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!

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 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!

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.

I just went through this exact situation 2 months ago! I was 38 weeks when I mailed my DE2501 and was panicking just like you. Here's what happened with mine: Day 5: Nothing online yet, called EDD with no luck Day 7: Still nothing, started freaking out Day 9: FINALLY showed up in my UI Online account as "Claim Filed" Day 14: Got my approval letter in the mail Day 16: First payment hit my EDD Debit Card The key thing that saved my sanity was setting up text alerts through UI Online so I got notified the moment my claim status changed. Also, even though it felt like forever, everything was backdated to my last day of work just like others mentioned. One tip: if you haven't already, make sure your mailing address is updated in your UI Online account. I've heard of people having delays because EDD had their old address on file. You've got this! The waiting is torture but it WILL get processed. Try to focus on getting ready for those twins - that's way more important than stressing about EDD right now! 🍼👶👶

I'm also a first-time mom and went through this same anxiety spiral a few months ago! One thing that really helped me was calling EDD first thing in the morning (like 8:01 AM sharp) - I had much better luck getting through then versus later in the day. Also, don't panic if you give birth before it's fully processed! My baby came 5 days early while my claim was still pending, and everything worked out fine. The hospital social worker actually helped me follow up with EDD and made sure I knew exactly what to expect for the processing timeline. In the meantime, make sure you have your employer's information handy (like your last day of work and wage info) because EDD might need to verify that when they process your claim. And if you're planning to breastfeed, ask your doctor about getting the pumping supplies covered through your insurance now - one less thing to worry about later! Wishing you a smooth delivery and hope your claim gets processed soon! 🙏