I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter's ongoing health issues - respiratory complications in children are so scary and stressful for parents. From everything shared in this thread, it definitely sounds like you should be eligible for a new 8-week PFL period since your first claim started in March 2024 and we're now well past that 12-month mark. I haven't been through this exact situation myself, but I wanted to mention something that might help with the application process: when you're getting the DE2501F form completed, consider asking your daughter's medical team if they can provide a brief treatment timeline or care plan that shows why your presence will be essential during her recovery period. From what I've read, EDD likes to see specific information about how family care supports the patient's medical needs. Also, since you mentioned feeling stressed about potentially taking unpaid time - have you looked into whether your employer offers any supplemental paid family leave benefits? Some companies have policies that supplement the state PFL payments or provide additional paid time off for family medical situations. It might be worth checking with HR about any additional support they offer. I really hope your daughter's upcoming surgery goes smoothly and that you're able to get the PFL benefits you need without any complications. You're clearly a dedicated parent doing everything you can to support her through this challenging time. Sending positive thoughts for her recovery! 💙

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation with your daughter's health complications again. As someone who's navigated PFL multiple times for my own family medical situations, I can definitely relate to the confusion around eligibility timing. Based on everything you've described and what others have shared here, you should absolutely be eligible for a fresh 8-week PFL benefit period. Since your first claim started in March 2024, your 12-month benefit period ended in March 2025, which means you qualify for a new cycle regardless of when you used those June 2024 benefits. A few practical tips from my experience: - Call EDD first to confirm your specific situation before making work arrangements - When you get the DE2501F completed, ask your daughter's doctor to be very specific about the duration and type of care you'll need to provide - Consider applying as soon as you have the paperwork ready, even if the surgery is a few weeks out - processing times can vary - Don't forget to coordinate FMLA paperwork with your employer for job protection The whole system can be overwhelming when you're already stressed about your child's health, but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions and getting great advice here. Wishing your daughter a successful surgery and smooth recovery! 💙

edd needs to get there act together fr. how are ppl supposed to survive when they cant even get there benefits??? smh

Hey, former EDD employee here. The conflict notification usually means there's an issue with overlapping claim periods or inconsistent information. It's a pain, but you need to talk to someone to clear it up. Try calling first thing in the morning or right before they close - those are usually the best times to get through.

Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy! 🎉 I can totally relate to the confusion - I went through this exact same process just 7 months ago and felt completely lost trying to navigate everything with a newborn! Here's what I learned: You absolutely do NOT need to notify EDD about the birth while you're still on SDI pregnancy disability. Your doctor will handle updating the medical documentation with the delivery date on their end. Since you had a vaginal delivery, your SDI will automatically continue for the full 6 weeks postpartum. The key is getting the timing right for your PFL baby bonding application to avoid any gaps in payments. My strong recommendation: Start your PFL baby bonding application (form DE2508) around week 4 postpartum through your SDI Online account. There's a separate PFL section - look for it and make sure to select "immediately after current SDI ends" when they ask about your start date. Please don't make the same mistake I did by waiting for your 6-week postpartum checkup! I followed my doctor's advice and ended up with an awful 16-day gap in payments that put serious financial stress on our family right when we were adjusting to life with a newborn. You'll need your baby's birth certificate info for the application, but if his SSN hasn't arrived yet, don't panic - you can usually add that information later or they'll work with you. The most important thing to remember: SDI pregnancy disability and PFL baby bonding are two completely separate benefits that require separate applications. The transition is NOT automatic despite what many people think! Apply early rather than late - trust me on this one! Now go enjoy those precious newborn snuggles! 💕

Huge congratulations on your baby boy! 🎉 I'm currently going through this exact transition right now (baby is 5 weeks old) and can share what's been working for me. You definitely don't need to notify EDD about the birth while on SDI - your doctor handles that part. Your SDI pregnancy disability will continue automatically for 6 weeks postpartum since you had a vaginal delivery. The game-changer for me was reading advice similar to what others have shared here and applying for PFL baby bonding at the 4-week mark instead of waiting. I just submitted my DE2508 form through SDI Online last week and selected "immediately after current SDI ends" for the start date. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you're filling out the DE2508, there's a section asking about your baby's information. I was able to complete most of it with just the birth certificate details, and they told me I could update the SSN later when it arrives (which it did just yesterday!). The online application was actually pretty straightforward once I found the right section. Just make sure you're in the PFL area of your SDI Online account, not trying to modify your existing SDI claim. Really hoping my timing works out and there's no gap! Fingers crossed the processing goes smoothly. Thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing their experiences - it's been so helpful to learn from people who've actually been through this process recently! 💕

I'm currently going through this exact situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far! After using my full pregnancy disability and 8 weeks of PFL bonding, my postpartum anxiety became completely unmanageable. I couldn't even make it through a full workday without having multiple panic attacks. My therapist connected me with a psychiatrist who explained that postpartum mental health conditions can absolutely qualify as separate disability claims when they're severe enough to prevent you from working. The key is having it properly documented as a standalone mental health disability, not as an extension of pregnancy-related benefits. I'm in the process of filing now - my psychiatrist is handling the DE2501 form and specifically documenting it as "Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety Features, Postpartum Onset" rather than just "postpartum depression." She's being very detailed about functional limitations like "unable to maintain focus during meetings due to intrusive thoughts" and "sleep disruption prevents completion of complex tasks." I waited about 5 weeks after my PFL ended to file, which my doctor said helps establish this as a new medical event rather than a continuation. One thing that's been helpful is keeping a symptom diary - tracking panic attack frequency, hours of sleep, specific work tasks I can't handle, etc. For anyone considering this: don't feel guilty about needing more time. These are legitimate medical conditions that deserve proper treatment, and California law recognizes that mental health disabilities can occur independently from pregnancy recovery. You're not "gaming the system" - you're accessing support that exists specifically for situations like this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this, but I want to add some hope to this conversation! I successfully filed a separate mental health disability claim for severe postpartum anxiety and depression after exhausting both my pregnancy disability and PFL bonding time in late 2024. The key things that made my claim successful: - I waited about 6 weeks after my bonding time ended to create clear separation - My primary care doctor (not OB) filed it as "Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood" specifically noting it was triggered by but separate from childbirth - We documented specific work limitations: "unable to concentrate on tasks for more than 15 minutes," "experiences panic attacks when handling client communications," "severe insomnia prevents cognitive functioning required for data analysis" - I had been in therapy for 8 weeks and on medication for 4 weeks, showing ongoing treatment despite persistent symptoms The process took about 4 weeks from filing to approval, and I was initially granted 10 weeks with the option to extend if needed. Having detailed therapy notes really helped - my therapist wrote a letter explaining how my symptoms were interfering with daily functioning despite consistent treatment. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: start documenting everything NOW. Keep a daily log of symptoms, panic attacks, sleep patterns, and specific work tasks you can't handle. This concrete evidence really strengthens your case. You're absolutely not alone in this struggle, and seeking additional disability support doesn't make you weak - it makes you a responsible parent taking care of your mental health so you can better care for your baby in the long run. Hang in there! 💙

I'm so sorry you're going through this! I'm relatively new to teaching myself and had no idea about the SDI eligibility issue until I saw your post. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me too. One thing I wanted to add that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet - have you looked into whether your district participates in any reciprocal benefit agreements with other states? I know it's a long shot, but if you've taught in other states before California, sometimes there are ways to bridge coverage or qualify for benefits based on previous contributions. Also, if you're comfortable sharing what region you're in (even just Northern vs Southern California), some of us might be able to point you toward more specific local resources. The amount of knowledge and support in this community is amazing - I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference. Hang in there and keep us updated on how things go! 💙

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this situation! As a fellow Bay Area educator, I completely understand how shocking and frustrating this discovery must be. You've gotten some absolutely incredible advice in this thread - this community is amazing! Since you mentioned you're in the Bay Area, I wanted to add a couple of local resources that might help: The Silicon Valley Community Foundation has emergency assistance programs, and many Bay Area counties have their own teacher support funds. Also, if you're in a district that's part of the Alameda or Santa Clara County Office of Education, they sometimes have additional resources beyond what individual districts offer. One more thing - if you end up needing to appeal or navigate complex paperwork, consider reaching out to your local Legal Aid Society. They often have advocates who specialize in benefits issues and can help you understand your rights and options. The fact that you taught in Arizona before California definitely makes the reciprocal benefits angle worth exploring too. Each state has different rules, but there might be some bridge coverage you qualify for. You've got such a comprehensive action plan now thanks to everyone's input. Wishing you all the best as you work through these options! 💙