Congratulations on your new daughter! As someone who works in HR at a small company, I wanted to share some additional perspective on the employer side of things. Since your company has 15 employees, you're covered under California's CFRA but not federal FMLA (which requires 50+ employees). This means your job is protected, but as others mentioned, health insurance continuation isn't guaranteed. When you talk to your boss tomorrow, consider proposing a transition plan - maybe offer to train someone on your key responsibilities or create handover documentation. Small companies really appreciate this kind of proactive approach. Also, since you're planning to split your 8 weeks, give them as much advance notice as possible for the later weeks when your wife returns to work. This helps them plan staffing better. The fact that you're thinking about your employer's needs while also taking advantage of this great benefit shows you're handling this the right way. Your daughter is lucky to have a dad who wants to be so involved in her early months!

Congratulations on your new daughter! As a new dad myself who just completed the PFL baby bonding process a few months ago, I can definitely confirm that fathers are 100% eligible for up to 8 weeks of baby bonding leave. The process was actually much easier than I expected after reading horror stories online. A couple of practical tips that helped me: 1) When you file online through SDI Online, have your employer's Federal EIN number ready (not just their name and address), 2) If you're planning to split your leave, file for your first period but mention in the comments that you may file additional claims later - this helps EDD understand your situation upfront, and 3) Consider downloading the EDD mobile app for tracking your claim status. My claim was approved in about 10 days, and I received my first payment 2 weeks after that. The 65% wage replacement (in my case) made it totally feasible financially. Also, don't underestimate how much your partner will appreciate having you home during those first few weeks - the support makes such a huge difference for everyone's adjustment to parenthood. Best of luck with your claim and enjoy every moment with your little one!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with overlapping dates between my two jobs. I work part-time at a daycare and full-time at a law firm, and I was planning to take PFL from both employers starting the same week in December. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like I need to stagger the dates so there's no overlap? My daycare job pays less but I've been there longer, so I'm wondering if I should start with that claim first and then transition to the law firm claim, or if it matters which order I file them in. Has anyone dealt with overlapping employer situations specifically?

I went through this exact scenario last year with my nursing job and weekend catering gig! The key thing that helped me was creating a timeline document before filing anything. I listed out exactly which dates I wanted benefits from each employer, made sure there were zero overlapping days, and then submitted both claims about 2 weeks apart (not at the same time). One thing I learned the hard way - when you're working two jobs and taking PFL, your employers might have questions about why you're taking leave at different times. I had to explain to both HR departments that I was staggering the claims to maximize my benefits while staying compliant with EDD rules. Most employers are understanding once you explain it properly. Also, keep detailed records of which employer you're claiming benefits from on which specific dates. I made a simple spreadsheet that I could reference if EDD ever had questions. It saved me so much stress knowing I had everything documented clearly!

@Caesar Grant, I totally get your stress! I'm dealing with the same thing right now - my second payment was supposed to hit last week and nothing. What really helped me was checking the "Payment History" section in the online portal first before calling. Sometimes there's a little note that explains what's going on (like "payment processing" or if they need additional documentation). Also, if you haven't already, make sure your bank didn't flag it as suspicious and put a hold on it. I had that happen with my first payment and didn't realize for days. My credit union held it because it was an "unusual large deposit" 🙄 Keep us posted on what you find out! We're all in this together.

@Caesar Grant I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My second PFL payment is about 8 days late and I'm starting to panic too. What I've learned from calling (after waiting 2+ hours on hold) is that sometimes there's a "processing lag" between when they say it's sent and when it actually hits your account. The rep told me to give it 3-5 more business days before panicking. One thing that might help while you wait - if you're really tight on bills, some utility companies and credit card companies will work with you if you call and explain you're waiting on a delayed government benefit payment. I got a 10-day extension on my electric bill just by being honest about the situation. Also, double-check that your direct deposit info matches EXACTLY what's on file with your bank - even something like "Street" vs "St" can cause delays. Hang in there! 💪

To answer your question about the birth certificate - you don't need to wait for the official birth certificate to arrive before applying for PFL. When you file your PFL claim, you can initially provide the hospital discharge papers or other documentation showing you had the baby. You can always provide the birth certificate later once it arrives. And yes, you can typically use PTO to supplement SDI and PFL to get to 100% of your normal wages, but that's entirely up to your employer's policies. Some allow it, some don't, and some require you to use PTO first before state benefits kick in. Definitely check with your HR department.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation! I had a UI overpayment from 2021 that I was still paying off when I went on maternity leave in 2023. Like everyone said, it didn't affect my SDI or PFL at all - got my full benefits on time. One thing I'd add is to screenshot/save all your documentation when you file online. The EDD system can be glitchy and sometimes forms don't save properly. I learned this the hard way when my initial SDI filing seemed to disappear and I had to resubmit everything. Also, set up direct deposit if you haven't already - it's so much faster than waiting for paper checks, especially when you're dealing with newborn chaos! You've got this mama! The hardest part is just the anxiety of not knowing, but sounds like you're being super proactive about getting everything sorted.

I'm currently going through a name change with EDD myself and wanted to share what I've learned! The most important thing is to be consistent with your current legal name across all documents. Since you've already updated Social Security and your employer has your married name, definitely use that on your SDI claim. Here's what worked for me: I called EDD at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday morning and got through in about 25 minutes (way better than the horror stories!). The representative was actually really helpful and updated my name in their system immediately. She told me that as long as I filed my claim with my current legal name and provided supporting documentation, there wouldn't be any issues. For the DE 2501 form, use your married name and in the additional information section, just mention that your previous EDD account was under your maiden name. Upload your marriage certificate as supporting documentation. The rep I spoke with said they see this situation frequently and have processes in place to handle it smoothly. Don't stress too much about creating timing issues - you're being super proactive by addressing this now! The fact that you've already updated your address and contacted your doctor's office shows you're on top of things. Focus on getting ready for your little one instead of worrying about the paperwork. You've got this! 💕

I'm going through pregnancy disability leave planning right now too and wanted to add something I learned from my HR department that might help! When you update your name with EDD, make sure you also notify your employer's payroll/HR team about the potential name discrepancy. My HR rep told me that sometimes there can be delays in wage verification if the names don't match exactly between EDD's records and what the employer has on file. Since you mentioned your work already has your married name, you should be good, but it's worth double-checking that they'll report your wages under your married name when EDD requests verification. Also, if you have direct deposit set up from your old unemployment claim, make sure that bank account is still active and under the right name! I almost forgot about that detail. Wishing you the best with your claim and congratulations on your upcoming little one! 🍼