Hi Henrietta! Welcome to the community! 🎉 I'm new here too but just went through this exact process 6 months ago as a county employee with my first baby. One thing that really helped me that I don't think anyone mentioned yet - when you apply for SDI tomorrow, make sure you answer the questions about whether you plan to return to work very carefully. Since you don't qualify for FMLA job protection yet, being clear about your intent to return can be important for your county's records. Also, I'd recommend calling your county's benefits office (not HR) if they have a separate one. Sometimes the benefits specialists are way more knowledgeable about SDI than regular HR staff. They might also know about any county-specific programs that could help supplement your income. Quick tip for the application: when it asks about your last day worked, make sure that matches exactly what you told your supervisor/HR. Any discrepancies can cause delays in processing. The anxiety about money is so real - I was stressed about the same things! But once you get through the initial application and get your first payment, the process becomes much more predictable. You're being so smart to get organized ahead of time rather than scrambling at the last minute like I did! Good luck tomorrow! Feel free to update us on how it goes - this community is amazing for ongoing support! 💕

Hi Henrietta! Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through this whole SDI process earlier this year as a first-time mom working for a municipal government. Everyone has given you such thorough advice already, but I wanted to add one thing that really saved me stress: when you apply tomorrow, take note of the "disability start date" you enter. This should be your first day of leave (today was your last work day, so tomorrow would be your disability start date). Getting this date right is crucial because it affects when your 7-day waiting period starts counting. Also, since you mentioned being worried about income - definitely ask your county about using accrued sick time during that unpaid waiting period. My employer let me use sick time to cover those first 7 days, which really helped bridge the gap before SDI payments started. One more tip: after you submit your application, you'll get an email confirmation. Print it out or save a PDF copy! I needed to reference mine multiple times throughout the process, especially when following up with my doctor's office about their portion of the paperwork. The whole system is honestly pretty confusing, but you're being so proactive by getting all this information ahead of time. That puts you way ahead of where I was! This community has been such a lifesaver for navigating these programs. Best of luck with your application tomorrow! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this financial stress - it's absolutely exhausting waiting for EDD payments when bills are piling up! I went through almost the exact same timeline last year. Filed in early January, got my DE 429D notice in late February, and then received payment 7 business days later via direct deposit. The computation notice is definitely a great sign that you're in the home stretch! While you're waiting those final days, I'd recommend calling EDD at exactly 8:00 AM when they open (much better success rate) and try the "2-1-1" method others mentioned. Also set up text alerts from your bank so you'll know immediately when the deposit hits. Since your savings are drained, definitely look into local emergency assistance programs - call 211 to find resources in your area for emergency rent/utility help while you wait. And don't forget to file your PFL claim (DE 2501FP) about 1-2 weeks before your disability ends to avoid a payment gap. Based on everyone's experiences here, you should see that lump sum payment covering all those weeks very soon - probably within the next week! The waiting is brutal but you're so close to the finish line. Hang in there! 💪

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and your post really resonates with me! I filed my maternity disability claim in early February and just got my DE 429D notice a few days ago. The financial anxiety has been overwhelming - I've been living off credit cards and help from my parents while waiting for any sign of progress. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope though! It sounds like most people are getting paid within 5-10 business days after receiving that computation notice, which means we should both see relief very soon. I've been following the advice here about setting up bank text alerts and trying to call at exactly 8:05 AM when EDD opens. The fact that there's no clear timeline information anywhere on EDD's website is so frustrating - this community thread has been more helpful than anything official I could find! Based on everyone's experiences, it really does seem like the DE 429D notice is the signal that we're finally in the home stretch. Hang in there! From what everyone is saying, that lump sum covering all those weeks should hit your account any day now. We've survived the worst part of the waiting game! 🤞

I went through almost the exact same thing at 29 weeks pregnant! My company gave us literally 2 hours notice before shutting down permanently. I was terrified about losing my maternity benefits, but it actually worked out fine. The most important thing I learned: being unemployed does NOT affect your SDI eligibility at all. You paid into the system for 7 years - that money is YOURS. The state disability insurance comes from your previous earnings, not your current employment status. Here's what saved me time and stress: 1. I applied for both unemployment AND SDI on the same day (unemployment for immediate income, SDI to start 4 weeks before due date) 2. I printed out my wage statements from my online portal before my company's systems went dark 3. I had my doctor's office put a rush on the medical certification One thing that surprised me - I actually got my first unemployment payment faster than I expected, which helped bridge the gap until SDI kicked in. Just remember to stop certifying for unemployment the week your disability benefits start. You're going to be okay! The timing is scary but the safety net exists for exactly this reason. Focus on your health and that baby - the paperwork stuff will sort itself out! 🤗

Oh honey, I'm so sorry this happened to you! What terrible timing, but please don't panic - you're going to be okay! I went through something similar when my employer suddenly filed for bankruptcy at 34 weeks. I was absolutely terrified, but it turns out that being laid off actually doesn't affect your SDI/PFL eligibility AT ALL. These are state programs that you've been paying into for 7 years through your paychecks - think of it as insurance you've already bought and paid for. Here's what I wish someone had told me right away: - Apply for SDI online ASAP (even before you're technically disabled) to get the paperwork started - Get your final paystub and any employment documentation before your company completely disappears - Your benefits are calculated based on your previous earnings, not current employment status - The timing actually works out okay since you weren't planning to start leave for a few more weeks anyway The hardest part for me was just not knowing what to expect, but once I understood that my job status didn't matter for disability benefits, it was such a relief. You've EARNED these benefits - they can't take them away from you! Take care of yourself and that baby. The state systems aren't perfect but they do work, and you're going to get through this! 💕

Hi Ava! I just went through this exact situation 3 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. I was on SDI for hyperemesis gravidarum and my little one decided to arrive 4 weeks early! Here's what I learned: the moment you give birth, your SDI claim automatically needs to shift from "pregnancy complications" to "postpartum recovery." You can't stay on the pregnancy portion after delivery - that would technically be incorrect since you're no longer pregnant with complications. I called EDD from my hospital room about 18 hours after delivery (once I was feeling more alert). The representative was super helpful and explained that they see this situation constantly. She updated my claim immediately over the phone and told me what to expect next. My recovery period was 6 weeks for vaginal delivery, then I seamlessly transitioned to PFL bonding. The weekly benefit amount stayed exactly the same throughout - no changes there! One thing that really helped: I had my partner write down all our important info (my SSN, claim number, baby's birth details) on a note card that we kept with our hospital bag. When it came time to make the call, everything was right there and easy to reference. Your doctor's office will handle the paperwork side - they're used to this process. Mine had the updated forms submitted to EDD within 2 days of delivery without me even having to ask. You're going to do great! The fact that you're thinking about this ahead of time shows you're well prepared. The transition is much smoother than it seems when you're pregnant and worried about everything! 💕

Hi Ava! I'm a new mom who went through this exact transition just 4 months ago, and I wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease your worries! I was on SDI for severe pregnancy complications and my baby arrived 2.5 weeks before my claim was set to end. Like you, I was terrified of messing up my benefits, but it turned out to be much smoother than expected. Here's what happened: I called EDD within 12 hours of giving birth (my husband made the call while I was recovering). The representative immediately converted my claim from pregnancy disability to postpartum recovery - no paperwork needed from my end! My doctor's office automatically sent the updated DE2501 form with my delivery date within 24 hours. The key things that worked for me: • Called EDD ASAP after delivery (don't wait!) • Had all my claim info written down and ready • Let my doctor's office know I'd need the updated forms submitted quickly • Got 6 weeks of recovery at the same benefit rate • Received my PFL application notice automatically about a week before recovery ended The transition was completely seamless - no gaps in payments at all. Your weekly benefit amount will stay the same throughout SDI recovery and PFL bonding. You're being so smart by planning ahead! Having all your EDD info organized and ready will make everything go smoothly when baby arrives. Don't stress too much - this is a very common situation and EDD handles it routinely. You've got this mama! 💙

Congratulations on your baby boy! 🎉 I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me. Reading everyone's experiences has made me realize I need to be way more proactive about the SDI to PFL transition than I originally thought. It sounds like the consensus is clear: apply for PFL baby bonding around week 4 postpartum through the DE2508 form, and definitely don't wait for the 6-week checkup despite what doctors might suggest. The fact that so many people have experienced payment gaps because they assumed the transition would be automatic is honestly terrifying when you're already dealing with all the expenses of a new baby. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and setting phone reminders for myself. It's amazing how much more useful these real-world experiences are compared to trying to navigate the confusing EDD website or getting incomplete advice from healthcare providers. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - you're literally saving future parents from financial stress during an already overwhelming time! 💕

Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy! 🎉 I'm currently 34 weeks pregnant with my first and this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable - I've been so anxious about navigating the EDD system postpartum and you've all given me such a clear roadmap! The consistent advice about applying for PFL baby bonding around week 4 postpartum (instead of waiting for the 6-week checkup) is going to save me so much stress and potentially avoid those scary payment gaps everyone mentioned. I'm shocked that healthcare providers keep giving advice that leads to benefit interruptions - it really shows how disconnected the medical system is from the actual administrative realities new parents face. I'm definitely setting multiple phone reminders right now: - Week 3 postpartum: Start gathering documents - Week 4: File DE2508 form through SDI Online - Select "immediately after current SDI ends" option Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences, especially the timing mistakes and lessons learned. This community support is exactly what overwhelmed new parents need! I'm bookmarking this thread as my go-to reference guide. Wishing you the smoothest transition possible with your benefits and lots of sweet moments with your little one! 💕