Can I apply for PFL again after using it last year for my child's hospitalization?

The PFL 12-month benefit period is based on the start date of your first claim. So if you started your first claim in March 2024, your benefit period would have ended in March 2025. Any unused portion of your 8 weeks would expire then, and you'd be eligible for a new 8-week period. Since it sounds like you used all 7 weeks (3+4) of your previous benefit period, and your first claim was over 12 months ago, you should be eligible for a fresh 8 weeks now. Make sure to get the correct documentation from your daughter's doctor (the DE2501F form) before applying.

I went through this with my son last year!!! The 12-month period starts on the first day of ur first claim period, NOT when u finish using the benefits. So if u started using benefits in March 2024, then once March 2025 hit, you're eligible for a new 8 weeks regardless of when u took the other parts. I made this mistake and waited too long thinking I couldn't apply again but my coworker set me straight!

Be careful with this! When I had to take care care of my mom last yer, I thought I could apply for a new benefit period after the 12 months but got DENIED because i guess there's some rule about needing to have paid enough into SDI during the previous quarters? Make sure your work contributions are all up to date before you apply or you might get denied like me. The whole system is ridiculous and seems designed to make it impossible to understand.

Does your employer have more than 50 employees? If so, have you checked if you qualify for FMLA protection as well? You get 12 weeks of FMLA every 12 months which could run concurrently with your PFL. Just something to consider for job protection while you're out.

I had to call EDD about a similar situation with my PFL claim for my husband's care, and it took me THREE DAYS of constant calling to finally get through. When you need to confirm your eligibility, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it got me connected to an actual EDD representative in under 25 minutes after I'd wasted days trying on my own. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 Totally worth it because the EDD rep was able to check my specific situation and confirm exactly what benefits I was eligible for, which was such a relief after all the confusion.

I think there might be some confusion in some of these responses. The 12-month benefit period for PFL works like this: 1. You are eligible for 8 weeks of PFL benefits within a 12-month period 2. This period begins when you take your first day of PFL 3. After that 12-month period ends, you become eligible for a new 8-week benefit period In your case, since your first claim started in March 2024, your benefit period would have ended in March 2025. Since we're now past that date, you should be eligible for a new 8-week period, regardless of when you used the remaining weeks from your previous benefit period. If you're unsure, I strongly recommend getting confirmation directly from EDD before making arrangements with your employer.

Dont forget to get the doctors note BEFORE u apply!!! The form is super specific and they rejected my first application cuz the doctor didnt fill it out right. so frustrating!!!

The whole system is SO broken. I got approved for PFL to care for my father after a stroke but then they randomly stopped payments halfway through with ZERO explanation. Took 5 weeks to sort out and turned out to be some stupid clerical error on THEIR end! Make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit and follow up constantly.

Just to add some clarification based on the discussion: 1. Yes, the PFL 12-month benefit period starts from the beginning date of your first claim 2. Your eligibility for a new claim depends on this 12-month period ending, not when you last used benefits 3. You need to meet base period earnings requirements for each new claim 4. The proper form for care of a family member is the DE2501F (different from the disability form) 5. Having your doctor complete this correctly is critical Since your first claim was in March 2024 and it's now past March 2025, you should be eligible for a new 8-week claim period as long as you meet the earnings requirement (which it sounds like you would if you've been working consistently).

I'm going through something similar right now! My mom needs care and I'm trying to figure out if I can use PFL again after taking it about 14 months ago. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - especially the clarification about the 12-month period starting from your first claim date, not when you finish using benefits. One thing I learned from my HR department is that you can also check your SDI contribution history on the EDD website to make sure you meet the base period requirements before applying. It's under "State Disability Insurance" in your online account. Might save you some worry about getting denied for earnings issues. Hope everything goes smoothly with your daughter's surgery and that you get the benefits you need! 💙

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter's health issues - that must be incredibly stressful for your whole family. Based on what everyone has shared here, it sounds like you should definitely be eligible for a new 8-week PFL period since your first claim started in March 2024 and we're now past that 12-month mark. I just wanted to add one thing that helped me when I was dealing with PFL applications: if your daughter's doctor is unfamiliar with the DE2501F form, don't hesitate to give them the EDD's physician guide that explains exactly what information they need to include. Some doctors haven't dealt with these forms much and the extra guidance can prevent delays or rejections due to incomplete medical certifications. Also, even though it sounds like you'll qualify, I'd still recommend calling EDD to confirm your specific situation before you commit to time off with your employer. Better to be 100% certain than to find out there's some unexpected issue after you've already made arrangements. Sending good thoughts for your daughter's recovery and hope the PFL process goes smoothly for you this time! 🙏

I've been through this exact situation with my husband's medical issues! You're absolutely right to be stressed about the timing - I went through the same confusion last year. From my experience, the key thing is that your 12-month benefit period started in March 2024 when you first filed, so you became eligible for a fresh 8-week period this past March. The June usage doesn't affect your new eligibility at all. One tip that saved me a lot of hassle: when you get the DE2501F form from your daughter's doctor, make sure they're very specific about the expected duration of care needed and how your presence is medically necessary. EDD can be picky about vague language. Also, if your daughter has been seeing specialists, sometimes they're more familiar with these disability forms than a general pediatrician. I really hope your daughter's surgery goes well and that you can focus on her recovery without worrying about the financial stress. The PFL system isn't perfect, but once you get through the application process, it's such a relief to have that support when your family needs it most. ❤️

I'm dealing with a similar situation with my dad right now, so I really feel for what you're going through. The stress of having a sick family member AND worrying about finances is just overwhelming. From everything I've researched and what others have shared here, it sounds like you should definitely be good to apply for a new 8-week period since your first claim was over 12 months ago. The March 2024 start date is what matters, not when you finished using the benefits. One thing that helped me was calling my HR department and asking them to walk through the FMLA paperwork with me at the same time I was preparing my PFL application. Since you mentioned your company is large enough for FMLA, having both protections in place gives you extra peace of mind about job security while you're caring for your daughter. Also, I learned the hard way that it's worth submitting your PFL application as soon as you have all the paperwork ready, even if the surgery/care period is still a few weeks away. The processing time can be unpredictable, and you want to make sure benefits start when you actually need the time off. Hoping everything goes smoothly with your daughter's surgery and recovery. You're doing the right thing by being there for her! 💙

I'm so sorry you're dealing with your daughter's health complications again - that must be incredibly stressful as a parent. Based on everything shared in this thread, it really sounds like you should be eligible for a new 8-week PFL period since your first claim started in March 2024 and we're now past that 12-month mark. I went through something similar with my elderly father last year, and the confusion around timing nearly drove me crazy! What helped me was creating a simple timeline on paper - writing down when I first applied, when I used benefits, and when my 12-month period would end. It made everything much clearer. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here: if you do call EDD to confirm your eligibility (which I highly recommend), try to get the representative's name and maybe ask them to email you a summary of what they told you. I had one rep tell me one thing and then a different rep contradict it a week later, so having some documentation helped resolve the confusion. Also, while you're preparing the medical certification, it might be worth asking your daughter's doctor if they can include specific details about why your care and presence will help her recovery process. EDD seems to like concrete explanations rather than general statements. Wishing your daughter a smooth surgery and recovery, and hoping the PFL process goes much easier for you this time around! 🙏

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter's ongoing health issues - respiratory complications in children are so scary and stressful for parents. From everything shared in this thread, it definitely sounds like you should be eligible for a new 8-week PFL period since your first claim started in March 2024 and we're now well past that 12-month mark. I haven't been through this exact situation myself, but I wanted to mention something that might help with the application process: when you're getting the DE2501F form completed, consider asking your daughter's medical team if they can provide a brief treatment timeline or care plan that shows why your presence will be essential during her recovery period. From what I've read, EDD likes to see specific information about how family care supports the patient's medical needs. Also, since you mentioned feeling stressed about potentially taking unpaid time - have you looked into whether your employer offers any supplemental paid family leave benefits? Some companies have policies that supplement the state PFL payments or provide additional paid time off for family medical situations. It might be worth checking with HR about any additional support they offer. I really hope your daughter's upcoming surgery goes smoothly and that you're able to get the PFL benefits you need without any complications. You're clearly a dedicated parent doing everything you can to support her through this challenging time. Sending positive thoughts for her recovery! 💙

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation with your daughter's health complications again. As someone who's navigated PFL multiple times for my own family medical situations, I can definitely relate to the confusion around eligibility timing. Based on everything you've described and what others have shared here, you should absolutely be eligible for a fresh 8-week PFL benefit period. Since your first claim started in March 2024, your 12-month benefit period ended in March 2025, which means you qualify for a new cycle regardless of when you used those June 2024 benefits. A few practical tips from my experience: - Call EDD first to confirm your specific situation before making work arrangements - When you get the DE2501F completed, ask your daughter's doctor to be very specific about the duration and type of care you'll need to provide - Consider applying as soon as you have the paperwork ready, even if the surgery is a few weeks out - processing times can vary - Don't forget to coordinate FMLA paperwork with your employer for job protection The whole system can be overwhelming when you're already stressed about your child's health, but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions and getting great advice here. Wishing your daughter a successful surgery and smooth recovery! 💙