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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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I'm so glad you got confirmation from EDD! Just wanted to add that I went through something similar (medical complications after birth) and the bonding leave was absolutely worth fighting for. Those 8 weeks were so precious for recovery and connecting with my baby after everything we'd been through. Make sure to take care of yourself during this time - you've been through a lot! And don't hesitate to reach out if you run into any snags with the paperwork process. This community has been super helpful for navigating all the EDD chaos.
Thank you so much for the encouragement! It's really comforting to hear from someone who went through similar medical complications. I'm definitely looking forward to that bonding time - it feels like I've missed out on so much during these months of recovery. This community has been amazing and I'm so grateful for all the support and advice everyone has shared. It's made navigating this whole process so much less overwhelming!
I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! My baby is 9 months old and I'm finally transitioning off disability next month after complications from a C-section that got infected. Reading through all these responses has been so reassuring - I was really worried I'd miss out on bonding leave entirely. It's crazy how the EDD website doesn't make this clearer! For anyone else in this boat, I found it helpful to call my case worker directly (the number is on your disability paperwork) rather than the main EDD line. She was able to walk me through the transition process and confirmed the 12-month rule too. Hang in there mama - we've got this! 💪
Oh wow, it's so reassuring to hear from someone else going through the exact same thing! The C-section infection complications sound awful - I'm sorry you had to deal with that on top of everything else. That's a great tip about calling the case worker directly, I didn't even think to try that number instead of the main line. It really is frustrating how unclear the EDD website is about these timing issues, especially when you're already dealing with medical stress and recovery. Thanks for sharing your experience and the encouragement - it really helps to know we're not alone in navigating this crazy system! 💕
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idk if this helps but i had to deal with pfl last year and they kept loosing my docs 🤦♂️ make sure u get confirmation when u send stuff in
Been through this twice now - the key is to be proactive! When they send that vague "additional information" request, call them ASAP to get specifics. In my experience, they usually want employment verification (like a letter from HR), medical documentation if it's health-related, and sometimes wage statements. Also, send everything via certified mail or their online portal if they have one - regular mail has a habit of "disappearing" with government agencies. Good luck! 🤞
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I'm going through a very similar situation right now! I was laid off in January while on SDI for surgery recovery, and just successfully transitioned to UI last month. Here's what worked for me: The most important thing is timing - apply for UI the EXACT week your SDI ends. Don't wait even a few days because it can complicate things. Also, when you fill out the UI application, there's a section where you can explain your circumstances. I wrote something like: "I was scheduled to be laid off on [date] but was unable to work due to medical disability from [start date] to [end date]. I am now medically cleared to return to work as of [clearance date]." Your base period wages from before you got sick are what matter for UI eligibility, not the disability payments. Since you were earning good wages for 3+ years, you should definitely qualify. One last tip: if you run into any issues during the process, don't give up! Sometimes it takes talking to 2-3 different EDD representatives to find one who really understands these transition cases. Good luck!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I'm so glad to connect with someone who just went through this successfully. I'm definitely going to use your suggested wording for the application - that explains the situation perfectly without being too wordy. My SDI should end around June 15th, so I'll mark my calendar to apply for UI that exact week. It's such a relief to know that others have made this transition work. Thank you for sharing your experience and the encouragement - it really means a lot when you're feeling overwhelmed by all the bureaucracy!
I'm currently dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was laid off in April while on SDI for pregnancy complications, and my disability benefits end next month. Reading everyone's experiences has given me so much more confidence about applying for UI. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - does anyone know if there are any special considerations for pregnancy-related disability claims when transitioning to UI? My HR department mentioned something about "constructive separation" since my layoff happened while I was out, but I'm not sure if that changes anything about the base period calculations or application process. Also, for those who successfully made this transition - how long did it typically take from application to first UI payment? I'm trying to plan my finances accordingly since there might be a gap between my last SDI payment and first UI payment. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so valuable to hear from people who actually went through this rather than trying to decipher the EDD website alone!
Welcome to the community! I'm new here too but have been following this thread closely as I'm in a similar boat. From what I've gathered from everyone's experiences, pregnancy-related disability shouldn't be treated any differently than other medical disabilities when transitioning to UI - the key is still having that work history in your base period before you went out on leave. Regarding the "constructive separation" - that actually sounds like it might work in your favor! It means your employer is acknowledging that your employment ended due to the layoff, not because you were unable to work. Definitely keep any documentation about that. As for timing, it sounds like most people here got their first UI payment within 2-3 weeks of applying (assuming no complications), but it's smart to plan for potential delays. Maybe keep a small buffer in your budget just in case? I'm planning to apply for UI in about a month when my SDI ends, and this thread has been such a lifesaver for understanding the process. Good luck with your application!
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Hey everyone! I'm brand new to this community but have been following this thread closely as I'm in almost the exact same situation as the original poster. Just had my first baby 5 weeks ago and planning to return to work part-time next month. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful - especially hearing from people like @Dmitry Sokolov and @Rami Samuels who are currently making intermittent PFL work successfully. It's so reassuring to know this is definitely possible! I'm planning to work 3 days a week (probably Mon/Wed/Fri) and use PFL for the other 2 days. Based on what I've learned here, my action plan is: 1. Meet with HR this week to get our part-time arrangement officially documented 2. Call EDD before filing online to get guidance on the intermittent sections 3. File my claim about a week before my first PFL day 4. Set up a simple tracking system for certification accuracy One question I haven't seen addressed - for those doing 2 PFL days per week, how long did it realistically take to use up your full 8 weeks of benefits? I'm trying to plan out my timeline and want to make sure I stay within that 12-month window @Giovanni Marino mentioned. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences! This thread has been a goldmine of practical advice. I'll definitely report back on how my process goes to hopefully help future parents navigating the same situation! ✨
Welcome to the community @Serene Snow! Your action plan sounds really solid based on everything shared in this thread. To answer your timeline question - if you're doing 2 PFL days per week, you'd be using 2/5 of a week each week, so it would take 20 weeks to use all 8 weeks of benefits (40 days ÷ 2 days per week = 20 weeks). That's about 5 months, so you'll be well within the 12-month window! I'm actually in a very similar boat - planning to start my intermittent PFL in a few weeks and feeling much more confident after reading everyone's experiences here. The community knowledge is incredible! Looking forward to hearing how your process goes. Good luck mama! 💕
New member here! This thread has been so incredibly helpful as I'm planning my own return to work with intermittent PFL. I'm due in 6 weeks and want to get prepared early since I'll likely want to do a similar part-time schedule. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen mentioned - does anyone know if there are any restrictions on WHICH days of the week you can take as PFL days? Like, could I theoretically do Wednesday/Thursday as my PFL days, or does it need to be consecutive days like Monday/Friday or Thursday/Friday? Also, for those who have done this - did you find that having mid-week PFL days vs end-of-week days made any difference for work continuity or your own adjustment? I'm trying to think through what schedule would work best for both bonding time and maintaining good relationships with my team when I return. Thanks in advance for any insights!
Welcome @Leeann Blackstein! Great question about day flexibility - from what I understand, there shouldn't be any restrictions on which specific days you choose for PFL as long as you're consistent with your schedule and your employer approves it. Wednesday/Thursday should work just fine if that fits your needs best! I'm also expecting (due in 8 weeks!) and have been researching this extensively after finding this amazing thread. From a practical standpoint, I've been thinking mid-week days might actually be nice because you get that mental break in the middle of your work week, plus it could help with things like pediatrician appointments that are often easier to schedule mid-week. Though I have to say, the Friday bonding days that others mentioned sound pretty appealing too - having that long weekend feeling with your baby! I think the most important thing is picking a schedule that works for your team's needs and your own energy levels. Maybe think about your workplace's busiest days or any recurring meetings that would be hard to miss? Would love to hear what you end up deciding! It's so nice to connect with other expecting parents who are thinking ahead about this stuff. Good luck with your remaining weeks! 🤞
Adriana Cohn
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! 37 weeks pregnant and just started getting SDI payments last week. This thread is a lifesaver - I had no idea SDI and PFL were separate applications! My biggest fear was also having a gap in payments, so I'm going to follow everyone's advice about filing the PFL claim 1-2 weeks before recovery ends. Already setting up calendar reminders now. One question though - has anyone had issues with the doctor certification part? My OB mentioned something about needing to certify the recovery period but wasn't super clear on timing. Do they automatically send that to EDD or do I need to follow up with my doctor's office to make sure they submit it? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info that EDD definitely doesn't explain clearly!
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Dmitry Petrov
•Hey! I'm actually a few weeks behind you (34 weeks) and just learning about all this too. From what I've gathered reading through this thread, your doctor should automatically submit the recovery certification to EDD after delivery, but it's definitely worth confirming with them! I called my OB's office yesterday after reading similar concerns online and they said they handle the medical certification directly with EDD once baby is born - but they recommended I follow up with them a few days after delivery just to make sure it gets submitted on time. Apparently some offices are better about this than others. It sounds like the medical certification is what determines how long your SDI recovery period lasts (6 weeks vaginal, 8 weeks c-section), so definitely important that it gets filed properly. Maybe add "confirm doctor submitted recovery certification" to your post-birth checklist along with calling EDD to report the birth? This thread has been amazing - I'm taking notes on everyone's timelines! 📝
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Dmitry Smirnov
Just wanted to add one more tip that really helped me - download the EDD mobile app if you haven't already! I found it way easier to certify for benefits and check claim status on my phone, especially during those sleep-deprived newborn days when getting to a computer felt impossible. Also, if you're planning to breastfeed, keep in mind that pumping at work is protected under California law, but it's separate from your PFL benefits. I mention this because a lot of new moms get confused thinking PFL covers pumping time when you return to work - it doesn't. PFL is specifically for bonding time while you're completely off work. One last thing - start thinking now about whether you want to take all 8 weeks of PFL consecutively or split it up. You have up to 1 year from baby's birth to use those 8 weeks, so some people take 4-6 weeks right after recovery ends, then save the remaining weeks for later (like around the holidays or if childcare falls through). Just something to consider while you're planning! Good luck mama, you're going to do great! 💕
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Omar Farouk
•This is all such great advice! I had no idea about the mobile app - definitely downloading that tonight. And thank you for clarifying about pumping vs PFL, I was actually wondering about that! The splitting PFL weeks idea is really smart too. I hadn't thought about saving some weeks for later in the year. With my husband's work schedule, it might actually work better to take maybe 6 weeks right after recovery and then save 2 weeks for when he has a big project deadline in the fall. Question about the split timing though - when you use PFL later in the year, do you still get the same payment amount? Or does it change based on when you use it? I want to make sure I understand all the details before making that decision. Thanks for all the support everyone! This thread has seriously reduced my anxiety about the whole process by like 90%. You're all amazing! 💕
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