I just went through this process successfully last month! Here's what finally worked for me after days of frustration: First, try calling the PFL line (1-877-238-4373) at exactly 8:01 AM - not 8:00, but 8:01. I found that calling right at 8:00 gets you caught in the initial rush, but waiting just one minute helped me get through on my third try using this timing. While you're trying to reach them, immediately send a secure message through your EDD online account explaining your situation and your intent to pause benefits. Include specific dates - when you started leave, when you're returning to work, and your planned return to PFL. This creates a paper trail. For your certifications during the work period, continue submitting them but answer honestly about returning to work. Don't skip certifications entirely as that can create complications. The agent I spoke with emphasized that pausing and resuming is totally normal and preserves your full benefit period. I used 5 weeks initially, worked for 6 weeks, then came back to use my remaining 3 weeks with no issues. Download the DE2503F form now and have it ready - you'll need to submit it when you return to work. Also, keep notes of every call attempt with dates/times as this helped show my good faith effort when I finally got through. Wishing your mother-in-law a speedy recovery! This community has been so much more helpful than EDD's actual resources.

I went through this same nightmare trying to pause my PFL benefits earlier this year! The phone system is absolutely broken. What finally worked for me was using the callback feature on the EDD website - you can request a callback instead of staying on hold. It took 3 days but they actually called me back and I was able to get everything sorted. When you do get through, make sure to ask for a confirmation number for your pause request. The rep told me that pausing preserves your remaining benefit weeks indefinitely (as long as it's within the 12-month benefit period), so you can take as much time as you need between your work period and resuming PFL. Also heads up - when you're ready to restart benefits after your mother-in-law recovers, you'll need to file a "continued claim" rather than a new claim. The process is pretty straightforward once you get past the phone system hurdle. Hope your mother-in-law's surgery goes well and she has a smooth recovery!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 As someone who just navigated this process as a self-employed lash technician, I want to echo what everyone else is saying - you're in such a good position already! Since you've been paying SDI for 3 years, switching to W-2 now would honestly be a step backwards. Here's what really sealed the deal for me: I realized that as a self-employed beauty professional, I have something that most employees don't - CONTROL over my work environment and schedule. When morning sickness hit hard around week 8, I could reschedule clients without having to call in sick or use PTO. When I needed to leave early for an emergency prenatal appointment, I didn't need anyone's permission. Also, your existing clients are going to be your biggest asset during this time. I had clients who were so excited about my pregnancy that they started booking months in advance and even brought me snacks during appointments! You can't put a price on that kind of support. The paperwork really isn't as scary as it seems once you dive in. I kept a simple folder with my quarterly tax payments, 1099s, and profit/loss statements. When filing time came, I had everything ready to go. You've already built something amazing - don't let pregnancy nerves make you doubt that! Stick with what's working and enjoy the flexibility that comes with being your own boss during this special time. 💪✨

Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 As a self-employed esthetician who went through this exact situation 18 months ago, I can't stress enough how glad I am that I stayed self-employed! Since you've been paying SDI for 3 years, you're already golden - don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Here's the reality check nobody talks about: switching to W-2 while pregnant is risky business. Even with legal protections, I've seen too many women get their hours cut or face subtle discrimination once they start showing. Meanwhile, your current clients probably already love you and will be genuinely excited about your pregnancy! My biggest piece of advice? Start a "pregnancy benefits" folder RIGHT NOW with all your tax docs, 1099s, and SDI payment records. When I filed my claim, having everything organized made the process so much smoother. Also, the income calculation actually worked in my favor because they use your highest-earning quarter - I had one amazing month doing bridal parties that boosted my benefit rate significantly! The flexibility alone is worth staying self-employed. I could work around morning sickness, take breaks when I needed them, and gradually reduce my client load without asking permission from anyone. Plus, when you're ready to come back after baby, your established client base will still be there waiting for you. You've already built something successful - trust that! The benefits you're entitled to as a self-employed person who's been paying into the system are probably better than starting over somewhere new. You've got this mama! 💪

Congratulations on your new baby and your first PFL payment! I'm a new parent too and went through this exact same confusion just a couple of months ago. Everyone here is absolutely right - PFL payments are completely automatic once you're approved! No weekly certifications needed like with unemployment. You'll receive payments every two weeks for up to 8 weeks without having to do anything else. It was such a huge relief for me because the last thing you want to worry about when you're sleep-deprived with a newborn is missing some kind of certification deadline. Just make sure your direct deposit information is current in your EDD account and keep all your paperwork for your records. The EDD website really is confusing about this - they could definitely make it clearer that once you're approved, it's truly set-and-forget. Enjoy this precious bonding time with your little one! 💕

Congratulations on your baby and first payment! As someone who just finished my 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding last month, I can definitely confirm that payments are automatic - no certifications needed! It was such a relief compared to when I was on unemployment years ago. The payments came like clockwork every two weeks, and I didn't have to think about it at all while adjusting to life with my newborn. One tip that helped me: I set up text alerts from my bank so I'd get notified when each payment hit my account, which gave me peace of mind without having to constantly check. The EDD website really should make this clearer - I remember being just as confused as you are now! Enjoy these precious early weeks with your little one! 💕

For split periods of baby bonding leave, your husband would file an initial claim for the first period. Then for subsequent periods, he'd need to file a "Notice of Reestablished Claim" when he wants to use the remaining weeks. It's still under the same claim, but he needs to notify EDD each time he starts a new period of leave. Make sure he notifies his employer according to their policy as well.

Just wanted to add my experience from having our baby in February 2025! My husband's PFL baby bonding claim was super straightforward - no doctor certification needed at all. He just filled out the DE2508 form online and uploaded a copy of our baby's birth certificate. The whole process took about 10 minutes and he got his first payment within 2 weeks. One tip: make sure he selects the right claim type on the EDD website. There are different options and "baby bonding" is specifically listed as separate from disability claims. Also, he can actually start his claim on any date after the birth - doesn't have to be immediately. We waited a month so I could go back to work part-time first, then he took his 8 weeks. The system is way more flexible than we expected!

As someone who's completely new to this community and California's benefit systems, this entire thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I had no idea that postpartum depression could qualify for disability benefits or that there was such complexity involved in switching between SDI and PFL programs. What really amazes me is how Admin_Masters had the courage to share such a vulnerable and personal situation, and how that openness brought out so much valuable knowledge and support from this community. The combination of detailed procedural guidance, personal recovery stories, and professional insights has created what feels like the most comprehensive guide to navigating these benefits that I've ever seen. It's particularly reassuring to learn that California's system recognizes mental health conditions like PPD as legitimate disabilities deserving of support. The fact that you can pause PFL to address urgent mental health needs through SDI and then resume your bonding time later shows there's real flexibility built into the system - even if it's not immediately obvious how to access it. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences so openly. Admin_Masters, your willingness to document the entire journey and provide that crucial update with the successful resolution will undoubtedly help so many other new parents who find themselves in similar situations. This is exactly the kind of peer support that makes navigating complex bureaucratic systems during vulnerable times so much more manageable. Wishing you continued strength in your recovery! 🌻

As someone who's completely new to this community and California's benefit systems, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! I had absolutely no idea that postpartum depression could qualify for disability benefits or that there was such flexibility to transition between SDI and PFL programs when unexpected mental health challenges arise. What strikes me most is how Admin_Masters had the courage to share such a vulnerable situation during an already difficult time, and how that openness created space for this community to rally with both practical guidance and genuine emotional support. Reading through all the detailed responses - from the step-by-step procedural advice to the personal recovery stories to the professional insights - has been like getting a masterclass in navigating these complex systems. It's particularly meaningful to learn that California recognizes mental health conditions like PPD as legitimate disabilities deserving of the same support as physical conditions. For someone new to understanding these programs, knowing that you can pause PFL to address urgent mental health needs through SDI and then resume bonding time later shows there's real flexibility built into the system, even when it's not immediately obvious. The fact that this thread now serves as such a comprehensive resource for other new parents facing similar challenges really demonstrates the power of peer support in navigating bureaucratic systems during vulnerable times. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences so openly - this kind of knowledge sharing fills such important gaps that official documentation often misses. Admin_Masters, your follow-up with the successful resolution will undoubtedly help countless others who find themselves in similar situations. Wishing you continued healing and recovery! 🌸