Hey Ryan! I just went through this same transition from SDI to PFL in March 2025 and totally understand the stress - especially when you're already dealing with sleepless nights and a new baby! Here's what you can expect: - **First payment**: Usually 7-10 business days after approval (mine took 8 days) - **After that**: Automatic payments every 14 days - no certification needed! - **Payment method**: Same BofA debit card from your SDI unless you set up direct deposit The automatic nature of PFL is honestly such a blessing after dealing with other EDD programs. Once approved, you literally don't have to do anything - the money just shows up every two weeks like clockwork. **Pro tips that saved my sanity:** 1. Set up direct deposit in your EDD portal (1-2 days faster than BofA card) 2. Starting around day 6-7, check your EDD account daily for status changes 3. When it switches from "Pending" to "Paid," expect money within 24-48 hours I know the waiting is nerve-wracking when bills are due, but hang in there - you're almost at that first payment! Once it starts, you can focus on enjoying bonding time instead of stressing about money. The system actually works pretty reliably for PFL. Congrats on your little one! You've got this! 🍼

Just want to add my recent experience to help ease your anxiety! I transitioned from SDI to PFL in January 2025 and was in the exact same boat - constantly refreshing my EDD account and stressing about when that first payment would hit. Here's my timeline: - Approved: January 15th (Wednesday) - First payment: January 25th (Saturday) - exactly 10 days later - Subsequent payments: Every 14 days like clockwork The waiting for that first payment was brutal, especially with a newborn and bills piling up. But once it started, PFL was honestly the smoothest EDD experience I've ever had. No certifications, no weekly check-ins - just automatic deposits every two weeks. **What helped me survive the waiting period:** - Set up direct deposit immediately (shaved off 1-2 days) - Checked EDD account daily starting day 7 for status changes - Set up BofA mobile alerts so I'd know the instant money hit One thing that really helped my peace of mind was realizing that "7-10 business days" doesn't include weekends. So if you got approved on a weekday, start counting business days only. You're so close to that first payment! Once it hits, you can actually focus on bonding with your baby instead of stressing about finances. The system really does work for PFL - hang in there! 🍼✨

I'm in a very similar situation right now! I work 30 hours at my main job and about 12-15 hours at a small retail shop, both paying into SDI. Just wanted to add my voice to everyone saying you file ONE claim - I called EDD directly last week to confirm this and the rep was super clear about it. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that when you're calculating your expected benefit amount, you can use the EDD calculator online but make sure to include wages from BOTH jobs during your base period. I was initially only putting in my main job's wages and was worried my benefits would be really low, but when I added both jobs' wages together, the estimated benefit amount was much more reasonable. Also, if your part-time job pays you irregularly or has gaps between pay periods, don't worry - EDD looks at your total wages during the base period, not the consistency of payments. My retail job sometimes goes 2-3 weeks without scheduling me, but all those wages still count toward my benefit calculation. You've got this! The fact that you're planning ahead and asking questions puts you way ahead of where I was when I started this process. Wishing you a smooth application and an easy delivery! 🌟

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was in almost the exact same situation! I had one job at 28 hours/week and another part-time job with varying hours (anywhere from 8-20 hours per week). Both were taking out SDI deductions, and I was super stressed about how to handle the disability claim. Everyone here is absolutely right - you file ONE claim on the DE2501 form and list both employers. What really helped me was organizing all my documents beforehand: - Pay stubs from both jobs for the past 18 months - Exact employer names as they appear on my W-2s (not what I casually call them) - Each employer's full address and EIN number - Contact information for both HR departments (or managers if no HR) The trickiest part for me was that my smaller employer had never dealt with an EDD disability claim before, so they were confused when EDD contacted them. I ended up having to walk them through the process, which delayed my claim by about 2 weeks. If I could do it over again, I would have called them before filing to explain what was coming and maybe even given them EDD's employer handbook. My final benefit amount was calculated using wages from both jobs combined, which made a significant difference compared to just my main job alone. The whole process from filing to first payment took about 5 weeks, but that included the delay from my smaller employer. You're being so smart to ask these questions now! Don't let the stress get to you - the system does work, even with multiple employers. Congratulations on your upcoming little one! 🎉

Hi Mei! I'm so glad you found this thread - it sounds like you've gotten some amazing advice from everyone here! I went through a very similar situation about 8 months ago. I had gestational hypertension and ended up on disability at 33 weeks, then had a c-section with some healing complications that extended my disability to about 12 weeks total. Just like everyone else has said, I got my FULL 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding after my disability ended! The key thing that helped me was understanding that these really are two completely different benefit programs with different purposes - one for your medical recovery and one for bonding with your baby. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you do transition from disability to PFL, make sure to check that your direct deposit information is still current in the EDD system. I had changed banks during my disability period and forgot to update it, which caused a small delay in my first PFL payment. It's a minor thing but worth double-checking! Also, don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions about the documentation process. Mine was really helpful in explaining exactly what information EDD needs on the forms to avoid any delays or requests for additional information. You're being so smart to research all this ahead of time. It's going to make the whole process much less stressful when you're actually dealing with a newborn! Congratulations and best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy! 🎉

Hi Mei! I just wanted to add my voice to all the reassuring responses you've gotten here. I had a very similar experience about a year ago - developed preeclampsia at 34 weeks, was put on bed rest immediately, then had complications after my c-section that kept me on disability for about 10 weeks total. I was SO worried about losing my bonding time, especially because my mom kept telling me "you can't have both" (which turned out to be completely wrong!). But I got every single day of my 8 weeks of PFL after my disability ended, no questions asked. One thing that really helped me stay organized was creating a simple calendar where I marked important dates - when forms were due, when to file my PFL claim, etc. It helped me feel more in control during a really overwhelming time. Also, I know everyone's mentioned this already, but I can't stress enough how important it is to file your PFL claim before your disability ends. I filed mine exactly 7 days early and the transition was seamless - no gaps in payments at all. You're asking all the right questions and you're going to do great! Focus on your health and your baby, and trust that the system will work the way it's designed to. Sending you lots of good vibes for a healthy delivery! 💕

This is such a helpful thread! I'm not pregnant yet but planning to start trying next year, and reading through everyone's experiences is making me realize I need to start researching this stuff way earlier than I thought. Question for those who've been through it - when did you start having these conversations with HR? Should I be asking about company policies now, or wait until I'm actually pregnant? I don't want to tip my hand too early but also want to be prepared! Also, does anyone know if the 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding can be split up? Like could I take 4 weeks right after my disability ends, go back to work for a bit, then take the other 4 weeks later in the year?

Just wanted to add something I learned the hard way - make sure you understand how your company calculates your SDI/PFL benefit amount! The state uses your highest quarter of earnings in the base period (which is usually 5-17 months before your claim starts), but some people don't realize this and get surprised by a lower benefit amount than expected. Also, if you've had any job changes or salary increases in the past year, it might be worth checking your earnings record with EDD to make sure everything is reported correctly. I had a small gap in my earnings record that would have reduced my benefits, but I was able to get it corrected before filing my claim. The whole system is definitely confusing but you're asking all the right questions early! That puts you way ahead of where I was. Good luck with everything - you've got this! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation! As someone who's been through similar challenges with EDD, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help: If you do end up needing to call EDD and can't get through, try calling right when they open at 8 AM - the wait times are usually shorter then. Also, have all your information ready: Social Security number, claim number, exact return-to-work date, and pen/paper to write down any confirmation numbers they give you. One thing that helped me was setting up the online EDD portal if you haven't already - sometimes you can update certain information there without having to call. And definitely screenshot or print everything for your records! The good news is that returning to work early won't cause problems as long as you report it accurately. The system is designed to handle people going back before their full benefit period ends. You're being responsible by addressing this proactively instead of just hoping it works out. Hang in there - juggling a newborn, toddler, work stress AND government bureaucracy is incredibly hard. You're doing the right thing by getting this sorted out quickly!

I went through something very similar when my FMLA ended earlier than expected! The key thing is to act fast and be completely honest with EDD about your return date. A few things that helped me: - I called EDD at exactly 8:01 AM on a Tuesday and only waited about 45 minutes (much better than the 2+ hours!) - When I got through, I explained I was returning to work early and needed to update my claim. They were actually really helpful and understanding - They told me to make sure my next certification accurately reflected my return date and that I was working again Don't stress too much about EDD being "mad" - they deal with people returning to work early all the time. Job protection and PFL benefits are separate, so your employer can absolutely require you back even if you have unused PFL time remaining. The most important thing is just being accurate on your certifications going forward. If you've already certified for days after your return date, definitely call to fix that ASAP. But if you haven't certified yet, you should be fine just reporting everything correctly on your next form. You're doing great handling this situation - it's so hard balancing everything with a newborn and toddler!