im sooo confused by all this! i thought pregancy disability and baby bonding were the SAME THING?? im 7 months pregnant and now im worried. do i need to file for disability first and THEN bonding leave later?? this is my first baby and i have no clue whats going on!! help!!

UPDATE: I followed the advice here and successfully filed my PFL claim today! For anyone who finds this thread later - here's exactly what I did: 1. Completed my final disability certification and marked "able to return to work" 2. Logged into SDI Online and clicked "New Claim" 3. Selected PFL and baby bonding 4. Entered my baby's info and uploaded hospital discharge papers (they're letting me submit birth certificate later) 5. The start date for PFL was automatically set to the day after my disability ended Thanks everyone for your help! The EDD system is incredibly confusing but I think I've got it figured out now.

btw my sister had her baby right before thanksgiving and she said they did actually transition her automatically. so maybe they changed the system? she didn't have to file anything new she said.

Update: Thank you all SO much for your help! I found the form in my EDD inbox (it was labeled "PFL Bonding Transition" which is why I missed it at first). I've submitted the DE2508 online through my SDI account. The rep confirmed my disability ends on March 20th and my baby bonding should start March 21st with no gap if I've done everything correctly. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly!

i had the exact same issue!!!!!!! my doctor extended my leave by 3 weeks and i didnt get paid for like a month it was a NIGHTMARE!!!! edd is the worst with pregnancy stuff, they act like pregnancy complications are some huge surprise lol. they backpaid me eventually but not til after i was late on my car payment :

Update: I used Claimyr this morning and got connected to an EDD agent in about 10 minutes! The agent confirmed my doctor's extension was received but stuck in processing. She manually approved it and said I should see the payment in 24-48 hours. She also helped me file my PFL claim for baby bonding so there won't be a gap when the disability ends. Thank you everyone for your help!

UPDATE: I finally got through to EDD this morning (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above - it actually worked!). The rep confirmed my payment WAS sent to the Money Network card even though I had direct deposit set up. Apparently for first-time maternity leave payments they sometimes default to the card for security reasons?? Anyway, I activated my card and the money is there! For future payments they said direct deposit should work as expected. Just wanted to update in case anyone else has this problem.

Thanks for sharing this update! Yes, this is a common issue with first payments that many claimants encounter. For anyone reading this thread in the future: 1. Always activate your Money Network card even if you set up direct deposit 2. First payments often default to the card regardless of your settings 3. Subsequent payments should follow your chosen payment method 4. If your payment status shows "issued" but hasn't arrived in 3-5 business days, contact EDD directly Glad you were able to get it resolved!

I feel for you so much right now. My twins were born with complications last year and I had to piece together different leaves. One thing no one mentioned yet - if your baby's condition is severe enough, you might qualify for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) in California. It's meant for ongoing care needs though, not just temporary recovery from surgery. Another thing - sometimes your employer will allow you to go negative on PTO or take an unpaid personal leave beyond what's legally required. Doesn't hurt to ask. The whole system is so broken for parents of medically complex kids.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I forgot to mention - when you apply for the caregiving PFL after baby bonding, they'll likely ask why you can't return to work briefly between the two claims. THIS IS A TRAP! The law does NOT require you to return to work between claims, but many EDD reps think it does. Your response should emphasize the continuous nature of care from bonding with a newborn to medical caregiving for the same child. Be very clear that there was no break in your caregiving responsibilities - you've been caring for your child continuously since birth, and their medical needs now require extending that care. I had my doctor write a letter specifically explaining why continuous care was medically necessary for my child's condition, which finally got my second claim approved.