I'm going through something similar right now! Had my baby in February and EDD cut off my disability payments 5 days before my doctor's return date. It's so frustrating when you're already dealing with postpartum recovery and a newborn. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like having your doctor submit that DE2501 extension form is the way to go. I'm definitely going to ask my OB to do the same thing. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through extra hoops for money we're already entitled to, but at least there seems to be a solution. Thanks for posting about this - I was starting to think I was the only one dealing with EDD inconsistencies between pregnancies!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Had my baby in late February and EDD stopped paying me 3 days before my return-to-work date that my doctor certified. It's so confusing because with my first baby two years ago, they paid me right up until the day I went back to work. I'm a single mom and those missing days represent almost $500 that I really need right now. Between diapers, formula, and daycare deposits, every dollar counts. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the doctor extension form is the way to go, but it's frustrating that we have to fight for benefits we should already be getting. Has anyone had success getting retroactive payment once the extension is approved, or do they just start paying from when the new form is submitted?

Hi Diego! Congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 I'm also new to this community and just starting my own PFL baby bonding claim journey - our little one is 5 weeks old and I'm hoping to get my first payment soon. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! It sounds like the 14-day payment cycle is pretty consistent once you get into the rhythm. Based on everyone's experiences, May 8th definitely seems like the right expectation for your husband's next payment. I'm taking notes on all the great tips shared here - especially about certifying immediately when the period opens (seems like that Sunday evening timing is crucial), setting up direct deposit if you haven't already, and keeping screenshot records of certifications. The calendar reminder idea is genius too - with newborn sleep deprivation, automated reminders seem essential! One thing I found helpful was creating a simple note in my phone with the expected payment dates based on the 14-day cycle, just like some others mentioned. It really helps with budgeting when you're both on leave. Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming and sharing real experiences rather than just pointing to confusing government websites! This community is such a valuable resource for new parents navigating the PFL system. Looking forward to learning from everyone as we all go through this process together! 💙

Hi Diego! Welcome to the community and congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 I'm also a newcomer here - just joined recently after starting my own PFL baby bonding claim for our 7-week-old daughter. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so incredibly helpful and reassuring! It sounds like your husband should definitely expect his next payment around May 8th based on that April 24th first payment date. The 14-day cycle seems to be pretty consistent for most people once you get into the routine. I'm definitely taking notes on all the amazing tips shared here - the certification reminders, direct deposit setup, screenshotting confirmations, and keeping a payment tracking system all sound crucial. The sleep deprivation with a newborn is so real, so having those automated systems in place seems essential to avoid any missed deadlines! One thing I've learned from lurking in other PFL discussions is to also double-check that all your contact information is current in the UI Online portal - apparently even small things like an outdated address can cause delays even with direct deposit. Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming and sharing real, practical experiences rather than just pointing to confusing government websites! This community is such a valuable resource for new parents trying to navigate the EDD system. Looking forward to learning from all of you as we go through this process together! 💙

UPDATE: The rest of my payment just hit my account this morning!! Thank you all for your help and suggestions. For anyone else who encounters this issue - definitely try to speak directly with an EDD rep as they can see exactly what's causing the delay and often fix it immediately. The date discrepancy between what I reported and what my employer reported was causing the system to only pay for the one day they were certain about. So relieved this is resolved and I can focus on my baby instead of stressing about finances!

This is such a relief to see resolved! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my PFL claim was approved but I'm only seeing partial payment. Your experience with the date discrepancy between what you reported vs what your employer reported is really helpful - I'm going to double-check those dates on my claim. It's frustrating how these small details can cause such big delays, especially when you're already stressed about finances with a new baby. Thanks for sharing the update and congrats on getting it sorted out!

As someone who just joined this community and is currently pregnant with my first child while running a small consulting business, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about the DIEC program either. @Keisha Jackson, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress during what should be an exciting time. Have you considered reaching out to SCORE or your local Small Business Development Center? They sometimes have resources or know about local grants for small business owners facing hardships. Also, some professional associations for graphic designers might have emergency assistance funds - it's worth checking if you're a member of any. I'm definitely going to look into enrolling in DIEC after reading everyone's experiences here. Thank you all for sharing such valuable information!

Hi @Keisha Jackson! I just joined this community and your post really caught my attention because I'm also self-employed (freelance marketing consultant) and trying to plan for a potential pregnancy in the next year or two. Reading through all these responses has been such a reality check for me - I had no idea about the DIEC program either! While I can't help with your current situation, I wanted to mention that some areas have sliding-scale childcare assistance programs that might help you get back to work sooner than planned if needed. Also, if you have any regular clients, now might be a good time to discuss potentially working reduced hours remotely during your recovery period, even if it's just light tasks you can do from home. I'm definitely going to apply for DIEC coverage after reading this thread. Thank you for asking this question - it's helping so many of us who didn't know we needed this information! Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy and hoping you can build up a good financial cushion over the next few months. 💙

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences! My partner and I are currently in week 2 of their 8-week PFL baby bonding leave, and we're considering a similar split arrangement due to some upcoming work commitments. Reading through all these responses, I'm struck by how much more complex this process is than the EDD website makes it seem. The practical insights here - like asking EDD to add notes to your file when closing the first claim, starting the second application 2-3 weeks early, and getting written confirmation from your employer - are exactly what we needed to hear. One question I haven't seen addressed: has anyone dealt with this when their employer requires them to use accrued vacation time concurrently with PFL? I'm wondering if that complicates the split leave process, since the vacation time would also need to be split up accordingly. Also, for those who successfully navigated this, did you find that having a specific reason for the split (like childcare arrangements or work deadlines) helped when explaining the situation to EDD or your employer? Or is the flexibility allowed regardless of the reason? This thread has been incredibly valuable - thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences!

Hi KylieRose! Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new here but have been following this amazing discussion closely. Regarding your question about concurrent vacation time - that's a really good point that I don't think has been covered yet. I imagine it would add some complexity since you'd need to coordinate both the PFL split and the vacation time allocation with your employer's HR department. You'd probably want to clarify upfront how they handle vacation time when leave is split into multiple periods - do they require it to be used proportionally with each PFL period, or can you choose when to apply it? As for having a specific reason, from what I've read in everyone's experiences here, it seems like EDD generally allows the flexibility regardless of the reason as long as you follow the proper procedures. The key appears to be clear communication and proper documentation rather than justifying why you need the split. Though having a concrete reason probably doesn't hurt when explaining the situation to your employer! One thing I've learned from this thread is that starting conversations with HR early about these details can really help avoid confusion later. Since you're only in week 2, you have plenty of time to get clarity on their policies before making any decisions. This community has been such a goldmine of practical information that you just can't find anywhere else!