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.