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! 🎉

Wow, this thread is giving me so much hope! I'm due in May and have been absolutely dreading dealing with EDD based on all the horror stories I've heard from mom friends. The fact that they finally have a functioning online system feels like a miracle. Quick question for everyone - I work for a small company (only 8 employees) and my HR person has never dealt with PFL claims before. She's kind of freaking out about the whole process. Has anyone had experience with smaller employers who aren't familiar with the system? Are there any resources or guides that might help her understand what she needs to do on the employer side? Also, I'm planning to take my full 8 weeks of baby bonding leave right after my pregnancy disability ends. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like timing the transition is crucial. Should I submit my PFL application before I even give birth, or wait until I'm ready to transition from disability to bonding leave? Don't want to mess this up! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info that's impossible to find on the official EDD website! 🙏

This is such great news! I'm currently pregnant with my second baby and remembering the absolute nightmare of trying to get information about my first PFL claim in 2023. I literally had to take time off work just to sit on hold with EDD for hours, only to get disconnected half the time. The fact that I can now see claim status, payment amounts, and processing timelines online is going to be life-changing. I was already dreading going through that whole process again, but this gives me so much hope that it'll actually be manageable this time around. One thing I'm curious about - does the new online system also show your claim history? Like if I want to reference what happened with my previous PFL claim from 2023, can I see those details? It would be really helpful for planning purposes to see exactly how much I received and when the payments came through last time. Thanks @PixelPrincess for posting about this - I never would have known about the updates otherwise! Definitely going to check out the online portal before my next claim. 🙌

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just went through a name change after marriage and the EDD system is so confusing. One thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of every attempt to contact them - dates, times, reference numbers if you get any. Also, I found out from a friend who works in benefits that you can sometimes get faster service by calling right when they open at 8am or during lunch hours when call volume might be lower. The Claimyr service mentioned above sounds promising too. Make sure to document everything in case you need to file an appeal later. The stress of dealing with this while pregnant is awful - sending you good vibes that you get it resolved quickly!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The key thing that finally worked for me was being super persistent with the phone calls AND having all my documents ready before I called. Here's what I learned: 1) Call EDD at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - you'll get through faster, 2) Have your marriage certificate, old and new IDs, and SSN ready before you dial, 3) When you get through, specifically ask for the "name change department" - don't let them transfer you around, 4) Get a confirmation number for your name change request and write it down! The whole process took about 3 weeks once I got through to the right person. For your PFL claim, definitely use both names on all forms like "Anastasia [Maiden Name] Popov" until it's fully updated in their system. Also, give your employer's HR a heads up about the name situation so they're not surprised when processing your leave paperwork. Don't give up - you've got this mama! 💪

I had my baby last year and its so confusing the way everything works in California!!! I thought PFL and CFRA were the same thing but they're totally different right? And then theres SDI too? Why do they make this all so complicated for new parents????

Just want to add my support here - you're absolutely in the right! I went through something similar 3 years ago and my company initially tried the same argument. What helped me was getting everything in writing from them about WHY they were denying my request, then responding with the specific CFRA regulations that others have mentioned here. Once I had their denial documented, it became really clear they were violating state law. Also, don't forget that during your baby bonding leave, you'll be eligible for PFL benefits (about 60-70% of your wages) even though you've been on disability for months. The PFL and CFRA eligibility windows run independently. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you - 7 years with the company means you've definitely earned these rights!

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!