I'm a new member here and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant with my first baby and have been stressing about understanding all the different leave options. Reading everyone's experiences has really clarified things for me. Just to confirm what I'm understanding from all the responses: California PFL for baby bonding is 8 weeks (not 12-14), it's separate from pregnancy disability leave, both parents can take their own 8 weeks (even simultaneously), and you can split it up however you want within the first year. Is that right? One question I haven't seen addressed - does the 8 weeks have to be used for actual "bonding" activities, or can it be used for things like childcare while your partner works, doctor appointments, or just general parenting duties? I'm trying to figure out the best way to use this time strategically once my baby arrives. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences - it's such a relief to get real-world advice from people who have actually been through this process!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently navigated this same confusion! Your coworker is definitely mixing things up - California PFL for baby bonding is still 8 weeks, period. There hasn't been any increase to 12-14 weeks at the state level. What might be happening is she's thinking of the TOTAL time off when you combine everything: pregnancy disability (typically 6-8 weeks after delivery) + PFL bonding (8 weeks) + any employer-provided benefits. When you add it all up, you could be looking at 14-20+ weeks total, but the actual PFL portion remains 8 weeks. I had my baby in September and went through the exact same transition from disability to PFL. My advice: start your PFL application about 2 weeks before your disability period ends to avoid any payment gaps. The online system worked fine for me - much better than trying to call! Also, definitely explore splitting those 8 weeks if it works for your situation. I took 6 weeks immediately after disability ended, then saved 2 weeks for when my baby was older and I needed a mental health break. Having that flexibility was amazing!

I just went through this exact same situation! Yes, you definitely need your SSN on every single page of the DE2501F form - even Parts C, D, and E that don't apply to bonding claims. I made the mistake of leaving it off a couple pages thinking they weren't relevant and had to resubmit everything. For the hospital verification letter and other attachments, I wrote my SSN in the top right corner in small print. The EDD representative I finally got through to said they need it for their scanning and filing system. It's tedious but saves you weeks of delays. Also, make copies of everything before sending! Good luck with your bonding leave - such an exciting time! 🍼

I'm going through this same process right now and honestly, the SSN requirement is such a headache! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's super helpful to know I'm not the only one confused by this. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like the safest approach is definitely to put your SSN on every single page, even if it feels redundant. I'd rather be overly cautious than deal with delays or having to resubmit everything. @QuantumQuest and @GalaxyGazer, your detailed explanations are gold! Question for those who've been through this - did you write your SSN by hand on the hospital documents, or did you add it digitally before printing? I want to make sure I'm doing this the most professional way possible.

Protip: If you can, try calling right when they open. I got through pretty quick that way. Also, be super nice to the person who answers - they deal with angry people all day and being kind can go a long way!

I went through this exact process about 6 months ago! Here's what worked for me: call first thing in the morning (around 8:05 AM), have your social security number and original claim details ready, and don't hang up even if you get that "high call volume" message. Also, if your situation hasn't changed much from your original claim, mention that upfront - it seemed to speed things up for me. The whole process took about 10 days once I got through to someone. You got this! 💪

As someone who just went through this entire process last year, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help! First, create a calendar reminder to check your SDI Online account weekly once your claim is approved. Even though payments are automatic, I caught an issue early because I was monitoring regularly. Second, start gathering documents for your PFL application NOW - you'll need your baby's birth certificate or hospital record of birth, and sometimes getting these documents takes longer than expected when you're juggling a newborn. Third, consider opening a separate savings account for your maternity leave funds. EDD payments come on a different schedule than regular paychecks, and having everything in one place helps with budgeting during this transition. Lastly, don't be afraid to reach out to your local EDD office if you run into issues. Sometimes the in-person staff can resolve problems faster than the phone system. You've got this! The process seems overwhelming at first, but once you understand the flow from SDI to PFL, it becomes much more manageable.

I'm a new mom who just finished this whole process a few months ago, and I want to echo what others have said - the SDI part really is mostly automatic once your doctor submits the initial claim! But here's something I wish someone had told me: when you get your EDD debit card, set up text alerts immediately. I almost missed a payment issue because I wasn't checking regularly enough. Also, regarding the transition to PFL - I found it helpful to call EDD about a week after submitting my baby bonding application just to confirm it was received and processing. Yes, the wait times are brutal, but it gave me peace of mind during an already stressful time. One more tip: if you're planning to take your full 8 weeks of baby bonding time, you can split it up! I took 6 weeks consecutively right after my disability ended, then saved my last 2 weeks for when my partner went back to work. Just make sure to indicate this on your application. The flexibility really helped our family transition. Congratulations on your pregnancy and don't stress too much about the paperwork - once you get through the initial setup, the system actually works pretty well!

I went through something very similar with my PFL claim last year - had a hyphen missing in my last name and it turned into a 6-week nightmare! Here's what I learned that might help you: 1. The DE1326C form that Vince mentioned is absolutely the way to go, but make sure you also include a brief cover letter explaining the discrepancy and requesting expedited processing due to your newborn. 2. When you visit the EDD office tomorrow, ask to speak with a "Disability Insurance supervisor" specifically - regular staff often can't make these corrections but supervisors have more system access. 3. If the in-person visit doesn't work, try calling the PFL-specific line (1-877-238-4373) instead of the main unemployment line. It's usually less busy and the reps are more familiar with bonding leave issues. 4. Keep a log of every interaction - date, time, who you spoke with, what they told you. This helps if you need to escalate later. The certified mail was smart! You should get tracking confirmation when they receive it. Don't let them tell you it's "impossible to fix" - it's tedious but definitely fixable. Hang in there mama, you'll get through this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress on top of having a newborn! I went through a similar name issue with EDD last year (they had an extra "e" at the end of my first name somehow). What worked for me was actually a combination of several approaches mentioned here: First, I did submit the DE1326C form like others suggested, but I also called my state senator's office (not just assembly member). They have a constituent services team that specifically handles EDD issues and they were incredibly responsive. Within 48 hours of contacting them, someone from EDD called ME directly to resolve it. One thing I learned is that name discrepancies often happen when your employer's payroll system doesn't match what you put on your original EDD account. You might want to check with your HR department to see exactly how they have your name in their system - if it matches the EDD version, that could explain how this started. Also, while you're waiting for resolution, make sure to document everything about your lost income due to this delay. Sometimes they can provide additional compensation for processing delays that weren't your fault, especially when it involves a newborn. Don't let them just say "sorry for the inconvenience" - this is real money you need for your baby! Keep us posted on how your office visit goes tomorrow! 🤞