Can I claim postpartum depression after PFL baby bonding without returning to work?

In California, you actually CAN go from Paid Family Leave directly to a disability claim for postpartum depression without returning to work first. The 14-day work requirement doesn't apply when your disability is related to your pregnancy/childbirth. Postpartum depression is considered pregnancy-related. You'll need your doctor to complete a new DE2501 form specifically for the postpartum depression diagnosis once your baby bonding PFL ends. Make sure your doctor clearly indicates it's related to your pregnancy/childbirth on the form. I went through this myself last year. Just be aware that the transition isn't always smooth - I had to call EDD several times to make sure the new claim was processed correctly.

yes u can go right to disabilty for ppd but ur doctor has to say its pregnancy related!!! i did this in 2022 and got 10 more weeks. dont listen to anyone who says u have to go back to work first thats NOT TRUE for ppd!

I'm in a similar boat and tried calling the EDD for THREE DAYS to get this answered!!! Every time I called I was on hold for over an hour and then got disconnected. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The agent confirmed that postpartum depression is considered pregnancy-related so you DON'T need to return to work before filing a new disability claim. Just make sure your doctor documents that it's directly related to your pregnancy/childbirth.

This isn't completely accurate!! You have to exhaust all your PFL baby bonding FIRST before you can claim disability for PPD. If you try to stop PFL early to switch to disability, they'll deny your claim. At least that's what happened to me in December. I had to appeal and it was a whole nightmare. Just use all 8 weeks of PFL and THEN file the disability claim for PPD.

Wait I'm confused - isn't postpartum depression covered under regular SDI? Why are we talking about PFL at all? Or are you asking if you can go back to SDI after doing PFL baby bonding? Sorry just trying to understand the question better.

I had severe PPD with my first baby in 2023 and ended up on disability for it after my baby bonding time. Make sure your doctor is very specific about your symptoms and how they prevent you from working. My first claim was denied because the doctor just wrote "postpartum depression" without details. Second attempt with detailed symptoms got approved right away. Also, get the claim started BEFORE your PFL ends so there's no gap in payments. They can't process it until your PFL is complete, but you can submit the paperwork early. Also, I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. PPD is horrible and you deserve support. Please reach out to Postpartum Support International if you need additional resources - they have a helpline at 1-800-944-4773.

My sister went through this last year and her doctor told her that she should just apply for regular disability and not mention pregnancy at all because it would be processed faster lol. But I think the official way is definitely better!

Thank you all SO MUCH for the helpful information! I'm going to talk to my doctor at my appointment next week and make sure they document everything properly when the time comes. I'll use all 8 weeks of my PFL first, then transition to disability for the PPD if I'm still struggling. It's such a relief to know I have options and don't have to worry about returning to work first. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences and knowledge!

I'm so glad you found the support you needed here! Just wanted to add one more thing - when you do file that disability claim for PPD, make sure to keep detailed records of all your symptoms and how they're affecting your daily life. I kept a simple journal on my phone noting things like sleep disruption, anxiety levels, inability to concentrate, etc. My doctor said it really helped when filling out the DE2501 form because she could reference specific examples of how the PPD was impacting my ability to work. Also, don't hesitate to ask your doctor's office to expedite the paperwork if you're nearing the end of your PFL. Some offices are really good about getting disability forms processed quickly when they understand the urgency. You've got this, and remember that taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical recovery! 💙

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in benefits administration - everything shared here is accurate! The key point is that postpartum depression is legally considered a pregnancy-related disability in California, which is why you can transition directly from PFL to SDI without the usual 14-day return-to-work requirement. One thing I'd add is to make sure your doctor uses specific diagnostic codes on the DE2501 form. The ICD-10 codes for postpartum depression (like F53.0 or F53.1) help establish that it's pregnancy-related. Also, if you're seeing a psychiatrist or therapist in addition to your OB/GYN, having both providers coordinate on the documentation can strengthen your claim. The whole process can feel overwhelming when you're already struggling with PPD, but you're asking all the right questions and planning ahead, which is great. Wishing you the best with your recovery! 💜

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently 4 weeks into my PFL baby bonding and have been struggling with what I now realize might be PPD. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that there are options available. One question I have - for those who successfully transitioned from PFL to disability for PPD, how long did the approval process typically take? I'm trying to plan financially and want to make sure I understand the timeline. Also, did any of you experience pushback from EDD initially, or were they generally understanding once the pregnancy-related connection was properly documented? Thank you all for creating such a supportive space to discuss these issues. It's so hard to navigate this system while dealing with the emotional challenges of PPD, and having real experiences shared here makes such a difference! 🤍

I've been following this thread as someone who went through a very similar situation two years ago, and I want to echo what others have said - you absolutely CAN transition directly from PFL to disability for postpartum depression without returning to work first. The pregnancy-related exception is real and it saved me during one of the most difficult times in my life. A few practical tips from my experience: 1) Start the conversation with your doctor NOW about documenting your symptoms, even while you're still on PFL. This gives them time to observe and note the progression. 2) If possible, get a referral to a perinatal mental health specialist - they're experts at filling out these forms properly. 3) Consider applying online through SDI Online rather than mailing forms - it's faster and you get confirmation of receipt. Most importantly, please be gentle with yourself during this process. PPD is a serious medical condition, not a personal failing, and you deserve all the support available to you. The fact that you're planning ahead and asking these questions shows you're being a responsible parent by taking care of your own health first. ❤️

I'm currently dealing with postpartum anxiety and depression after having my son 3 months ago, and this entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I used my 6 weeks of pregnancy disability, then transitioned to PFL for baby bonding, but my mental health has actually gotten worse over the past few weeks. Reading everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to talk to my doctor about potentially filing for disability once my PFL ends. The information about the pregnancy-related exception is so important - I had no idea this was even an option and was terrified about having to choose between getting help and losing income. Thank you especially to those who shared specific tips about documentation and diagnostic codes. I'm going to start keeping a symptom journal like @Zoe Stavros suggested and ask my doctor about getting a referral to a perinatal mental health specialist as @Luca Russo mentioned. It's been so isolating dealing with this, and finding a community of people who understand both the emotional and practical challenges has been incredibly valuable. PPD/PPA is so much harder than I ever imagined, but knowing there are resources and support available makes me feel less alone. 💙