I went through this exact situation 8 months ago with PFL overpayment after returning from bonding leave. Here's what worked for me: First, you're absolutely right not to cash those checks! For the dependent question, list yourself and the baby as 2 dependents since your husband is financially supporting you both during this time period. I made the mistake of initially only counting dependents from my tax return and had to correct it later. Also, when you return the checks, include a brief timeline showing when he submitted return-to-work paperwork versus when EDD continued sending benefits - this helps demonstrate it was their processing error, not late notification on your part. The whole process took about 6 weeks to fully resolve, but they did eventually clear the overpayment once they processed the returned checks properly.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! EDD sent me 4 extra weeks of PFL checks after I returned to work from maternity leave, even though I submitted all my return-to-work documentation on time. Like you, I haven't cashed the extra checks because something felt off about receiving them. Reading through everyone's advice here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about marking the checks "RETURNED UNCASHED" or that I should photograph them before sending back. The dependent question was confusing me too, but now I understand it's about who is financially dependent on me NOW, not from last year's taxes. Since my partner is currently unemployed and I'm supporting them plus our baby, that would be 2 dependents. It's so frustrating that their system errors become our paperwork nightmares, but at least we're not alone in this!

I swear, dealing with bureaucracy is a full-time job these days. Hang in there, OP. We're all in the same boat!

One thing that really helped me was scheduling a dedicated appointment with my doctor just to go over the PFL forms together. Don't try to squeeze it into a regular visit - make it the main focus. I brought the forms already filled out as much as I could, and we went through the medical sections line by line. My doctor was actually really grateful that I came prepared because it made their job easier too. Also, if your doctor's office has a medical assistant who handles forms, they might be able to help you understand what's needed before you even see the doctor. Good luck with your application!

One more tip that saved me a lot of stress - make sure to keep all your documentation organized in one folder (physical or digital). You'll need your pregnancy disability paperwork, hospital discharge papers, and eventually your PFL approval notices. Having everything in one place made it so much easier when I had questions or needed to reference dates. Also, screenshot or print your EDD account pages showing your claim status - the website can be glitchy and sometimes info disappears temporarily. Good luck mama, you're going to do great! 🍀

This thread is SO helpful! I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and was feeling overwhelmed about this whole process too. Thank you everyone for breaking it down so clearly! One quick question - for those who've done this, did your employer require any special paperwork when transitioning from SDI to PFL? My HR department mentioned something about needing to update my leave status with them, but I wasn't sure if that's separate from the EDD applications or if it's all connected. Also @Lena Kowalski - you mentioned your doctor has you starting disability 4 weeks before due date. Did you have to request that specifically or did they recommend it? My OB hasn't brought it up yet and I wasn't sure if I should ask.

I'm so glad you found a workable solution with your employer! The part-time arrangement sounds like a great compromise. Just wanted to add a few things that might help: When you talk to EDD through Claimyr, make sure to ask them specifically about the "partial benefits" calculation so you understand exactly how your part-time earnings will affect your weekly PFL payment. They use a formula that can be confusing. Also, since you're only 6 weeks postpartum, don't forget that your body is still recovering! Even though you're going back part-time, be gentle with yourself. The sleep deprivation alone is no joke with a newborn. One last thing - if your employer is being flexible now, they might be open to other accommodations too. Maybe ask about working from home some days or flexible hours if that would help with childcare logistics. Good luck with everything, and definitely update us on how it goes! Your situation will probably help other new parents who find themselves in similar circumstances.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through something very similar! I was only 10 months at my company when I had my daughter and faced the same job protection issue. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed log of ALL my communications with both HR and EDD - dates, times, who I spoke with, and what was discussed. This saved me when there was confusion later about my return date and benefit payments. Also, since you're doing the part-time return, make sure you understand your company's policy on health insurance during reduced hours. Some companies require you to work a minimum number of hours to maintain full benefits, and with a newborn, you definitely want to keep your health coverage intact! The emotional aspect of this is really tough too. I felt so guilty about not being able to take my full bonding time, but honestly, having the financial security of keeping my job was the right choice for my family. You're making a smart decision by finding this compromise.

Hey Malik! I just went through this exact transition last month and wanted to share a few tips that really helped me: 1. File your PFL claim online TONIGHT if possible - don't wait until Monday. The sooner you get it in, the sooner they start processing. 2. When you're filling out the application, there's a section where you can specify your desired start date. Since your SDI ended 1/15/25, put that date as your PFL start date to avoid any gap. 3. Have your baby's info ready (birth date, hospital records, etc.) but don't stress if you don't have the official birth certificate yet - the hospital paperwork works fine initially. 4. After you submit, you should get a confirmation email with your new claim number. Screenshot it! You'll need it if you have to call later. My whole process took about 8 business days from filing to first payment, which was way better than I expected. The key is getting that application submitted ASAP. Good luck!

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this transition in November! After my pregnancy disability ended, I was terrified about the gap in payments too. Here's what worked for me: I filed my PFL claim online at like 11 PM on a Sunday night (couldn't sleep anyway with the newborn!) and it was actually really straightforward. The whole application took maybe 15 minutes. Make sure you have your baby's birth info handy - I used the hospital discharge paperwork since I didn't have the official birth certificate yet. One thing that saved me stress - I called my bank ahead of time to let them know there might be a small delay between my SDI payments ending and PFL starting, just in case I needed to defer any automatic payments. Turned out I didn't need to, but it gave me peace of mind. Also, keep checking your SDI Online account every day after you file. You can track the status of your claim there, and it updates pretty quickly. Don't panic if it says "pending" for the first few days - that's totally normal. You've got this! The hardest part is just getting that initial application submitted. Once it's in the system, things move pretty smoothly.