Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! I'm feeling much more confident now that I'll likely get the higher 2025 rate for my baby bonding portion. I'll make sure to submit my PFL claim as soon as my SDI ends in January. Keeping my fingers crossed everything transitions smoothly!

Just wanted to add my experience from last year - I had a similar situation where my SDI ended in early January 2024 and PFL started right after. They were definitely treated as separate claims with different claim numbers. The transition was pretty smooth once I submitted the DE2508 form, though it did take about 2-3 weeks to get my first PFL payment. Make sure you have all your documents ready (birth certificate, etc.) before your SDI ends so you can file immediately. Good luck with your new baby!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my uncle who had a traumatic brain injury. The information everyone has shared here is incredibly helpful! I wanted to add that if you're still having trouble getting through to EDD even after following all these steps, you might want to try contacting your local State Disability Insurance (SDI) office directly. They sometimes have separate phone lines that aren't as overwhelmed as the main EDD number. Also, I learned that some hospitals have patient advocates or social workers who are familiar with disability paperwork and can help you navigate the process. They might even have direct contacts at EDD for medical emergency situations. One more thing - document EVERYTHING. Keep a log of every call attempt, every form submitted, and every person you speak with. If there are any delays in processing your claim, this documentation can help prove you did everything correctly and on time. Best of luck to everyone going through this stressful process!

I'm a case worker at a disability advocacy organization and see this situation frequently. One additional option that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're still having trouble even with the POA documentation, you can request an "Administrative Review" through EDD's Appeals Office. This is typically used when there are extenuating circumstances that don't fit the standard process. You would need to submit a written request explaining that your mother is medically incapable of signing due to her stroke, attach all your POA documentation, and include the doctor's certification of incapacity. The Appeals Office has more flexibility to approve non-standard situations. Also, many people don't realize that EDD has regional offices that sometimes have less busy phone lines than the main number. Try calling the Sacramento regional office at (916) 464-3343 or the Los Angeles office at (213) 744-2084. Ask specifically to speak with a PFL specialist about a medical incapacity situation. The key phrase to use is "medical incapacity accommodation" - this signals that you're dealing with a disability-related issue that requires special handling under ADA guidelines.

btw if u already had a disability claim for pregnancy before ur baby bonding claim they sometimes dont send a new card. they just load the money on ur old one. happened to me and i kept waiting for a new card but the $ was already on my old card lol

I just went through this exact same situation in February! The debit card message had me so confused too. Here's what I learned from my experience: The automated system mentions the debit card for EVERYONE who calls about PFL, regardless of approval status. It's super misleading! What actually happened with my claim: - Week 1-3: Called daily, heard debit card message, got my hopes up - Week 4: Finally got through to a rep who told me my claim was still "under review" - Week 5: Randomly checked my online account and saw the first payment had been processed! - Week 6: Debit card arrived in mail So the timeline can vary a lot. Since you found that letter asking for your baby's birth certificate, that's probably what's been holding things up. Once you upload that document, you should see movement within 5-10 business days. The good news is that when it does get approved, you'll get all the back pay from when you first filed. Keep checking your SDI Online account daily - that's where you'll see the payment show up first before any card arrives. Hang in there!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I literally just went through this transition last month! My PDL weekly benefit was $687 and my PFL baby bonding ended up being the exact same amount - $687. So the comments about them being calculated the same way are spot on in my case. One thing that really helped me was calling EDD about 2 weeks before my estimated due date to get the PDL claim started early. They can begin processing it even before you actually go on leave, which helped avoid any payment delays. And definitely second the advice about the DE 4P form - I submitted it with my initial claim and had 10% withheld automatically. Made tax time so much easier! Also, pro tip: keep screenshots of all your EDD online account pages showing payment amounts and dates. The 1099-G they send can sometimes have errors, and having your own records makes it easier to catch and fix any mistakes. Good luck mama! 🍼

Hey Zadie! Congrats on your pregnancy! 🎉 I just wanted to add something that might help with your planning - when you're calculating your budget, remember that the 60-70% benefit amount is based on your highest quarter earnings in your base period, not necessarily your most recent salary. So if you got a raise recently, your benefit might be slightly lower than expected. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the waiting week gets paid at the end - that's actually not entirely accurate anymore. As of recent changes, the 7-day waiting period for PDL is truly unpaid and won't be reimbursed later. Just wanted to clarify so you can budget accordingly! One last thing - if you're planning to breastfeed, you might also want to look into whether your employer is required to provide break time and a private space for pumping when you return to work. California has pretty strong protections for nursing mothers that can help with your transition back. Best of luck with everything! 💕

Adding to what everyone else has said - I'm a newcomer here but went through this exact situation with my PFL claim last month! One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline of all my important dates (baby's birth date, when I started leave, when I filed the claim, etc.) before calling EDD. The rep was able to quickly identify that my issue was similar to @Ethan Moore's - I had filed too early. But having all those dates ready made the call go much smoother and faster. Also, if you end up needing to appeal, don't be intimidated by the process. The hearing officers are actually pretty understanding, especially for baby bonding cases. They deal with these timing mix-ups all the time. One last tip: if you're breastfeeding, you might also qualify for disability benefits during the initial recovery period, which is separate from the bonding leave. Worth asking about if you haven't already! Hope this helps and congrats on your little one! 🎉

Hey James! I just went through a similar situation with my baby bonding claim a couple months ago - totally understand the frustration! 😤 One thing I learned is that you can actually request an expedited copy of your DE 2514 notice by calling the SDI customer service line directly and asking them to email it to you instead of waiting for mail. They can usually send it within 24-48 hours if you explain that you're trying to meet appeal deadlines. Also, while you're gathering info, make sure to check if your employer submitted all the required forms on their end (like the DE 2501). Sometimes disqualifications happen because of missing employer documentation that you have no control over, but it's still your responsibility to follow up on. The appeal process isn't as scary as it seems - I ended up winning mine because it turned out EDD had incorrect information about my employment dates. Just make sure you file within that 30-day window even if you don't have all the details yet! Hang in there and don't let the bureaucracy get you down. You deserve those benefits for bonding with your little one! 👶💙