This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm 35 weeks pregnant and just realized I need to get serious about understanding the SDI process. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so eye-opening - especially about that unpaid waiting week that nobody warns you about! I have a couple of questions that I haven't seen addressed yet: 1. Does the timing change at all if you go into labor early or late? Like if my due date is April 15th but baby comes April 1st, does that affect when my SDI claim should start? 2. For those who had complicated deliveries or longer hospital stays, did that impact your payment timeline at all? I'm hoping for a straightforward delivery but want to be prepared just in case. Also, I keep seeing references to form DE2508 for the PFL claim - is this something I can download and fill out ahead of time, or do I need to wait until closer to when I'll need it? Thank you all SO much for sharing your real experiences. The official EDD information is so confusing, but reading how it actually works in practice from people who've been through it is invaluable. I'm definitely going to start that calendar tracking system someone mentioned and get my direct deposit set up ASAP!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm 30 weeks pregnant and honestly feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting information I've found online about SDI/PFL timing and payments. Reading through everyone's real experiences has cleared up so much confusion. I'm particularly grateful for the detailed timeline breakdown showing that first payment comes about 3 weeks after starting leave (due to the waiting week + processing time). I was budgeting completely wrong and would have been in financial trouble if I hadn't learned this! One thing I'm still unclear about - for those who've done this recently, how reliable has EDD been with their payment schedule once it gets going? I've heard horror stories about delayed or missing payments, but most of the experiences shared here sound like payments came pretty regularly after that initial delay. Also, I work for a company with fewer than 50 employees so I'm not eligible for FMLA - just California's state protections. Has anyone else been in this situation? I'm wondering if there are any differences in how the SDI/PFL process works without federal FMLA coverage. Thank you all so much for creating such a supportive discussion! This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world information that expectant parents need. I'm going to start implementing all the tips you've shared - setting up direct deposit, creating a tracking calendar, and getting my paperwork organized ahead of time.

I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and about to start this process myself, so this thread has been incredibly helpful! The holiday timing confusion makes so much sense now - I was planning to submit my claim right after New Year's but now I'm wondering if I should wait until mid-January to avoid any lingering holiday processing delays? Also, for those who've been through this - do you recommend having all your doctor paperwork ready to submit the same day you file your initial claim? It sounds like getting everything in quickly helps speed up the overall timeline. The financial planning aspect is definitely stressing me out, especially after reading about 3+ week delays during holiday periods! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info you can't find on the EDD website! 🙏

I'm also navigating this process for the first time and this thread has been SO helpful! I just wanted to add that I called EDD yesterday (after trying for hours to get through) and the representative told me something interesting - they said that while the automated system shows "14 days for processing," their internal goal is actually to process pregnancy disability claims within 10 business days when possible, since they recognize the urgency for expecting mothers. However, she confirmed that holidays do pause the business day count, and they're currently running behind due to year-end staffing. She recommended calling back if you don't see any movement by January 10th, as that would indicate a potential issue rather than just holiday delays. Also, for anyone filing in the future - she mentioned that submitting your claim online rather than by mail can save 2-3 days in processing time, since mailed claims have to be manually entered into their system first. Hope this helps! Sending positive vibes to everyone waiting for their payments! ✨

Just wanted to update this thread for anyone who finds it later. My final payment hit my account 6 days after my last day of PFL. The online system showed "paid" status after 4 days, then took 2 more days for the actual deposit to appear in my account. So right in line with what most people here suggested. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on finishing your baby bonding time! Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like 6 days is pretty typical for the final payment timing. I'm currently on week 5 of my PFL and this thread is really helpful for planning ahead. Did you have to do anything special when you went back to work, or was the transition pretty smooth? I'm a little nervous about juggling everything when I return next month.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - what an awful situation to be in with a new baby! From everything I've read in this thread, it sounds like you definitely have solid options for transitioning to unemployment after your PFL ends. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also check if your employer offered you COBRA health insurance continuation when they terminated you. If they didn't provide proper COBRA notices while you were on protected leave, that could be another violation. Also, while you're gathering all your documentation, make sure to include any paperwork about your pregnancy disability leave approval - this helps establish the timeline of protected leave for both EDD and any potential legal case. The fact that so many people here have successfully navigated similar situations is really encouraging. You're asking all the right questions and being so proactive about understanding your options. That approach is going to serve you well as you work through this challenging time!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences! I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago where I was let go during my pregnancy disability leave, and I can confirm that yes, you can definitely transition to unemployment after PFL ends. A few things that really helped me: 1) I applied for unemployment about 3 days before my PFL ended (as Isabella mentioned) which helped avoid any payment gaps, 2) I was very clear on my application that I was "terminated while on legally protected pregnancy disability leave" - that exact phrasing seemed to help, and 3) I prepared a simple one-page timeline with all my dates before applying. The EDD rep I eventually spoke with said having clear dates made processing much smoother. Also want to echo what others said about exploring the legal side - I ended up getting a small settlement from my employer after consulting with an attorney (free consultation). Even if you don't pursue legal action, understanding your rights gives you confidence when dealing with EDD and other agencies. You're going to get through this! The combination of unemployment benefits plus the other resources people have mentioned here should help bridge the gap financially while you figure out your next steps.

Thanks for sharing this! I've been worried about the same thing - accidentally submitted multiple callback requests last month and was paranoid about security. Good to know 888-506-3112 is legit. The EDD process is stressful enough without having to worry about whether the calls are even real! 😅

Same thing happened to me last month! I accidentally hit the callback request button twice and was freaking out about it. But yeah, 888-506-3112 is definitely the real EDD number - I've gotten several calls from them over the past few months. The agents are usually pretty understanding about duplicate requests too, so don't worry about it. The whole system is just clunky and it's easy to make mistakes like that. You're definitely not alone in this confusion! 😊