Just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're absolutely in the clear regarding EDD benefits! I was in a nearly identical situation last year. I had pregnancy complications that kept me on SDI for 10 weeks, then did the full 8 weeks of PFL bonding, and ended up switching to a completely different company afterward. Like others mentioned, the state benefits are insurance that YOU paid for through your paycheck deductions. There's zero requirement to return to your previous employer to keep those benefits. I was so paranoid about this that I actually called EDD (took forever to get through!) and they confirmed that as long as your leave was legitimate - which yours clearly was - the benefits are yours regardless of where you work next. The only thing to watch out for is any employer-provided supplemental benefits. In my case, my company had topped up my state benefits to 80% of salary for part of my leave, and their policy required repayment if I didn't return for at least 60 days. But even that was only about $2,400 compared to the $15,000+ I had received from the state programs. That new job sounds amazing - a 35-minute daily commute savings plus better hours will be such a game changer with a new baby. Don't let fear of something that won't actually happen keep you from making the best choice for your family! Congratulations on your little one!

This thread has been such a relief to read! I'm currently 7 months pregnant and starting to think seriously about what life will look like after maternity leave. My current job has a pretty intense schedule and requires being in the office most days, but I've been wondering if I might want something more flexible once the baby arrives. Reading all these experiences has been so educational - I had absolutely no idea that the state benefits we receive are actually insurance we've been paying into all along! Like others have said, the insurance analogy makes it crystal clear - of course we shouldn't have to pay back benefits just because we make a career change afterward. @cb53ba43b0d6 I really hope you went with that new opportunity! A 10-minute commute vs 45 minutes sounds incredible, especially when you're dealing with all the logistics of having a baby. That's over an hour of your day back to spend with your family. I'm definitely going to review my employee handbook this week to understand any potential employer supplemental benefits and their requirements. This thread has made me realize it's so much better to know these details ahead of time rather than trying to figure it out when you're sleep-deprived with a newborn! Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - this kind of practical advice from people who've actually navigated these situations is invaluable. The government websites are so confusing, and hearing actual success stories makes all the difference for those of us trying to plan ahead!

Has anyone tried contacting their local representative? I've heard sometimes they can help speed things up with EDD.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - applied 5 weeks ago and haven't heard a peep from them. It's so stressful not knowing what's happening with your application. I've been checking my bank account daily and refreshing the EDD portal constantly. Reading through these comments is actually really helpful though - I had no idea about contacting local representatives or that there were services to help get through on the phone. Definitely going to try some of these suggestions. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare! 😩

I went through this exact same situation in 2023! Yes, you definitely need to file a completely new PFL claim since you returned to work between your disability and baby bonding. The key thing to remember is that pregnancy disability (SDI) and baby bonding (PFL) are two separate programs, even though they're both through EDD. A few tips from my experience: - File online through your EDD account - it's much faster than paper - You'll need your baby's birth certificate as proof of relationship - Make sure your last day worked date matches what your HR will report - You can file up to 30 days before your start date, so you should be fine for next week Don't worry about the disconnected calls - EDD phone system is notorious for that. The online application is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. Just make sure to select "bonding with new child" and not "caring for family member" when filling it out. Good luck!

I just went through this same process in December 2024! You absolutely need to file a new PFL claim since you returned to work between your disability and baby bonding. I was in the exact same boat - disability from September to November, back to work briefly, then wanted to take my bonding time. Here's what worked for me: File online through your EDD portal ASAP since you're starting Monday. You'll need your baby's birth certificate uploaded as proof of relationship. The application asks specifically if this is for "bonding with new child" - make sure you select that option, not caregiving. One thing that tripped me up initially - your "last day worked" should be this Friday (the day before your bonding leave starts), not the last day you worked before going back after disability. EDD is super picky about this date matching what your employer reports, so double-check with HR. The good news is they'll backpay from your actual start date once approved, even if there's a processing delay. My approval took about 8 days and I got paid for all days from when I actually started my leave. Don't stress too much - the online process is way easier than trying to get through on the phone!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same Kaiser situation right now! My baby is 2 weeks old and I've been going in circles with this supplemental certification thing. What finally worked for me was calling Kaiser's central appointments line and saying "I need to speak with someone about completing EDD State Disability paperwork - specifically form DE2501." They transferred me to what they called the "Disability Services Unit" and those people actually knew what I was talking about! The person I spoke with explained that Kaiser doctors often submit their own internal disability notes, but EDD has very specific requirements for their DE2501 form that need to be filled out exactly right - things like specific diagnosis codes, exact dates when you became unable to work, and detailed treatment plans. She told me to bring both the EDD notification letter AND a printed copy of the blank DE2501 form to my next appointment, then sit there while my doctor fills it out completely. Don't leave until you see them submit it through the right system! For your husband's PFL timing - we're planning the exact same thing! He's taking 2 weeks right after birth, then saving the other 6 weeks for when I go back to work in a few months. The EDD rep I spoke with confirmed this is totally allowed as long as it's within 12 months and split into no more than 2 periods. Hang in there - the paperwork nightmare does eventually get sorted out! 💙

I'm going through this exact Kaiser/EDD paperwork mess right now too! Just had my baby 3 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for my SDI benefits because of missing documentation. What I've learned from calling around is that you need to ask Kaiser specifically for their "Medical Review Department" - they handle all third-party medical forms including EDD paperwork. Regular OB offices and even some disability coordinators don't always know the specific EDD requirements. When you call, be super specific: "I need form DE2501 completed for California State Disability Insurance, and EDD has requested supplemental medical certification." Then email them the exact notification you received from EDD so they can see what's missing. Also, definitely push for an in-person appointment to get this done rather than trying to handle it over the phone. I wasted 2 weeks trying to explain what was needed via phone calls before finally going in person with all the paperwork. For your husband's PFL - that flexibility is amazing! We're doing something similar where he took 1 week initially and is saving the other 7 weeks for when I go back to work. Just make sure he keeps good documentation of when he notifies his employer about the timing changes. This whole system is so unnecessarily complicated for new parents who already have enough to deal with! But you'll get through it - just be persistent with Kaiser about getting the right people involved. Good luck! 🍀

Just to follow up - did your payment arrive yet? The holiday backlog should be processed by now. If it's been approved for more than 7 business days without payment, you might want to call.

So glad to hear your payment came through! The waiting game with EDD is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you have bills due. For anyone else reading this - it seems like the MLK Day holiday really did push everything back about a week from normal processing times. Good to know for future reference that holiday Mondays can mess with their whole system like that.