Can I apply for another round of SDI after using PFL baby bonding? Not ready to return to work

Yes, you absolutely can apply for SDI again after your PFL baby bonding if you have a qualifying medical condition that prevents you from working! This is actually fairly common with postpartum complications. You'll need to file a NEW SDI claim (not an extension of your pregnancy disability). Have your doctor complete a new DE2501 form specifically addressing your current medical limitations. Make sure they clearly document that these are complications separate from normal childbirth recovery. There might be a small gap between your PFL ending and new SDI starting while they process the claim, so apply a week before your PFL ends if possible. The new claim will have its own maximum benefit duration based on your doctor's certification.

I did exactly this last year!! Had my baby, used my pregnancy disability, then took my 8 weeks bonding time, but then couldn't go back to work because of severe postpartum depression. My doctor wrote me a new disability claim and I got another 12 weeks of SDI. The KEY thing is making sure your doctor doesn't reference your pregnancy as the cause - it needs to be a separate medical condition that's preventing you from working. My doctor wrote specifically about my mental health condition rather than anything pregnancy-related. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to EDD when I had questions about the transition between benefits because I kept getting disconnected when calling normally. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 - it helped me get answers about my specific situation when I was stressed about the transition.

YES BUT BE CAREFUL. The EDD system will flag your account when you try to do this because they're looking for people trying to get extra benefits beyond the normal maternity period. You need VERY specific documentation from your doctor that clearly states this is a NEW medical condition separate from normal childbirth recovery. I know multiple people who got denied when trying this because their doctor wasn't specific enough about why they couldn't work. Make sure your doctor knows how to properly document your condition for EDD purposes - they need to specify work restrictions and duration. Also, there WILL be a waiting period for the new claim unless you file within 60 days of a previous disability claim (which you probably will be, so you might avoid this).

i did this last year and got DENIED even tho i had legit complications!!! my doctor just wrote "patient needs additional recovery time" which wasn't specific enough. appeal was denied too. ended up taking unpaid leave and it was AWFUL financially. make sure ur doctor writes very specific medical reasons!!!!!

Wait you can do this?? My PFL ends next week and I'm not ready to go back to work yet. Been having really bad back issues since delivery (csection complications). My doctor keeps telling me to take it easy but didn't mention I could get more disability. Now I'm wondering if I should ask about this at my appointment tomorrow. Does anyone know how much of your salary SDI covers compared to PFL? Is it the same percentage?

I actually just went through this whole process!! I was on SDI for pregnancy, then took my 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding, and THEN got put on SDI again for postpartum anxiety/depression. It's totally possible! But heres what I learned: - You need to file a completely new disability claim - Your doctor needs to be VERY specific about why you can't work - There's a chance they'll investigate it more thoroughly than a normal claim - If approved, you DON'T have to serve another waiting period if it's within 60 days - The transition isn't automatic - there will probably be a gap of 1-2 weeks while they process the new claim Honestly the most stressful part was just the uncertainty while waiting for approval. But it worked out and was such a relief financially!

can u use FMLA for this instead? thats what my sister did when she couldnt go back after her baby. not sure if its paid tho

Just wanted to follow up and mention - call your doctor's office beforehand and let them know exactly what you need. Many doctors aren't familiar with EDD's specific requirements and might not understand the importance of documenting your condition properly for disability benefits. When I did this, I actually brought a printout explaining what needed to be documented on the DE2501 form. My doctor was super appreciative because they deal with so many different forms and insurance requirements. You want them to specify: 1. Exact diagnosis (with codes) 2. Specific work restrictions 3. Expected duration 4. How it differs from normal post-birth recovery This extra step made the process so much smoother for me!

everybody saying this works but nobody talks about how LONG it takes to get approved!! my friend did this and it took like 6 weeks to get her first payment on the new claim even tho she applied before her pfl ended. just be prepared for that!!!