Hi Brooklyn! Welcome to the community and congratulations on your upcoming little one! 🎉 I'm a newcomer here too but wanted to share what I learned from going through a similar situation just a few months ago. I was working part-time at a coffee shop and also doing IHSS for my mom (about 8 hours/month, so even less than yours). I was TERRIFIED about how to handle the income reporting, but after reading through all these responses, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - you absolutely need to report your IHSS income, but it's not going to hurt you at all! The amount you're earning ($170/month) is so minimal that EDD sees this type of situation constantly. When I called to ask questions, the representative actually told me that IHSS income combined with part-time work is one of the most common scenarios they process for pregnancy disability claims. One small thing that helped me feel more organized - I created a simple folder (physical and digital) with all my IHSS documentation: pay stubs, timesheets, and a basic spreadsheet tracking my hours and payments. Having everything in one place made the application process and bi-weekly certifications so much easier. Your timing is absolutely perfect filing on Feb 1st! And the fact that your doctor is ready to certify you starting Jan 31st means you'll have a seamless transition. You're being so smart by preparing ahead of time - that's going to make everything go smoothly. You've got this, mama! 💪

Hey Brooklyn! Congratulations on your upcoming baby! 🎉 As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to add my support to all the excellent advice you've already received. I recently went through a very similar situation - I was working part-time at a bookstore and also providing IHSS care for my disabled aunt (about 14 hours/month, around $220). I was absolutely terrified about reporting my IHSS income because I thought it might disqualify me or reduce my benefits, but everyone here is 100% right - you MUST report it, and it won't hurt you at all! When I spoke with my EDD case worker, she actually thanked me for being so thorough with my income reporting and said it makes their job much easier when people are upfront about everything. The key thing that helped me understand is that your SDI benefit calculation is primarily based on your highest-earning quarter during your base period. That small IHSS income might actually help boost your benefits slightly if it's been consistent! And since pregnancy disability is task-specific, you can absolutely continue caring for your son if you're physically able to do those duties while being unable to perform your retail job. Your timing filing on Feb 1st is perfect - don't second-guess that! I filed the day after my last shift and had no issues whatsoever. Just make sure you have all your IHSS pay stubs organized and ready when you're filling out the application. You're asking all the right questions and being so proactive. That preparation is going to make this whole process much smoother than you're probably imagining right now. Best of luck with everything - you've absolutely got this! 💪✨

Has anyone else noticed that these issues seem to happen more at the end of the fiscal year? I wonder if it's related to budget stuff on their end.

Same boat here! Been waiting 3 weeks now for my timesheet to process. What's really frustrating is that they don't give you any timeline or status updates - just radio silence. I've started keeping a spreadsheet tracking all my submissions and follow-ups because honestly, at this point I don't trust their system to keep track of anything properly. Really hoping this gets sorted out soon because bills don't wait for bureaucracy! 😤

I went through this exact same situation last year with my daughter! The 8-week limit is definitely firm - I called EDD three times hoping for a different answer and got the same response each time. What ended up working for us was my husband negotiating with his employer for unpaid FMLA leave after his PFL ran out. Even though your husband's company only has 30 employees, he might still qualify for federal FMLA if he's worked there for 12+ months and 1,250+ hours. Federal FMLA applies to employers with 50+ employees, but it's worth checking if there are any other company policies for parental leave. Also, don't forget that if you're breastfeeding, some employers are required to provide reasonable break time and space for pumping when you return to work, which might help with your childcare transition!

I'm dealing with something similar right now! My partner is at week 6 of his PFL baby bonding and we were also hoping to extend it. After reading all these comments, it sounds like 8 weeks is definitely the hard limit. One thing that might help - I've heard some people mention that if your husband has any unused sick time or personal days, some companies will let you stack those on top of the PFL period. It's not additional paid family leave, but it could give you a few extra days to figure out the childcare situation. Also, with twins, you might want to look into whether there are any emergency childcare resources in your area - some counties have programs that can help with short-term placement while you're searching for permanent care. Good luck!

I'm 24 weeks pregnant and just discovered this thread - what a treasure trove of information and support! I've been dealing with a manager who keeps "reassigning" my key projects to colleagues because they're "concerned about my stress levels," while simultaneously piling on administrative busy work. The irony is that the discrimination itself is what's causing my stress levels to spike! I've been having terrible anxiety, trouble sleeping, and my blood pressure has been creeping up at my recent appointments. Like so many of you, I kept thinking I was being too sensitive or that this was just "normal" pregnancy stuff. Reading everyone's experiences has made me realize this is textbook pregnancy discrimination that's causing legitimate health complications. The insight that's hit me hardest from this thread is that we've EARNED these benefits through our payroll contributions - we're not asking for charity, we're claiming insurance we've paid for! I had no idea that SDI and PFL eligibility is based on medical necessity rather than employment status when you quit. I'm calling my OB tomorrow to schedule an urgent appointment to discuss how workplace discrimination is affecting my pregnancy. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to be very direct about the anxiety, insomnia, and elevated blood pressure, and ask for documentation connecting these symptoms to workplace stress. I'm also starting a detailed log of every discriminatory comment and project reassignment. Thank you all for sharing your stories so openly - you've given me hope that I can protect both my baby's health AND our financial future. This community is proof that we're stronger together! 💪

I'm 19 weeks pregnant and stumbled across this thread while desperately searching for answers about my own toxic work situation. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both heartbreaking and incredibly empowering - I had no idea so many of us were dealing with similar pregnancy discrimination! My manager has been making "joking" comments about how I'll probably be "less focused" once the baby comes and has started excluding me from important meetings "so I don't get overwhelmed." The gaslighting has been intense and I've developed chronic stress headaches and my sleep has been terrible. I kept thinking I was being too sensitive, but seeing all your stories makes me realize this is legitimate workplace discrimination causing real health issues. What's been most eye-opening is learning that SDI and PFL benefits are based on medical necessity and our contributions, not whether we quit voluntarily. I had no idea we had these options! I'm definitely going to schedule an appointment with my OB this week to discuss how the workplace stress is affecting my physical symptoms and ask about proper documentation. Thank you all for being so brave in sharing your stories - you've shown me that I don't have to just endure months more of this toxicity. It's incredible how this community has turned what felt like an impossible situation into one where I actually have choices and rights. I'll definitely keep you all updated on how things progress!

Hey Miguel! I totally understand your frustration - I went through the same thing last month. In my experience, EDD callbacks can take anywhere from 3-10 business days, sometimes longer depending on how backed up they are. Since you requested it Friday, I'd give it until at least this Friday before panicking. A few things that helped me: - Make sure your voicemail isn't full - They often call from weird numbers, so answer everything - Try the "Contact EDD" feature in your UI Online portal too - If you don't hear back by next week, definitely request another callback The waiting is the worst part, but hang in there! You'll get through eventually. Keep us posted on how it goes! 💪

I feel your frustration Miguel! I just went through this same nightmare last week. EDD callbacks are incredibly inconsistent - I've seen people wait anywhere from 4 days to 3+ weeks. Since you ordered it Friday, I'd say give it until end of this week before getting too worried. One thing that worked for me was also trying their "Ask EDD" feature on the UI Online portal while waiting. Sometimes you can get answers there faster than waiting for the phone callback. Also, double-check that your phone can receive calls from blocked/unknown numbers - they call from all sorts of random numbers. The system is absolutely overwhelmed right now, but don't give up! Keep documenting when you requested the callback in case you need to escalate later. Hoping you hear back soon! 🤞