One more important tip for your high-risk pregnancy claim: Keep a copy of all medical documentation yourself. Don't assume your doctor's office sent everything correctly to EDD. You can actually check the status of your claim documentation through your SDI Online account. If you see that the medical certification is missing or incomplete after a few days of filing, follow up with your doctor immediately. Also, since you mentioned being high-risk and potentially starting leave around 30 weeks, your doctor needs to specifically document why you need to stop working earlier than the standard 36 weeks. The medical necessity must be clearly stated for earlier disability approval. Good luck with everything! The system can be confusing but once you get through the initial filing, it usually runs smoothly.

Hi Alice! I went through this exact situation last year with my high-risk pregnancy (placenta previa). One thing I wish someone had told me is to take screenshots of EVERYTHING when you file your claim online. The EDD website sometimes glitches and you might lose your progress halfway through the application - happened to me twice! Also, when your doctor fills out the DE2501 form, make sure they include specific job restrictions. Mine wrote "cannot lift over 10 lbs, cannot stand for extended periods, requires frequent breaks" which really helped justify the medical necessity. Pro tip: Create a dedicated email folder for all EDD correspondence and set up email alerts. You'll get a lot of notifications and it's easy to miss important deadlines if you're not organized. The whole process took me about 2 weeks from filing to first payment, but that was because my doctor was super responsive. You've got this mama! The paperwork is overwhelming but totally worth it to get the time you need to rest and prepare for baby. 💕

I'm a new parent dealing with something similar but from a different angle - my PFL claim was initially approved but then I got a notice saying they're "reviewing" it and all payments have been suspended. Meanwhile I see posts like this where people are getting TOO many payments after appeals. The inconsistency in how EDD handles these cases is mind-boggling. @Miguel - it sounds like you're getting great advice here, especially about contacting a tier 2 specialist and using that DE 2612 form to return the checks properly. One thing I'd add is to screenshot or photocopy everything before you send it back, including the voided checks. I learned this the hard way when dealing with other government agencies - they have a habit of "losing" paperwork. Having visual proof of what you returned and when can save you months of headaches later. Good luck getting this sorted out, and congratulations on your new baby!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where EDD processed my entire PFL claim after an appeal approval, even though I only planned to use 4 weeks now and save the rest for later in the year. @Miguel - based on all the advice here, it sounds like your best bet is: 1) Don't cash those checks, 2) Use Claimyr or keep trying to reach a tier 2 specialist, 3) Get them to switch your claim to intermittent, and 4) Return the uncashed checks with form DE 2612. One question for @Yara or @Paolo - when you dealt with this, did EDD automatically stop sending future payments once they corrected the claim to intermittent? Or did you have to do something additional to prevent more checks from coming? I'm worried about this happening again down the road when I actually want to use my remaining PFL weeks.

Hey everyone! As someone who just went through this exact process last month, I wanted to share my experience. I split my 8 weeks of baby bonding PFL - took 6 weeks initially then saved 2 weeks for when daycare had their holiday closure. The process was actually smoother than I expected after reading all the horror stories online! I filed my second DE 2501F application through the EDD portal about 2 weeks before I planned to start my second leave portion. The key things that helped me: 1. Made sure my employer completed their section showing I returned to work (even though it was only for 3 weeks between my leave periods) 2. Used the same claim number from my original application 3. Called EDD using the Claimyr service mentioned above - totally worth it to avoid the hold times 4. Got confirmation that everything was approved before my leave started The whole second application took about 10 days to process, and my payments started right on schedule. Don't let the confusing system scare you - it's totally doable if you stay organized and double-check everything! One thing I wish I'd known - you can actually check your remaining benefit balance in your EDD account online, which helped me plan exactly how much leave I had left to use.

This entire thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm a new dad planning to split my 8-week PFL leave and was honestly pretty stressed about the whole process until I found all your detailed experiences here. I'm planning to take 3 weeks initially when our baby arrives next month, then save the remaining 5 weeks for later in the year when my wife goes back to work. Based on everything I've read here, my game plan is: 1. Keep track of my original claim number from the first application 2. Submit a new DE 2501F application about 3 weeks before my second portion starts 3. Make sure HR verifies my return-to-work period between leaves 4. Use that Claimyr service if I need to actually talk to someone at EDD One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if there are any restrictions on how you can split the 8 weeks? Like, could I theoretically do something like 3 weeks, then 2 weeks, then 3 weeks (three separate portions) as long as it's all within the 12-month window? Or is it limited to just two portions? Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this community knowledge is so much more valuable than trying to decode the official EDD website!

When I was on PFL last month my neighbor told me we dont have to certify anymore but that was WRONG! Thank god I checked my online account and saw the certify button or I would have missed out on money we needed badly. So yes definitely certify every 2 weeks!

I'm a new mom who just went through this process a few months ago! Yes, you absolutely need to certify every two weeks for PFL - it's not automatic at all. The good news is that the PFL certification is much easier than SDI - you basically just confirm you're still bonding with your baby and haven't returned to work. My advice: Log into your EDD account the day your certification opens (usually every other Sunday) and do it right away. Don't wait! I made the mistake of putting it off once and almost forgot completely. Also, bookmark the EDD login page on your phone so you can easily access it during those middle-of-the-night feeding sessions when you might remember "oh shoot, I need to certify tomorrow!" The payments usually hit your account 2-3 business days after you certify, so you can plan your budget around that timeline. Congrats on your upcoming baby bonding time - it goes by so fast, but those payments really help make it possible to focus on your little one instead of worrying about money!

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better now that I understand the process. I'll definitely report the birth right away when it happens and make sure my doctor submits the updated forms. It's such a relief to know that the transition should be smooth if I follow these steps correctly. I'm still nervous about potentially having to call EDD, but at least I have options if I can't get through. I appreciate all the advice and shared experiences!

Hi Ava! I'm in a similar situation - currently on SDI for pregnancy complications and due in July. This thread has been SO helpful! Just wanted to add that I spoke with my doctor's office about the forms, and they said they handle the DE2501 paperwork all the time, so don't stress too much about that part. One thing I learned from my sister who went through this is to save copies of EVERYTHING - your original SDI approval letter, doctor's notes, etc. She said it really helped when EDD had questions later. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks of PFL bonding time, make sure to apply early since there can sometimes be processing delays. Good luck with your delivery! It sounds like you're getting great advice here.