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! 💕

I heard they're updating the EDD system soon. Maybe wait a few weeks and see if things improve? 🤔

I'm dealing with the exact same thing! Filed my baby bonding claim 6 weeks ago and it's like it disappeared into a black hole. The phone system is absolutely useless - either busy signals or that weird silent line you mentioned. I've started keeping a spreadsheet of every time I've tried calling (sad, I know, but at least I feel like I'm doing something). Has anyone had luck with the online chat feature, or is that just as broken as everything else?

unpopular opinion: maybe we should all just go back to work instead of relying on government handouts 🤷‍♂️

Has anyone tried faxing their documents instead of mailing? I've heard it can speed things up sometimes.

I just want to say i had my baby 3 months ago and i found the whole process MADDENING. my disability claim was easy but then the transition to PFL was a total disaster. basically dont count on anything happening automatically - be proactive about everything! and congrats on the baby!! that part is amazing even if the paperwork is a nightmare lol

Hey Lukas! I'm a new mom who just went through this exact same process a few months ago, and I totally understand your confusion! The whole system is really poorly explained. Here's what I learned from my experience: You're absolutely right to be thinking about this now, but you don't need to DO anything yet. Right now you're on pregnancy disability (SDI), which will continue for 6-8 weeks after birth depending on your delivery type. The key thing is to stay organized and proactive. I'd suggest: 1. Create a folder (physical or digital) to keep all your EDD documents together 2. Mark your calendar for when your disability period should end (6-8 weeks post-birth) 3. About a week before that date, ask your doctor for your release form 4. File your PFL claim online the same day you get released Don't stress too much about the timing right now - you've got this! Focus on the baby prep and cross this bridge when you get there. The most important thing is being ready to act quickly once your disability ends so you don't have a gap in payments. Good luck with everything, and congratulations on your upcoming little one! 💕