Hey Brooklyn! Congratulations on your upcoming baby! 🎉 As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to jump in and add my support to all the fantastic advice you've already received. I just went through this exact situation last month - I was working part-time at a medical clinic and also providing IHSS care for my disabled brother (about 12 hours/month, around $190). I was absolutely terrified about how to handle the IHSS income reporting, but after reading through this entire thread, I can confirm what everyone is saying - you MUST report it, but it's not going to cause any problems for you! Your $170/month is such a small amount and EDD sees this combination constantly. One thing I learned that might help ease your mind - when I spoke with my EDD case worker during the process, she mentioned that California has so many IHSS providers that their system is specifically designed to handle these mixed income scenarios smoothly. She said the problems usually come from people NOT reporting income, never from people who are transparent about everything upfront. Your timing filing on Feb 1st is absolutely perfect! I did the exact same thing - filed the day after my last shift - and had zero issues. Just make sure you have your IHSS pay stubs ready when you're filling out the application because they'll ask for specific dates and amounts. The task-specific disability concept that others mentioned is so important to understand. You can absolutely continue caring for your son during your pregnancy disability since that work has completely different physical requirements than retail. You're being so smart by planning ahead and asking these questions now. That preparation is going to make everything go much smoother than you probably expect. This community has been incredible - everyone's advice is spot on! You've totally got this, mama! 💪✨

Hey Brooklyn! Congratulations on your upcoming little one! 🎉 As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to chime in with my recent experience since I was in almost the exact same boat just a few months ago. I was working part-time at a retail chain and also providing IHSS care for my elderly neighbor (about 11 hours/month, around $180). I was SO stressed about the IHSS income reporting - I literally lost sleep over whether it would mess up my SDI benefits! But after going through the whole process, I can absolutely confirm what everyone else is saying: REPORT EVERYTHING and don't worry about that small amount affecting your benefits negatively. When I finally got through to an EDD representative (pro tip: call right at 8am for shorter wait times!), she told me that part-time work + IHSS is probably the most common combination they see for pregnancy claims. She said my thoroughness in reporting all income sources actually made processing my claim faster because there were no surprises or missing information. Your timing is spot-on filing Feb 1st! I did the same thing - filed the day after my last retail shift - and everything went smoothly. Just have those IHSS pay stubs organized and ready because the application will ask for specific details. The best part? I was able to continue my IHSS work during my entire pregnancy disability period since it was way less physically demanding than standing/lifting all day in retail. Different tasks = different disability considerations! You're asking all the right questions and planning ahead like a pro. That preparation is going to make this process so much easier than you're probably expecting. This community has given you incredible advice - you're in great hands! You've absolutely got this, mama! 💪✨

guys, i heard theres a new bill being proposed to overhaul the whole UI system. anyone know more about this? maybe itll fix some of these issues

I'm going through something similar right now! My 2504RE has been pending for about 3 weeks with zero movement. What's really frustrating is that there's no way to check the status or get any kind of timeline. I've been considering trying that claimyr service that @Ravi Kapoor mentioned - seems like actually talking to a human might be the only way to get answers. Has anyone had luck with the EDD chat feature, or is calling really the only option?

I'm going through something similar right now! I got PFL checks while my employer was supposed to cover the difference, and I'm so confused about what to do. Reading through all these responses is really helpful - sounds like the key is definitely getting through to an actual EDD person to document everything properly, not just mailing the checks back. @Micah Franklin - you're definitely not alone in this confusion! The whole system of employer benefits + state benefits is so poorly explained. I hope you get through to someone soon. Let us know what happens! Has anyone tried calling EDD super early in the morning like 7:55am right before they open? I've heard that sometimes works better than calling right at 8am when everyone else is calling too.

I'm dealing with something very similar! Got SDI checks while on employer-paid leave and panicking about the same things. After reading all these responses, I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy AND use certified mail as backup. One thing I learned from my HR department - they said to make sure I document EVERYTHING because sometimes these situations can take months to fully resolve. I'm keeping a spreadsheet with dates, times of calls, reference numbers, etc. Also wanted to mention - if you have a union representative at work, they might be able to help navigate this too. Mine was actually the one who told me about the potential tax form issues @PrinceJoe mentioned. Hang in there! You're being super responsible by handling this proactively instead of just cashing the checks and hoping for the best like some people do.

Just want to echo what others have said about updating your address with EDD! I moved right after my baby was born and almost missed my 1099-G because it went to my old place. The online portal under "Contact Information" is usually the fastest way to update it, but if that's not working (like others mentioned, their site can be glitchy), you can also update it by phone. Also, since you mentioned you're a first-time mom - don't stress too much about the tax part! The amount you'll owe federally isn't usually huge, and like @Nia Wilson mentioned, the Child Tax Credit really helps. Plus there are other new parent deductions you might qualify for. You're being super responsible by thinking about this early instead of scrambling in April like I did! 😊

Quick heads up from someone who just went through this - if you have direct deposit set up with EDD, they sometimes send email notifications when your 1099-G is ready online before the paper copy arrives in the mail. Check your email (including spam folder) around late January! Also, since you mentioned organizing for tax season, I'd recommend creating a folder now for all your 2025 tax documents so you can drop the 1099-G right in there when it arrives. Makes tax time so much less stressful when everything's already organized. And seriously, don't beat yourself up about not knowing this stuff - the EDD materials are not exactly parent-friendly when you're sleep-deprived and trying to figure out benefits while caring for a newborn! 😴

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a very similar situation two years ago, and I want to echo what others have said - you absolutely CAN transition directly from PFL to disability for postpartum depression without returning to work first. The pregnancy-related exception is real and it saved me during one of the most difficult times in my life. A few practical tips from my experience: 1) Start the conversation with your doctor NOW about documenting your symptoms, even while you're still on PFL. This gives them time to observe and note the progression. 2) If possible, get a referral to a perinatal mental health specialist - they're experts at filling out these forms properly. 3) Consider applying online through SDI Online rather than mailing forms - it's faster and you get confirmation of receipt. Most importantly, please be gentle with yourself during this process. PPD is a serious medical condition, not a personal failing, and you deserve all the support available to you. The fact that you're planning ahead and asking these questions shows you're being a responsible parent by taking care of your own health first. ❤️

I'm currently dealing with postpartum anxiety and depression after having my son 3 months ago, and this entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I used my 6 weeks of pregnancy disability, then transitioned to PFL for baby bonding, but my mental health has actually gotten worse over the past few weeks. Reading everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to talk to my doctor about potentially filing for disability once my PFL ends. The information about the pregnancy-related exception is so important - I had no idea this was even an option and was terrified about having to choose between getting help and losing income. Thank you especially to those who shared specific tips about documentation and diagnostic codes. I'm going to start keeping a symptom journal like @Zoe Stavros suggested and ask my doctor about getting a referral to a perinatal mental health specialist as @Luca Russo mentioned. It's been so isolating dealing with this, and finding a community of people who understand both the emotional and practical challenges has been incredibly valuable. PPD/PPA is so much harder than I ever imagined, but knowing there are resources and support available makes me feel less alone. 💙