One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that your husband should check if he has any other insurance coverage that might coordinate with PFL benefits. Some self-employed people have short-term disability insurance or other policies that could affect how much he receives from EDD. Also, if he's planning to take time off in chunks, it might be worth mapping out a rough timeline now based on your business needs and his client schedule. That way when the baby arrives, you're not scrambling to figure out the logistics while dealing with everything else! And definitely start gathering all his income documentation now - tax returns, 1099s, bank statements, invoices - so it's all organized when he needs to file. The more prepared he is upfront, the smoother the process will be.

As someone who just went through this process with my self-employed partner, I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped us: **Start the SDI Elective Coverage verification early**: Even though your husband has been paying for 2 years, EDD sometimes takes time to verify self-employed coverage status. You can check his coverage online at EDD.ca.gov or call to confirm before the baby arrives. **Consider a "trial run" with clients**: My partner did a practice week off about a month before our due date - set up the auto-responder, handed off urgent projects, etc. It helped identify any gaps in his handoff process and made clients more comfortable with the real leave. **Weekly benefit estimate**: The calculation can be tricky with fluctuating income. Generally it's about 60-70% of his average weekly wage from his highest quarter, maxing out at around $1,540/week (2024 rates). If his income varies a lot, it's worth calculating a few scenarios. **Documentation backup**: Keep digital copies of EVERYTHING in a dedicated folder - bank statements, 1099s, invoices, client contracts. EDD sometimes requests additional proof weeks after the initial application. The intermittent leave option is great for maintaining client relationships, but just remember each "chunk" needs to be at least a full week and properly certified. My partner ended up doing 2 weeks right after birth, then 3 weeks at 2 months, then the final 3 weeks at 6 months - worked perfectly for his business cycle. You've got this! The fact that you're planning ahead puts you way ahead of the game.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet - you should apply for your Pregnancy Disability Leave first (using form DE2501), which gives you 4 weeks before your due date and 6-8 weeks after delivery (depending on vaginal vs c-section delivery). THEN you transition to PFL baby bonding for 8 weeks using form DE2508. Both are available to part-time workers who have paid into SDI. Your HR department is either confused about company benefits vs. state benefits, or they're deliberately misleading you. Either way, go directly through EDD's website to apply. Also, document all conversations with HR in case you need to file a complaint later.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress during your pregnancy! Your HR department is absolutely wrong about part-time workers not qualifying for California PFL benefits. I work in employment law and see this misinformation all the time - employers often confuse their own company policies with state-mandated benefits. Since you've been paying into SDI (which you confirmed), you're entitled to both Pregnancy Disability Leave AND Paid Family Leave regardless of your part-time status. Here's what you need to know: - Apply directly through EDD, not through your employer - Your company cannot block or deny your state benefits - Start with Pregnancy Disability Leave (Form DE2501) for birth/recovery - Then transition to PFL (Form DE2508) for baby bonding - Total you could get up to 16-18 weeks of benefits For job protection, since you have 35+ employees and worked 1,250+ hours, you should qualify under CFRA too. I'd recommend contacting the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) if your employer continues to provide false information or retaliates. Don't let them intimidate you - these are YOUR rights!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One thing I wanted to add is that you should also check if you qualify for CalFresh (food stamps) while you're waiting for unemployment to kick in. The income limits are higher when you have a new baby, and it can really help bridge the gap financially. Also, some counties have emergency assistance programs specifically for new parents who've lost employment. I found out about these through 211 (you can call 2-1-1 or visit 211.org) and they connected me with local resources I didn't even know existed. The combination of unemployment benefits plus these temporary assistance programs really helped me get through those first few months. Don't be afraid to use every resource available - you've worked and paid into these systems, so you absolutely deserve the support!

This has been such an incredibly informative and supportive thread! As someone who works in HR, I wanted to add a few additional resources that might help. The California Labor Commissioner's Office also handles pregnancy discrimination complaints and might be faster than DFEH in some cases. You can file online at dir.ca.gov. Also, when you apply for unemployment, make sure to mention that you were on "protected pregnancy disability leave" when terminated - this specific language can help expedite your claim since it clearly establishes the protected nature of your leave. One more tip: if you're concerned about childcare costs affecting your job search, some counties offer subsidized childcare for unemployed parents actively seeking work. Check with your local Department of Social Services. You're absolutely right that this thread has become an amazing resource - I'm bookmarking it to share with other parents who find themselves in similar situations. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this transition!

This is why we need to overhaul the entire unemployment system. It's not equipped to handle modern workforce needs.

I'm dealing with a similar issue right now! My payments have been delayed for over two weeks. One thing that helped me was checking if there's a "stop payment indicator" on your account - sometimes EDD puts a temporary hold without telling you. Also, make sure your address and banking info are still correct in the system. I've seen cases where payments get returned because of outdated info and then everything gets stuck in limbo. Keep us posted on what works for you!

Have you checked your online account? Sometimes they update the status there before they actually contact you. Might give you some insight into whats going on with your application.

pro tip: if u can, go to ur local edd office in person. sometimes face-to-face works better than tryna deal w/ this stuff online or over the phone