Has anyone had experience with extended leave for mental health reasons? My therapist suggested it might be beneficial for me, but I'm not sure how to approach it with work...

@Cynthia Love - I had a similar situation with my NP! Turns out there are different forms for different types of family leave. For California PFL specifically, you'll need the DE 2501F (Claim for Paid Family Leave Benefits) form completed by your healthcare provider. Double-check that your NP filled out the right one - sometimes they accidentally use FMLA forms instead. You can download the correct form from the EDD website to compare. If it's the wrong one, don't panic! You can usually resubmit with the correct form without too much hassle. Good luck! 🤞

Just went through this process myself! Yes, you absolutely need to certify for PFL benefits. Here's what I learned: • You'll typically certify every 2 weeks (biweekly) • It's done online through your EDD UI Online account • Look for the "Certify for Benefits" section once you log in • You'll answer questions about your availability and any work/income during the certification period • DO NOT miss your certification deadline - it can delay or stop your payments The system will usually send you a text or email reminder when it's time to certify. I'd recommend setting up those notifications if you haven't already. The whole process only takes a few minutes once you get the hang of it! Good luck with your claim! 🙂

Just a heads up for anyone dealing with certification issues - I had a situation where my certification window didn't show up on time and I panicked thinking I'd miss it. Turns out the EDD system sometimes has delays updating, especially on weekends. If your certification date passes and you don't see the option in your account, don't freak out! You usually have a grace period (I think it's about 7-10 days) to complete it once it does appear. The system will backdate it to your original certification date. That said, definitely try to certify as soon as the option becomes available to avoid any payment delays. The peace of mind is worth it! Also pro tip: Screenshot your completed certification confirmation page - it's saved me when there were system glitches and they couldn't find my submission in their records.

Friendly reminder to everyone: be nice to the agents when you get through! They're dealing with a lot and being kind can go a long way. 💖

Just want to add - if you're filing for bonding with a new baby, make sure you have the birth certificate or hospital discharge papers ready! I didn't realize I'd need those and had to call back. Also, they'll ask about your expected return date, so have that figured out beforehand. The whole call took about 45 minutes for me but most of that was waiting through the automated menus. The actual conversation with the agent was pretty straightforward once I got through!

Anybody know if theres a way to check your PFL status online? Feels like that would make all of this so much easier

Don't panic! I went through the same thing last month. The automatic payment notice basically means they're going to start sending you payments based on your claim, but you definitely want to make sure everything is correct first. Here's what worked for me: • Call them ASAP (early morning works best, like 8am) • Have your claim number ready • Ask them to walk through exactly what the automatic payments will cover • Make sure your bank info is correct if you're doing direct deposit • Ask if there's anything you need to report or update The key is being proactive about it. I caught an error in my claim amount by calling right away, which saved me from having to pay back an overpayment later. Better to spend 30 minutes on the phone now than deal with a mess later! You got this! 💪

Congratulations on your baby girl! I'm currently 8 months pregnant and trying to figure all this out myself, so this thread is incredibly helpful. From what I understand after reading everyone's responses, the key points seem to be: 1) Disability payments continue automatically after birth notification for 6-8 weeks, 2) You need to file a completely separate PFL baby bonding claim (DE2501FP) around week 5, and 3) EDD won't automatically transition you or remind you to file. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and setting calendar reminders! Question for those who've been through this - is there a specific day of the week that's better for calling EDD if you need to speak with someone? I've heard mixed advice about timing calls to actually get through.

Congratulations on your baby girl! I went through this exact situation last year and can share some practical tips. Yes, your disability payments should continue automatically after submitting the Notice of Actual Birth - you won't need to certify during the recovery period. However, here's what I wish someone had told me: start monitoring your SDI Online account closely around week 4-5 for any notifications about your claim ending. That's your cue to immediately file the baby bonding PFL claim (DE2501FP form). I also recommend calling EDD around week 4 to confirm your exact disability end date - this gives you a clear timeline for filing the separate PFL claim. The biggest mistake I see people make is treating these as one continuous benefit when they're actually two separate claims that you have to manage yourself. EDD's system assumes you know this, but they do a terrible job explaining it. Set phone reminders now while you remember, because with a newborn, time flies and missing that transition window can cost you weeks of benefits. You've got this, but definitely stay proactive rather than waiting for EDD to guide you!