I'm a new mom who just went through this exact situation! I was laid off when I was 6 months pregnant and successfully received both disability and PFL benefits. You absolutely can qualify while unemployed as long as you paid SDI during your base period. A few things that really helped me: 1) I filed about 5 weeks after delivery and used the explanation: "I was unemployed at time of delivery and was unaware that I could receive disability benefits while not working. I received conflicting information about eligibility requirements." 2) Make sure your doctor clearly marks that you had a c-section on the DE2501 form - you're entitled to 8 weeks recovery vs 6 for vaginal delivery. 3) File your PFL claim about a week before your disability ends to avoid payment gaps. 4) Upload all documents (birth certificate, medical records) directly through the online portal - it's much faster than mailing. The whole process took about 3-4 weeks from filing to receiving my first payment. Even though you might lose some of the pre-birth weeks due to late filing, you should still be able to get the 8 weeks post-birth disability plus 8 weeks PFL bonding. Don't let the paperwork stress you out - file as soon as possible given the 49-day deadline! Congratulations on your baby girl! 💕

I'm currently 7 months pregnant and just got laid off last week, so this thread is exactly what I needed to see! Reading everyone's experiences has been so reassuring - I had no idea I could still qualify for disability and PFL benefits while unemployed as long as I paid SDI during my base period. The timing information everyone shared is incredibly valuable. I'm going to get all my paperwork ready now and have my doctor prepare the medical portions ahead of time so I can file immediately after delivery. The 49-day deadline is definitely something I wouldn't have known about otherwise. Dylan, your question has probably helped so many expectant moms in similar situations! I hope your application goes smoothly. Based on everyone's advice, it sounds like you should definitely file today given the timing constraints. The fact that you had a c-section means you're entitled to the full 8 weeks of recovery, so make sure your doctor emphasizes that on the medical forms. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and practical tips! This community support is amazing. Wishing you all the best with your beautiful baby girl! 💕

I feel your pain! I'm dealing with a similar nightmare trying to get through about my PFL claim for caring for my partner after their surgery. It's been 6 weeks since I submitted everything and still nothing but "claim received" status online. What really gets me is how they make this process so difficult when we're already dealing with family medical emergencies. Like we don't have enough stress already! I've been surviving on credit cards while waiting for benefits that should have started weeks ago. One thing I learned from calling my local EDD office (found the number buried on their website) is that caregiving claims sometimes get flagged if there are any discrepancies between the dates on your paperwork and what you put on your initial application. Might be worth double-checking all your dates match exactly. Also, if you have any union rep or HR person at work, sometimes they have direct contacts at EDD that can help escalate cases. Worth asking if you haven't already. This whole system is designed to wear us down but don't give up - you deserve these benefits!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare - it sounds exactly like what I went through last year with my PFL claim for my mom's cancer care. The constant calling with no response is absolutely soul-crushing when you're already stressed about family and finances. One thing that finally worked for me was calling the EDD Technical Support line (1-833-978-2511) instead of the main number. They're supposed to help with website/account issues, but sometimes they can see what's happening with your claim status and transfer you directly to the right department without going through the main queue. Also, document EVERYTHING - dates you called, times, any confirmation numbers, etc. If you end up needing to escalate to your state representative or file a complaint, having that paper trail helps a lot. I actually ended up filing a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs when my claim hit the 8-week mark, and suddenly EDD called me back within 3 days. Hang in there - I know it feels hopeless but you WILL get through this. Your dad is lucky to have someone fighting so hard for his care.

Congratulations on getting those extra 6 weeks approved! That's a huge win, especially given how difficult it can be to navigate federal leave policies. I'm currently dealing with something similar as a new federal employee - it's so frustrating how we fall through the cracks between state and federal systems. Your post has been really educational for me to understand what options might be available. Enjoy that precious bonding time with your baby, and definitely follow the advice about getting everything in writing! It sounds like you really advocated well for yourself and your family.

This is such a great update thread! As someone who's been through the federal employee parental leave maze myself, I'm so happy you were able to secure those extra 6 weeks. It really shows the importance of being your own advocate and not giving up when the first answer is "no" or vague. For other federal employees reading this - Alejandro's experience really highlights that while we don't qualify for state programs like CA PFL, there ARE options available through our agencies. It might take some persistence and formal requests, but many supervisors do have discretion to approve additional unpaid leave. The key seems to be making formal written requests and being specific about your needs. The advice about getting everything in writing cannot be overstated - I've seen too many situations where verbal agreements fell through when personnel changed or memories got fuzzy. Make sure you have documentation of the leave approval, the duration, and the job protection guarantees. Enjoy every moment of that extra bonding time with your little one! 💙

Just a heads up, there's been some changes to the PFL policy recently. Make sure you're looking at the most up-to-date info on the official website. I almost messed up my application because I was using old guidelines 😅

I'm in the same boat right now - applied about 10 days ago and still waiting for that callback! The anxiety is real 😰 I've been checking my online account daily but no updates yet. Reading through these comments is actually making me feel better knowing I'm not alone in this. @Zainab Abdulrahman your checklist is gold, I'm definitely going to start keeping a log. Has anyone tried calling the main number directly or is it always just endless hold times?

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the waiting is absolutely brutal when you need that money for bills! I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago and what finally worked for me was a combination of things: I called my state assembly member's office and they actually have staff who specialize in helping with EDD issues. They can't magically speed things up, but they can at least get you real information about what's holding up your claim. Also, make sure you check that your employer submitted their portion correctly - that was actually my holdup and nobody told me for weeks! In the meantime, if you're really struggling with bills, see if your local 211 has any emergency assistance programs. Hang in there - it WILL come through eventually, even though the system is absolutely broken right now. 💪

I'm dealing with a similar delay right now - going on 4 weeks with my PFL claim. What's really helped me is keeping detailed records of every interaction and submission. I created a simple spreadsheet with dates, times, and what I submitted or who I spoke with. Also, if you haven't already, try contacting your local state senator's office in addition to assembly members - they often have constituent services that can help with state agency issues. I know it's incredibly stressful when bills are piling up, but from what I've seen in this community, persistence really does pay off. Keep pushing and don't give up! 💪