability. 3. Talk to your doctor at your next appointment - they'll need to verify your pregnancy and expected delivery date. Most OB offices are very familiar with this process. 4. After you recover from childbirth, you'll transition to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding, which gives you up to 8 weeks of partial wage replacement. 5. Yes, notify your employer in writing about your leave plans ASAP (even with HR on vacation). The online application is fairly straightforward at www.edd.ca.gov - create an account and follow the prompts for a pregnancy-related disability claim.

u can actually apply for the disability now up to 9 days b4 u stop working! my sister just did this last month. most drs have the forms and know how to do it but bring the claim # with u to ur appt just in case

I just went through this whole process last year, and I wish someone had walked me through it beforehand! Here's what I learned: 1. You can choose when your disability starts, but most doctors won't certify it earlier than 36 weeks unless you have complications. Since you're already 36 weeks, you could potentially start it now if you're feeling ready to stop working. 2. The process works like this: - You create an SDI Online account - Fill out the DE2501 form online - Get a receipt number - Doctor completes their portion (they can do it electronically or paper) - Wait for approval (typically takes 1-2 weeks) - Start receiving benefits 3. For baby bonding (PFL), you'll file a separate claim after your recovery period. The system should prompt you when it's time to transition. 4. IMPORTANT: Your job protection comes from FMLA/CFRA, which is separate from the EDD benefits. Make sure you submit formal leave requests to your company (even with HR on vacation). The online system can be confusing - I had to call EDD several times during my process and wait times were INSANE.

just fyi ur small company size might matter! companies under 50 employees dont have to give fmla. doesnt effect ur edd benefits but could effect ur job protection. also make sure ur doctor knows to fill out ur return date as ESTIMATED not final!!! my doc put a firm date and it caused problems when i needed more time.

I tried calling EDD about 100 times when I was filing my maternity claim last year, it was a NIGHTMARE!! Keep trying though because when you finally get through, they can actually fix a lot of problems on the spot. My claim was stuck in processing for weeks until I managed to reach someone. Try calling right when they open or in the last hour before they close - those were the only times I ever got through.

When I applied for my pregnancy disability last year, my employer said I needed to use up all my sick time and vacation days BEFORE my EDD benefits would start. But then my friend said that wasn't true for her company. I'm still confused about this - does anyone know what the actual rules are? The EDD website isn't clear and I still don't know if I got cheated out of benefits I was entitled to.

I just realized another thing I'm confused about - how much will I actually GET paid during disability and PFL? I make about $4,800 per month before taxes. Does EDD pay my full salary or just a portion? And when does the money come? Weekly? Monthly? I'm trying to budget for when baby arrives.

make sure u save all ur claim numbers and confirmation emails!!! my friend lost her paperwork and couldnt login to check her claim. also when baby comes dont forget to do the pfl part right away cuz u only get like 12 months from birth to use it all!!

One last piece of advice as you navigate this: Create a timeline for yourself with all the different periods of leave and when you need to file each claim. Something like: 1. Pregnancy Disability (SDI): 36-40 weeks pregnant (file now) 2. Recovery Period (SDI): First 6-8 weeks after birth 3. Baby Bonding (PFL): Weeks 7/9-14/16 after birth (file after recovery) Also, document all communications with your employer about your leave. Since they're small and might not be covered by FMLA/CFRA, it's especially important to have a paper trail of what was agreed upon for your leave and return. Good luck with everything! The paperwork is a hassle, but taking the time to get it right now will give you peace of mind once baby arrives.

Hey mama, you've got this! I went through the exact same panic at 37 weeks with my first baby. Here's what saved me time and stress: Download the SDI Online app on your phone RIGHT NOW - it's so much easier than the website and you can literally start your claim from your couch. When you create your account, take a screenshot of your login info because pregnancy brain is real! Pro tip: Call your OB office first thing Monday morning and ask them to email you the medical certification form (DE2501A) so you can bring it pre-filled to your appointment. Most offices can turn it around same-day if you explain you're 36 weeks and need to get your disability claim started. Also, since your company is small, ask your boss/supervisor (whoever handles HR stuff) via EMAIL about their maternity leave policy and whether they supplement SDI benefits. Get their response in writing - you'll want this documentation later. You're actually in a better position than you think! Most people don't even think about this stuff until they're in labor. Starting at 36 weeks gives you plenty of time to get everything sorted before baby arrives. Take a deep breath - the hardest part is just getting started, and you're about to do that! 💪

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me tremendously - if you're planning to breastfeed, make sure to ask your doctor about getting a breast pump through your insurance BEFORE you go on leave! Many insurance plans cover pumps 100% but you need a prescription. I waited until after my baby was born and it was such a hassle trying to coordinate everything while sleep-deprived with a newborn. Also, when you're filling out the online application, there's a section asking about your expected return to work date. Don't stress too much about getting this exactly right - you can always extend your leave later if needed (though it requires additional paperwork). I initially put 8 weeks and ended up extending to 12 weeks for bonding time. One last thing - start thinking about childcare options now if you haven't already! The PFL bonding period goes by SO fast and you'll want to have your daycare/nanny situation figured out before you go back to work. Some daycares have waiting lists, especially for infants. You're going to do great! The fact that you're thinking about this now shows you're already being a responsible mama. The paperwork is just a hurdle - once it's done, you can focus on the fun stuff like meeting your little one! 🍼

I'm going through this exact same process right now at 35 weeks! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful. I wanted to add that if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the steps, break it down into small tasks. Today: Create your SDI Online account and start the DE2501 form (you don't have to finish it all at once) This week: Email your doctor's office about bringing the medical certification to your appointment Next week: Submit the completed claim after your doctor visit I was panicking too until I realized I could tackle it piece by piece instead of trying to figure everything out at once. Also, I called my insurance company yesterday to ask about the breast pump coverage that someone mentioned - turns out they have a whole maternity benefits department that walks you through everything! Might be worth calling yours too. The community here has been amazing with advice. You're definitely not alone in feeling lost about this process - seems like most of us figure it out as we go! You've got plenty of time to get everything sorted. 💪

You're doing great by starting this process now! I just went through my maternity leave last year and wanted to share a few additional tips that really helped me: 1. When you create your SDI Online account, write down your customer account number somewhere safe - you'll need it for phone calls if issues come up later. 2. Make sure to keep checking your claim status online after you submit everything. Sometimes they need additional documentation and the notifications can get buried in your email. 3. For the medical certification part, some doctors prefer to complete it electronically through their system rather than paper forms, so ask which method your OB prefers when you call. 4. Start a simple spreadsheet or note on your phone tracking all your claim numbers, dates, and expected payment amounts. It'll be super helpful when you transition from SDI to PFL later. 5. If your employer offers any kind of short-term disability insurance as a benefit, check if that stacks with your SDI benefits - some do, some don't. The anxiety you're feeling is totally normal! I remember crying in my car after my doctor's appointment because I was so worried I'd mess something up. But honestly, the EDD system is more forgiving than you'd expect, and there are real people who can help fix things if needed. You've got this mama! 💕

Hey there! I can totally relate to this panic - I'm currently 34 weeks and just started figuring out the EDD process myself after reading horror stories about people missing deadlines. One thing that's been super helpful for me is setting up alerts in my phone for all the important dates and deadlines. Like, I have reminders set for when I can start my SDI claim, when to follow up if I don't hear back, and when to start thinking about the PFL transition. Also, I found out that some hospitals actually have social workers or patient advocates who can help walk you through the paperwork if you get stuck. When I called the maternity ward at my delivery hospital to ask about their policies, the nurse mentioned they help with this stuff all the time. Might be worth asking when you do your hospital tour or at your next appointment! The other thing that's been calming my nerves is remembering that thousands of women go through this exact process every month in California - the system is designed to handle it, even if it seems overwhelming from the outside. You're being super proactive by starting at 36 weeks instead of waiting until you're in labor! Sending you positive vibes - we've got this! 🤞

You're definitely not alone in feeling overwhelmed by this process! I went through the same panic at 37 weeks with my second baby because I completely forgot about the EDD paperwork with everything else going on. Here's what worked for me to get organized quickly: 1. Start your SDI claim online TODAY - seriously, don't wait! Go to edd.ca.gov, create your account, and begin filling out the DE2501. You can save your progress and come back to finish it later. 2. Call your OB's office first thing Monday morning and tell them you need the medical certification completed ASAP. Most offices are used to this and can turn it around quickly if you explain your timeline. 3. Since your HR person is out, send an email to your supervisor or whoever handles coverage explaining your situation and asking about the company's maternity leave policy. Keep it simple but get their response in writing. 4. The good news: SDI pays about 60-70% of your wages, and you can start receiving benefits up to 4 weeks before your due date if your doctor certifies you're unable to work due to pregnancy. 5. Don't stress about getting everything perfect right away - you can always call EDD to make corrections if needed (though the wait times are brutal, so try to get it right the first time). The fact that you're tackling this at 36 weeks instead of waiting until you're in labor puts you WAY ahead of where many people are. Take a deep breath - you've got this! 💙

Oh honey, I feel your panic! I was in the EXACT same boat at 35 weeks with my first - totally spaced on the EDD stuff while focusing on getting the nursery ready and baby prep. Here's what you need to know to calm those nerves: You're actually NOT too late! You can apply for SDI up to 9 days before you stop working, so you have time. Here's your action plan: 1. Go to edd.ca.gov RIGHT NOW and create an SDI Online account. Start filling out form DE2501 - you don't have to finish it all at once, just get started. 2. At your next OB appointment, tell your doctor you need the medical certification portion completed. They do this all the time and know exactly what to fill out. 3. Since your HR person is out, send an email to your manager explaining your maternity leave timeline and ask about company policy. Keep it professional but get their response in writing. 4. You'll get about 60-70% of your wages through SDI for pregnancy disability, then transition to PFL for baby bonding after you recover. 5. The whole process is done online now, which makes it much easier than the old mail-in system. I know it feels overwhelming, but literally thousands of California moms go through this exact process every month. The system is designed for this! You're being super responsible by starting at 36 weeks instead of waiting until you're in active labor like some people do. Take a deep breath - you've got this mama! 💪✨