srsly why is edd so confusing?? i swear its designed to make us give up. i had a c-section last year and never got the extension because noone told me i could even get extra time! now i see this post and realize i was entitled to 2 more weeks??? thanks california 🙄

One more thing that helped me - I printed out a calendar and marked all my leaves on it: - Purple: PDL regular leave - Blue: PDL extension for C-section - Green: PFL baby bonding I brought this to my doctor appointment and my HR meeting so everyone was on the same page about dates. I also kept track of which forms were submitted when and who I talked to at EDD. Made a huge difference in getting everything straightened out!

I had a similar mix-up with my SDI/PFL timing when my daughter was born. What saved me was being super organized when I finally got through to someone. I made a timeline of exactly when I gave birth, when I filed each claim, and what I was trying to accomplish. Having all that info ready made the conversation go much smoother. Also, don't be afraid to ask to speak to a supervisor if the first person you talk to can't help - sometimes they have more authority to make adjustments. The whole system is definitely confusing, especially when you're dealing with a newborn! Hang in there! 💪

I went through this exact same situation! The key is to call and explain that you need to "reverse the order" of your claims. When I called, the rep told me they could put my PFL claim on hold and then process a retroactive SDI claim for the period right after birth. It took about 2-3 weeks to get sorted, but they did backpay everything correctly. Make sure you have your due date/birth date ready when you call - they'll need those dates to calculate the correct benefit periods. The whole thing was stressful but totally fixable!

I want to share one more thing that trips people up with the SDI to PFL transition. If your SDI claim was extended beyond the standard time due to your complications, make absolutely sure that your doctor has submitted the final medical certification with a clear end date. Sometimes this is where claims get stuck - when the disability end date isn't clearly documented. This ensures a clean transition to PFL.

Just wanted to update everyone - I successfully submitted my PFL application today and it went through without any issues! The online system was actually pretty straightforward once I got started. For anyone else in this situation, here's what I learned: 1) Apply immediately after your disability ends (don't wait for final payment), 2) Select "baby bonding" not "caregiving", 3) Make sure your doctor submitted the final medical cert with a clear end date, and 4) put today's date as your PFL start date to avoid gaps. Thanks to everyone who helped clarify this - you probably saved me weeks of headaches! 🙏

I'm going through something really similar right now! I'm 28 weeks pregnant and just started a new job 2 months ago, so I've been panicking about the same things. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about PDL either! One thing I wanted to add that might help you: when I called my previous employer's payroll department, they were able to tell me exactly how much I earned during the time periods that would count toward my base period. It was way easier than trying to dig through old tax documents or paystubs. You might want to try calling any employers you had during that Oct 2024-Sept 2025 timeframe. Also, my doctor mentioned that if you're having any pregnancy complications or discomfort that affects your ability to work, you can potentially start your disability leave even earlier than 36 weeks. Don't feel like you have to push through if you're struggling - the whole point of these protections is to help you have a healthy pregnancy and recovery. Good luck with your HR meeting tomorrow! I'm definitely going to ask about PDL at my next appointment too.

I'm so glad you found all this information helpful! As someone who works in benefits administration, I wanted to add one more important point that might ease your mind even further. Since you mentioned your doctor is taking you out at 36 weeks for medical reasons, make sure to keep detailed documentation of all your medical appointments and any work restrictions your doctor gives you. This will be crucial not just for your SDI claim, but also for PDL protection. California PDL specifically covers time off for prenatal appointments and pregnancy-related medical conditions, so your job should be protected from the moment your doctor certifies you can't work. Also, don't let HR brush you off if they claim they "don't know about PDL" - it's been California law since 1978 and applies to all employers with 5+ employees. If they seem uninformed, you can direct them to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) website which has detailed employer guidance. One last tip: consider documenting your HR conversations in writing (even just a follow-up email summarizing what was discussed). It helps protect you if there are any disputes later about what benefits you're entitled to. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this. Best of luck with your leave and congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

One more important detail - when you apply for PFL, you'll be asked to provide your baby's date of birth and documentation. The PFL claim date should be the day after your pregnancy disability ends (in your case, July 7th). Don't put your baby's birthdate as the start date for PFL - that would create an overlap with your disability claim which can cause problems. Just to clarify: 1. Pregnancy Disability: May 1 - July 6 2. Baby Bonding PFL: Should start July 7 You apply for PFL around June 29th, but specify July 7th as the start date for benefits. This ensures a smooth transition without gaps or overlaps.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation last year! All the advice here is spot-on. I applied for PFL about 8 days before my disability ended and had zero gap in payments - it was seamless. One small tip that helped me: when you're filling out the PFL application online, save it as a draft first and double-check all your dates before submitting. I caught a mistake where I accidentally put my baby's birth date instead of my PFL start date (thanks to Riya's advice above, I knew this was wrong!). Also, don't stress too much about the birth certificate - I used the hospital discharge paperwork and it was totally fine. The birth certificate took like 3 weeks to arrive anyway. You've got this mama! Focus on healing and bonding with your little one. The paperwork will work out! 💕