I'm currently going through this process myself - 37 weeks pregnant and recently unemployed due to layoffs. Based on my research and what my doctor told me, definitely go with SDI first! I just submitted my DE2501 form last week and my OB was super helpful in explaining the timeline. She said most doctors are very familiar with the 4-weeks-before-due-date rule and will certify you without any issues at 36 weeks. One tip that really helped me: I called EDD's SDI line directly (not the main number) and spoke to someone who walked me through exactly what documentation I'd need. They were way more knowledgeable than the general customer service line. The number is 1-800-480-3287. Also, make sure you apply online if possible - the rep told me online applications are prioritized over mailed forms right now. Don't worry about UI at this stage - you can always apply for unemployment benefits later if needed after your PFL period ends and you're ready to job search again. Focus on securing your immediate income through disability and family leave first. The stress of juggling a job search while this pregnant just isn't worth it when you have better options available through SDI/PFL!

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - definitely go the SDI route first! I was in almost the exact same situation 8 months ago (lost my job at 35 weeks due to budget cuts) and I'm so glad I listened to advice like this. A few things that really helped me through the process: - Get your doctor appointment scheduled ASAP to start the DE2501 paperwork. Mine was booked out 2 weeks and I was panicking about timing. - When you meet with your doctor, bring a list of any pregnancy complications or discomforts you're experiencing (back pain, swelling, difficulty sleeping, etc.). This can help justify starting disability earlier than 38 weeks if needed. - Save all your recent pay stubs and tax documents in one folder - you'll need them for benefit calculations and EDD loves to ask for additional documentation. The whole process felt overwhelming when I was pregnant and stressed about money, but looking back it was actually pretty straightforward once I got that first SDI claim submitted. You'll get through this! And definitely don't feel guilty about not job hunting right now - no employer is realistically going to hire someone who's about to give birth anyway. Focus on securing your benefits and preparing for your baby. Congratulations! 🍼

Congrats on your baby and glad to hear your claim finally went through! I'm a new parent myself and just submitted my PFL baby bonding claim last week. Reading through all these experiences is both reassuring and nerve-wracking - it sounds like the 3-4 week wait is pretty standard right now despite what their website says. One question for anyone who's been through this recently - did you get any kind of confirmation or notification when your status changed from pending to approved, or do you just have to keep checking the portal daily? I'm trying to figure out if I should set up some kind of daily reminder to check or if they'll actually let me know when something changes. Also @Malik Jackson thanks for mentioning the Claimyr service - I hadn't heard of that before but might be worth trying if mine gets stuck too long. The regular EDD phone line seems impossible to get through on.

I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my PFL baby bonding claim to process after my little one was born last month. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly such a relief - I was starting to panic that I'd done something wrong with my application! It's so frustrating that the EDD website still claims 14 days when clearly everyone is experiencing 3-4+ weeks. I've been checking the portal obsessively every morning hoping to see a status change. My SDI pregnancy benefits ended right before I submitted the PFL claim, so like many others here, I'm in that stressful income gap period. One thing I noticed that might help others - when I submitted my claim, I made sure to keep screenshots of everything showing my documents were "received" in the portal. After reading about some people having issues with document uploads, I'm glad I have that backup proof just in case. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips! It helps knowing this is just how slow the system is right now and not a problem with individual claims. Will definitely keep the Claimyr service in mind if I hit the 3-week mark with no movement.

Hey Simon! Congrats on your baby boy! 🎉 I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago - emergency C-section at 36 weeks when I was supposed to have 3 more weeks of pregnancy disability left. The good news is your disability automatically continues after delivery! Since you had a C-section, you get the full 8 weeks of recovery time starting from 7/15, which should take you right to around 9/9-9/10 - so your existing return date actually works out perfectly. The most important thing right now is making sure your doctor submits that delivery date change to EDD immediately. I made the mistake of waiting a week and it caused some confusion with my payments. Once that's updated, you're all set to just ride out the disability until it ends, then apply for PFL baby bonding about 10 days before (so around late August). One tip: screenshot or save confirmation when your doctor submits the medical update, just in case you need to reference it later. The transition should be smooth, but having that documentation helped me feel more confident everything was processed correctly. You've got this mama! The hardest part is behind you - now just focus on recovery and those newborn snuggles. 💙

Congrats on your little one! 🎉 I went through something similar with my daughter - she came 4 weeks early via emergency C-section and I was so confused about all the paperwork and timelines. Everyone's given you great advice already! Just want to add one thing that helped me: after your doctor submits the delivery date update to EDD, keep checking your SDI online account every few days to make sure it reflects the correct information. Sometimes there can be delays in processing, and you want to catch any issues early. Also, don't forget to update your employer's HR department about the actual delivery date if you haven't already - they might need to adjust their records for your leave too. The good news is your timeline actually works out really well since your return date was already set for 9/10. Take advantage of having one less thing to worry about and just focus on healing and bonding with your baby boy! The benefits will sort themselves out as long as you stay on top of that medical update. ❤️

btw dont forget u get 8 weeks of bonding time! alot of ppl think its just 6 weeks but its 8 weeks for 2025 claims. my sister thought she only got 6 and missed out on 2 extra weeks of paid time!

Just wanted to add my experience from last month - I applied exactly 5 days before my disability ended (online through SDI) and it worked perfectly! No payment gap at all. One tip that really helped me: when filling out the PFL application, make sure you upload a clear photo of your baby's birth certificate right away. I've seen people get delayed because they waited for EDD to request it later. Also, keep checking your claim status daily after applying - if there are any issues, you'll see them there first before getting any mail notifications. The peace of mind of having continuous payments with a newborn is so worth getting the timing right!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - filed 3 weeks ago and still radio silence! It's so stressful when you're counting on that money. From reading all these responses, it sounds like the early morning calling strategy is key. I'm definitely going to try the 8am sharp approach tomorrow. Also thinking about reaching out to my assemblymember's office like Aisha suggested - that's brilliant advice I never would have thought of! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, at least now I know I'm not alone in this mess 😅

Just went through this same nightmare! Filed my PFL application 6 weeks ago and it felt like screaming into the void. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the disability insurance number (not the main EDD line) at exactly 8:00 AM - seems like they have separate staff handling PFL claims and the wait times are slightly better. Also, if you have any medical documentation that wasn't crystal clear the first time, consider resubmitting it via fax AND online. Sometimes one method gets processed faster than the other. I know it's super anxiety-inducing when you need that money, but hang in there - once it goes through, they do backpay to your original filing date. Sending good vibes that you hear back soon! 🤞