My sister had this exact thing happen with her last week of PFL not showing up. The EDD system is garbage for handling single weeks at the end of claims. She had to call like 20 times before getting through to a human who fixed it. Good luck!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - PPD is incredibly difficult and the last thing you need is EDD stress on top of it. I went through a similar transition about 6 months ago. For your missing 8th week, definitely call first thing in the morning (8am sharp) - that's when I had the most luck getting through. The single week payments seem to get stuck in their system more often than the bi-weekly ones. Don't wait too long because there are time limits on when they can fix payment issues. Regarding the PPD disability claim - yes, it's a completely separate claim from PFL. Since you went straight from unemployment to PFL (no pregnancy disability), you will unfortunately have the one-week waiting period. But here's something that helped me: ask your psychiatrist if they can backdate the start date to the day after your PFL ends if you were already experiencing symptoms. This can help minimize any gap. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure your psychiatrist is very specific about your functional limitations in their certification. Don't just say "depression" - detail how it affects your ability to concentrate, make decisions, handle stress, etc. The more specific they are about work-related limitations, the smoother your approval will be. File online through SDI Online as soon as possible, and push your doctor to submit their portion quickly. My approval took about 2 weeks once everything was submitted properly. You've got this mama - focus on getting better, the financial stuff will work out! ❤️

Thanks for all your helpful responses! It sounds like the current benefit is definitely 8 weeks for PFL baby bonding. I guess my coworker either confused the terminology or was talking about her total leave with PDL combined. Does anyone know if the 8 weeks of PFL has to be taken immediately after PDL/SDI ends? Or can I take a few weeks of unpaid leave in between?

Just wanted to add that I'm currently going through this process and can confirm it's still 8 weeks for 2025. I applied in February and got approved for 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding. One thing that helped me was calling the EDD customer service line early in the morning (like 8 AM sharp) - much shorter wait times than later in the day. Also, make sure you have your doctor's certification ready before you apply because that can slow things down if it's not complete. The whole system is confusing but once you get through it, the benefits are really helpful for new parents!

Andre, I just wanted to add one more encouraging voice to this amazing thread! I went through almost the exact same situation in early 2024 - had to leave my job at 38 weeks due to severe workplace harassment that was causing me daily stress and affecting my pregnancy. My baby was born 15 days after my last day of work. I was absolutely panicked about losing benefits, but California PFL for baby bonding came through for us! The application process was straightforward once I stopped overthinking it: - Filed DE2508 online about 2 weeks after birth - Provided baby's birth certificate and my final paystub - Never had to explain why I quit (they didn't ask) - Got approved in about 4 weeks - Received roughly 65% of my previous wages for the full 8 weeks The financial relief was incredible during those precious early bonding weeks. What really struck me reading through all these responses is how common this situation apparently is - so many of us have had to make the difficult choice to leave toxic work environments during pregnancy. You absolutely made the right decision prioritizing your health and your daughter's wellbeing. After 5 years of paying into SDI, you've more than earned these benefits! Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about accessing support you literally paid for. Apply today and then focus on enjoying this special time with your little girl. You've got this! 💕✨

Andre, I'm so glad you found this supportive community! Reading through all these responses has been really heartwarming - it's amazing how many people have shared their similar experiences to help you feel confident about your situation. I just wanted to add that as someone who's been following CA benefits discussions for a while, your case is absolutely straightforward for PFL approval. With 5 years of SDI contributions, you're exactly the type of person this benefit was designed to support. The fact that so many people here went through nearly identical situations (leaving toxic workplaces in late pregnancy) and all got approved should give you complete peace of mind. It sounds like you've got all your documents ready and a clear plan to apply today - that's perfect! Enjoy these precious early weeks with your daughter, and don't spend another minute worrying about eligibility. You've earned this support through years of contributions, and now it's time to focus on what matters most - bonding with your little one! Congratulations! 💕🎉

Reading through all these experiences is really helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation where I might need to extend my leave by a couple weeks. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone had issues with their employer when extending PFL? Like, do you need to notify your HR department separately, or does EDD handle that communication? I want to make sure I'm covering all my bases and not accidentally creating problems with my job. Thanks for all the great advice everyone has shared! 😊

I actually just went through this process last week! Had to extend my PFL by 2 weeks due to some complications with my recovery. Here's what I learned that might help you: **Getting through to EDD:** - Call exactly at 8:00 AM when they open - this is THE most important tip - Have everything written down: claim number, current return date, new return date, brief reason - Don't give up if the first few calls don't work - persistence pays off **The actual call:** - Once I got through (took 4 tries over 3 days), the rep was actually really helpful - The conversation lasted about 6 minutes total - They asked why I needed the extension - I just said "need additional recovery time" and that was enough - Make sure to get a confirmation number AND ask them to email you confirmation **Important reminders:** - Keep doing your bi-weekly certifications while trying to reach them - Contact your HR department separately - EDD doesn't notify employers automatically - If it's medical-related, have updated doctor paperwork ready just in case Honestly, I was way more stressed about it than I needed to be. These requests are super common and the reps handle them all day long. The anticipation is definitely worse than the actual process! You got this! 🙌 @Levi Parker - let us know how it goes when you get through to them!

Welcome to the twin parent club! 🎉 I went through this exact same confusion with my twins in 2023. Your HR department definitely mixed something up - it's ONE application for PFL baby bonding regardless of how many babies you're bonding with. I made the mistake of initially trying to submit two applications and the second one got rejected with a note saying I already had an active claim. The way I think about it: you're taking time off work to bond with your new family additions, not separate time off for each individual baby. The 8 weeks covers your bonding period with both twins together. One tip: when you fill out the application, just use one baby's info but maybe mention in any comments section that you have twins. Some people also attach both birth certificates when they submit documentation, though I'm not sure if that's required. Good luck and congratulations again!

I went through this same situation with my twins last year! Your HR department is definitely giving you incorrect information. You only need to submit ONE PFL application for baby bonding, even with multiples. The benefit is based on YOUR leave from work to bond with your new family, not per child. I was also confused initially and called EDD to confirm - they told me that whether you have 1 baby or 5 babies, you still get the same 8 weeks of PFL for bonding. When filling out the DE2508 form online, just enter one of your twins' information and maybe add a note in the additional comments section mentioning that you have twins. Make sure you have both birth certificates ready in case EDD requests additional documentation during processing. And don't worry about the timing - since you're at 6 weeks postpartum, you're right on track to apply for PFL if your disability benefits are ending soon. Hang in there - the newborn twin phase is brutal but it does get easier! The financial stress is real with double everything, so getting your PFL sorted will definitely help. Congratulations on your babies! 🎉