Can I file for SDI with back-to-back pregnancies? Returning from maternity leave in June 2024, due again December 2024

Congrats on babies but omg thats honestly a SDI nightmare scenario lol. I think u need to have enough wages in ur base period which is like 5-18 months b4 u file. So if ur not working and earning from Dec 2023 to June 2024, and then only work till Dec 2024... not sure if that's enough?? The EDD website is SO confusing about this.

Yes, you can file for SDI for your second pregnancy, but eligibility depends on your base period wages. For a December 2024 claim, EDD would look at wages from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. The catch is that you need approximately $300 in wages in the base period (specifically, you need at least $300 in your highest quarter of the base period). Since you were on leave from Dec 2023 to June 2024, you'd need to have had enough wages from July-December 2023 to qualify. Importantly, SDI/PFL benefits don't count as wages for calculating future claims. Only actual wages from employment count. I recommend calling EDD directly to verify your specific situation based on your exact work/leave dates and earnings.

I had a somewhat similar situation last year (though not EXACTLY the same). I ended up spending DAYS trying to get through to someone at EDD who could actually answer my question. Would call, wait for hours, get disconnected, repeat. It was SO frustrating especially being pregnant and working!

I went through something very similar in 2022-2023! The key is understanding your base period. Since you're filing in December 2024, your base period would be July 2023-June 2024. Here's what I learned: 1. You need roughly $300 in wages during your highest-earning quarter within that base period 2. SDI and PFL payments DON'T count as wages for future claims 3. If you worked July-December 2023 before your first leave, those wages would be in your base period In my case, I had enough wages in my base period even though I was on leave for part of it. You should definitely be eligible if you worked full-time for several months before your first leave. When you return to work in June 2024, make sure your doctor doesn't put you on pregnancy disability too early for baby #2, as you want to maximize your work time to strengthen future claims.

Yes, your benefit amount will likely be lower for the second pregnancy. SDI benefits are calculated based on your highest-quarter earnings in the base period, and with fewer months of wages, your weekly benefit amount (WBA) might decrease. For example, if you earned $15,000 in your highest quarter during the base period for your first pregnancy, but only have $9,000 in your highest quarter for the second pregnancy's base period, your weekly benefit would be proportionally lower. The current formula is approximately 60-70% of your highest quarter wages (divided by 13 weeks). The 2025 maximum weekly benefit will likely be around $1,650 (it increases slightly each year).

HEADS UP - I'm going through EXACTLY your situation right now and it's been a NIGHTMARE dealing with EDD! Applied for my second pregnancy SDI claim after only being back at work for 5 months between babies. They initially DENIED my claim saying I didn't have enough base period wages!!! Turned out they weren't counting my wages correctly. Had to file an appeal and wait WEEKS for it to be resolved. They eventually approved it but calculated my benefit amount wrong TWICE before getting it right. Make sure you keep ALL your paystubs from before your first leave and after returning to work. You'll need them to prove your earnings when inevitably the EDD messes something up (they always do with complicated cases). Good luck and congrats on the babies!!!

I had to file a formal appeal which took forever (like 3 weeks just for that part). Then another 2 weeks for them to recalculate. All in all it was almost 6 weeks from filing to first payment! I was PANICKING about bills the whole time. One thing I wish I'd known - keep calling different agents if you get a denial. The first 2 reps I talked to had NO CLUE how to handle back-to-back pregnancy claims and gave me completely wrong info. The 3rd person actually knew what they were doing and tried to help, but by then my claim was already in the appeal process. This time around, start calling as soon as you're 9 weeks from your due date (that's when you can first apply). Don't wait until the last minute like I did!

Congrats on your growing family! One thing no one's mentioned yet - while you're sorting out SDI eligibility, don't forget that PFL baby bonding eligibility has different rules. Even if you qualify for SDI for pregnancy #2, you might hit complications with PFL after birth if you haven't worked enough between leaves. The PFL eligibility is similar to SDI (needing wages in the base period), but sometimes people qualify for one and not the other depending on timing. Just something else to ask about when you talk to EDD!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just wanted to add that when you do call EDD, ask them to run a "benefit year earnings inquiry" or "wage inquiry" for your specific dates. This will show exactly what wages they have on file for your base period. Sometimes employers are slow to report wages to EDD, especially if you've been on leave. If your July-December 2023 wages aren't showing up correctly in their system, you might need to provide W-2s or paystubs to prove your earnings. I had this issue and it delayed my claim by weeks! Also, if you're working with HR at your job, give them a heads up about the back-to-back leaves now. Some companies have their own policies about consecutive FMLA/disability leave that could affect your job protection. Better to know early than be surprised later! Hope everything works out smoothly for you and baby #2! 💙

Wow, reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! I'm in a somewhat similar boat - currently 8 months pregnant with my first and already worried about potential future pregnancies and how the timing might affect benefits. One thing I wanted to add that might be helpful: I've been keeping a detailed spreadsheet of all my work dates, leave dates, and earnings since I started planning for maternity leave. My HR person recommended this because she said EDD claims can get messy when there are gaps in employment or unusual timing situations. Also, has anyone dealt with employers who are less than supportive about back-to-back leaves? I'm worried about job security if I end up in a similar situation down the road. Are there any protections beyond just FMLA? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to be such a valuable resource for people dealing with complex pregnancy leave situations! 🤱

I'm not in this exact situation but wanted to share something that might help! My friend went through back-to-back pregnancies in 2023 and had a similar base period concern. She ended up working with a disability advocate who helped her navigate the whole process with EDD. The advocate helped her understand that even though she had fewer working months in her base period, she still qualified because her July-December 2023 wages met the minimum requirements. They also helped her file everything correctly the first time so she didn't have to deal with appeals and delays. I think the service was through her union, but there might be other advocacy resources available if you're struggling to get clear answers from EDD directly. Sometimes having someone who knows the system inside and out can make all the difference, especially with complicated timing situations like yours. Wishing you all the best with baby #2 and hoping the SDI process goes smoothly! 🍼

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm actually in a very similar situation - just returned to work in February 2024 after my first maternity leave and found out I'm pregnant again with baby due in September 2024. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful, especially the detailed explanations about base period calculations. Like @Isabella Martin, I was really worried about eligibility since I've only been back at work for a couple months. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: when I called EDD to ask about my situation, the rep told me that as long as you have at least $300 in wages in your highest quarter during the base period, you should qualify. She also mentioned that the timing of when you return to work between pregnancies can actually help strengthen your claim if you're able to work even a few months. For anyone else dealing with this, I'd definitely recommend calling EDD multiple times if you get conflicting information. The first rep I talked to seemed confused about back-to-back pregnancy claims, but the second one was much more knowledgeable and actually walked me through the calculation. Fingers crossed for all of us navigating these complicated situations! The stress of figuring out benefits while pregnant is really something else. 😅

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm currently 6 months pregnant with my first baby and already starting to think about family planning for a potential second child. Reading through everyone's experiences with back-to-back pregnancies and SDI claims has given me so much valuable information to consider. I love the suggestion about keeping a detailed spreadsheet of work dates, leave dates, and earnings - definitely starting that now! And the advice about calling EDD multiple times if you get conflicting information seems crucial, especially for these more complex timing situations. One question I have after reading through all this: for those who successfully navigated back-to-back pregnancy claims, did you find it helpful to start gathering documentation (like paystubs from your base period) before you actually needed to file? It sounds like having everything organized upfront could save a lot of headaches later if EDD makes any calculation errors. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for supporting each other through these complicated benefit situations! 💙

This thread is incredibly detailed and helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar back-to-back pregnancy situation (baby #1 born in January 2024, back to work in May 2024, pregnant again with baby due March 2025). One thing I wanted to add that might help others: when I spoke with EDD about my eligibility concerns, they mentioned that you can actually request a "benefits estimate" before filing your actual claim. This lets you see what your potential weekly benefit amount would be based on your current wage history without starting the official claim process. The rep told me this can be really helpful for planning purposes, especially in complex situations like ours where the base period calculations aren't straightforward. It also helps you spot any wage reporting issues early so you can address them before they delay your actual claim. For anyone worried about timing like @Isabella Martin, I'd definitely recommend asking for this estimate when you call EDD - it gave me so much peace of mind knowing I'd actually qualify and what to expect financially. The whole back-to-back pregnancy benefits situation is stressful enough without wondering if you'll even get approved! Congrats to everyone growing their families - we've got this! 💪

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm currently 14 weeks pregnant with my first and already thinking about potential spacing for future children, so this has been incredibly educational. One thing I wanted to ask that I haven't seen mentioned yet: has anyone dealt with complications where you might need to go on pregnancy disability earlier than expected with the second pregnancy? I'm wondering if that could affect your base period earnings if you end up taking leave sooner than planned. Also, for those who successfully navigated back-to-back claims, did you find it helpful to work with your employer's HR department early in the process? I'm wondering if giving them advance notice about potential timing could help avoid any confusion with leave coordination or benefit administration. The spreadsheet idea and benefits estimate tip are going straight into my planning notes! It's amazing how much strategic thinking goes into family planning when you factor in all these benefit considerations. Wishing everyone smooth pregnancies and hassle-free EDD experiences! 🤞✨

This thread has been absolutely invaluable - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences! I'm currently 7 months pregnant with my first and my husband and I have been discussing timing for a potential second baby. Reading through everyone's situations has really opened my eyes to how complex the SDI system can be with back-to-back pregnancies. The tip about requesting a benefits estimate from EDD is brilliant - I had no idea that was even possible! And I'm definitely going to start that earnings spreadsheet right away. It sounds like being super organized with documentation is crucial for avoiding delays and calculation errors. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen discussed much: has anyone had experience with different employers between pregnancies? I'm wondering if changing jobs between babies could complicate the base period wage calculations, especially if the new employer is slower to report wages to EDD. Also, for those who've been through this process, did you find it helpful to connect with other parents who had similar timing situations? This community seems so supportive and knowledgeable compared to trying to figure everything out alone! Sending positive vibes to everyone navigating these complex benefit situations while growing their families! 💕