Has anyone had experience with extended leave for mental health reasons? My therapist suggested it might be beneficial for me, but I'm not sure how to approach it with work...

@Cynthia Love - I had a similar situation with my NP! Turns out there are different forms for different types of family leave. For California PFL specifically, you'll need the DE 2501F (Claim for Paid Family Leave Benefits) form completed by your healthcare provider. Double-check that your NP filled out the right one - sometimes they accidentally use FMLA forms instead. You can download the correct form from the EDD website to compare. If it's the wrong one, don't panic! You can usually resubmit with the correct form without too much hassle. Good luck! 🤞

Don't stress too much about this - it's actually a pretty common mistake! I work in HR and see people mix up SDI and PFL dates all the time. The EDD agents are used to handling these corrections. When you call, just explain that you accidentally used your SDI start date for PFL and need to update it to reflect when you actually plan to take family leave. They'll likely ask for the correct dates and any supporting documentation. Keep your paperwork handy and you should be good to go. These kinds of administrative fixes are routine for them!

I made a similar mistake a few months ago and was completely panicking! I called the EDD customer service line and the agent was actually really helpful. She explained that these date mix-ups happen more often than you'd think, especially when people are dealing with both SDI and PFL applications around the same time. The key is to call as soon as possible to get it corrected. When I called, I just explained exactly what happened - that I accidentally used the wrong date and needed to update my PFL application. They were able to fix it right in the system while I was on the phone. Just make sure you have your confirmation numbers and the correct dates ready when you call. You'll be fine!

Congratulations on your baby girl! I'm currently 8 months pregnant and trying to figure all this out myself, so this thread is incredibly helpful. From what I understand after reading everyone's responses, the key points seem to be: 1) Disability payments continue automatically after birth notification for 6-8 weeks, 2) You need to file a completely separate PFL baby bonding claim (DE2501FP) around week 5, and 3) EDD won't automatically transition you or remind you to file. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and setting calendar reminders! Question for those who've been through this - is there a specific day of the week that's better for calling EDD if you need to speak with someone? I've heard mixed advice about timing calls to actually get through.

Congratulations on your baby girl! I went through this exact situation last year and can share some practical tips. Yes, your disability payments should continue automatically after submitting the Notice of Actual Birth - you won't need to certify during the recovery period. However, here's what I wish someone had told me: start monitoring your SDI Online account closely around week 4-5 for any notifications about your claim ending. That's your cue to immediately file the baby bonding PFL claim (DE2501FP form). I also recommend calling EDD around week 4 to confirm your exact disability end date - this gives you a clear timeline for filing the separate PFL claim. The biggest mistake I see people make is treating these as one continuous benefit when they're actually two separate claims that you have to manage yourself. EDD's system assumes you know this, but they do a terrible job explaining it. Set phone reminders now while you remember, because with a newborn, time flies and missing that transition window can cost you weeks of benefits. You've got this, but definitely stay proactive rather than waiting for EDD to guide you!

btw my benefit was like 65% of my normal paycheck which was wayyyy less than i expected... make sure u have some savings!!! and the first payment took almost 3 weeks to arrive so plan for that too

Just wanted to add - if you're planning to take the full bonding time, you can actually extend PFL for up to 8 weeks (sometimes more in certain situations). Also, your job is protected under CFRA/FMLA during this time if your employer has 50+ employees. I made the mistake of not understanding my job protection rights and was super stressed about returning to work. Don't forget to coordinate with your HR about when you're planning to return so they can hold your position! And definitely start thinking about childcare arrangements during your leave - the waiting lists are insane right now.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through something similar! I moved from California to Texas right after my maternity leave ended and successfully filed for PFL baby bonding through CA EDD. The key things that helped me were: 1) Update your address in the EDD online portal immediately, 2) Keep all your documentation from your pregnancy disability claim handy when applying for baby bonding, and 3) Make sure you apply within the 12-month window. The transition was actually smoother than I expected once I got the paperwork sorted. You've got this! And congrats on your little one! 🍼

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Moved from San Jose to Arizona when my baby was 6 weeks old, right between my disability and bonding leave. California EDD handled everything perfectly - you definitely file through CA since that's where you worked and paid into the system. The only hiccup I had was that my first payment got sent to my old California address because I forgot to update it in time, so definitely prioritize getting that address change done ASAP! Also, when you apply for the baby bonding, make sure to mention in the application that you're transitioning from pregnancy disability - it helps them process it faster. The whole process took about 2 weeks from application to first payment once I got my address sorted. You'll be fine, and congrats on your little one! 🎉