Just to clarify something important - your daughter won't lose any money by doing this correction. The total maximum benefits remain the same, it's just that disability benefits for recovery from childbirth need to come before baby bonding benefits. In fact, for a c-section, the SDI disability rate might be slightly higher than PFL depending on her income, so fixing this could actually benefit her financially. Also, she should be able to backdate the disability claim to her delivery date. Make sure she indicates June 3rd as the date of disability (date of birth/c-section) on her forms.

I went through something very similar when my son was born 4 weeks early last year. The stress of figuring out the right forms while dealing with a NICU stay and recovery from an emergency c-section was overwhelming. What really helped me was having my husband handle all the EDD calls while I focused on recovering and bonding with our baby. If your daughter is still in those early weeks, maybe you could offer to make the calls for her? EDD representatives are usually willing to speak with family members about the situation, especially when there's a new baby involved. Also, don't let her stress too much - I've seen this exact scenario play out successfully for several other moms in my new parent group. EDD deals with this mix-up constantly and they have processes in place to fix it.

To summarize what everyone has said: 1) Your PFL will continue - it's based on past earnings/contributions 2) You can file for UI after PFL ends 3) Document everything about the termination 4) Contact CRD (formerly DFEH) about potential CFRA violation 5) Consider consulting with an employment attorney I'd also recommend filing for unemployment immediately after your PFL ends (you can actually apply slightly before it ends). The first week is a waiting period anyway (no benefits), so you want to get that process started as soon as possible.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! What a horrible way to treat a new mom. Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you do get through to EDD, ask them to put notes in your file about the employment status change. Sometimes different departments don't communicate well, and having it documented that you were terminated while on approved PFL can prevent issues later. Also, if your company offers any severance (even though they probably won't given the circumstances), be careful about signing anything that waives your right to file complaints. A lot of severance agreements include language that prevents you from pursuing legal action. Don't sign anything without having an attorney review it first! You're doing the right thing by fighting this. Companies need to know they can't just dump employees for using their legally protected benefits. Hang in there mama! 💪

congrats on getting thru! my sister had the same problem last year. They never tell you that your claim has an issue - they just let it sit there forever! so frustrating. hope u get ur money soon!

FINAL UPDATE: My claim was approved and I received payment yesterday! It included all back benefits from my disability start date. Such a huge relief. Now I just need to submit my baby bonding (PFL) application and hope that process goes more smoothly. Thanks again to everyone for the advice and support!

I went through this exact same situation in 2023! Yes, you definitely need to file a completely new PFL claim since you returned to work between your disability and baby bonding. The key thing to remember is that pregnancy disability (SDI) and baby bonding (PFL) are two separate programs, even though they're both through EDD. A few tips from my experience: - File online through your EDD account - it's much faster than paper - You'll need your baby's birth certificate as proof of relationship - Make sure your last day worked date matches what your HR will report - You can file up to 30 days before your start date, so you should be fine for next week Don't worry about the disconnected calls - EDD phone system is notorious for that. The online application is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. Just make sure to select "bonding with new child" and not "caring for family member" when filling it out. Good luck!

I just went through this same process in December 2024! You absolutely need to file a new PFL claim since you returned to work between your disability and baby bonding. I was in the exact same boat - disability from September to November, back to work briefly, then wanted to take my bonding time. Here's what worked for me: File online through your EDD portal ASAP since you're starting Monday. You'll need your baby's birth certificate uploaded as proof of relationship. The application asks specifically if this is for "bonding with new child" - make sure you select that option, not caregiving. One thing that tripped me up initially - your "last day worked" should be this Friday (the day before your bonding leave starts), not the last day you worked before going back after disability. EDD is super picky about this date matching what your employer reports, so double-check with HR. The good news is they'll backpay from your actual start date once approved, even if there's a processing delay. My approval took about 8 days and I got paid for all days from when I actually started my leave. Don't stress too much - the online process is way easier than trying to get through on the phone!

Congrats on your baby boy! Mine just turned 1 and I miss those newborn days so much. Enjoy every minute!

Just wanted to add - when you file your PFL claim online, make sure you have your baby's birth certificate or hospital discharge papers ready. They'll ask for documentation to prove the birth date and that you're the parent. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks consecutively, you can indicate that on the application, but if you want to take it intermittently (like a few weeks now and a few weeks later), you'll need to file separate claims for each period. The system doesn't handle intermittent leave as smoothly as continuous leave unfortunately.