Can I get EDD PFL if my LAUSD after-school job doesn't offer maternity leave?

Congrats on your baby!!! But ya ur employer not offering maternity leave doesn't mean you can't get state benefits. CA disability (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) come from the state not your employer. Check ur paystub - if u see "SDI" or "CASDI" being deducted, you qualify! My sister works as a teacher's aide and got both. First SDI for the recovery part (like 6-8 weeks depending on birth type) then another 8 weeks PFL for baby bonding. You apply for SDI first then transition to PFL later.

The good news is that in CA, you don't need your employer to offer maternity leave to get benefits. If you've paid into SDI (check paystub), you can file for pregnancy disability before birth, then recovery after (usually 6-8 wks), THEN 8 weeks of baby bonding PFL. The bad news is benefits are only about 60-70% of your pay up to a max $$$. When I had my daughter last year, I was able to get all of these even though my small company had no maternity policy. Start saving now if you can, because there's also a waiting period before payments begin!

I work at LAUSD central office, and can confirm that after-school program employees ARE eligible for state disability and PFL benefits if SDI deductions appear on your paystubs! Even though LAUSD doesn't provide its own paid maternity leave for your position, California law entitles you to: 1. Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) - up to 4 weeks before birth and 6-8 weeks after (paid through SDI) 2. California Paid Family Leave (PFL) - 8 weeks of baby bonding time at 60-70% of your salary To apply: File DE2501 form for disability about 9 weeks before your due date. After disability ends, file DE2508 form for PFL baby bonding. You'll need to provide birth certificate for PFL portion. Make sure to also file for FMLA/CFRA job protection separately through your LAUSD supervisor to protect your position. While these don't provide pay, they guarantee you can return to your job.

everyone here is giving good advice but forgot to mention you should apply for disability ONLINE not paper forms!! the paper forms take like twice as long to process. my friend works at a school (not lausd but similar) and she waited 6 weeks for her disability to get approved because she sent paper forms. meanwhile i did mine online and got approved in 2 weeks.

I went through this exact situation with LAUSD extended day program last year! The process looked easy online but let me tell you, it was a NIGHTMARE trying to get through to an actual EDD person when I had questions or when my disability claim got stuck "pending" for weeks. I kept calling that stupid 800 number and either got disconnected or was on hold for 3+ hours (not exaggerating). I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) after another mom recommended it, and they got me connected to an actual EDD agent in about 20 minutes. Totally worth it when I was panicking about money! They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 My advice: apply online 9 weeks before due date, keep ALL your paperwork organized, and don't wait if something seems stuck. The transition from disability to PFL was especially confusing and I needed help.

I'm sorry but this is INCORRECT information people are giving you! After-school programs are considered "educational institutions" under CA law and often have different SDI rules. SOME LAUSD jobs (like yours) fall under a special classification that DOES NOT PAY INTO SDI even if it appears on your stub!!! My wife works for LAUSD and got DENIED because her specific employment category wasn't covered. You need to check if you're classified as "certificated" vs "classified" staff and whether you have a collective bargaining agreement with different provisions. Contact your union rep IMMEDIATELY and verify your exact classification before assuming you qualify.

When I had my baby, I didn't know about filing for disability BEFORE birth and missed out on 4 weeks of payments! Don't make my mistake. File DE2501 about 9 weeks before your due date so it's processed in time. Doctor typically certifies disability starting 4 weeks before due date. Also remember you get 6 weeks disability after vaginal birth or 8 weeks after c-section, THEN the 8 weeks baby bonding starts after that. That's potentially 18-20 weeks of partial pay benefits! Also, very important: Your job is only legally protected if you ALSO file FMLA/CFRA paperwork with HR. State benefits are separate from job protection!

Lol everyone arguing about SDI but nobody mentioned you should also apply for WIC and possibly CalFresh. The income requirements go up when you're pregnant/have a child, and if you're only getting 60% of your regular pay during leave, you might qualify! Free food and formula can save you hundreds $$$ each month.

Hey there! I'm also an LAUSD after-school program employee and went through this exact situation 6 months ago. First, congratulations on your pregnancy! I can confirm that if you see SDI deductions on your paystub, you ARE eligible for both disability and PFL benefits. I was initially worried like you because our program doesn't offer any paid maternity leave, but the state benefits are completely separate from what your employer offers. Here's my timeline that worked well: I filed my DE2501 form online exactly 9 weeks before my due date. My OB was very familiar with the process and submitted their portion electronically. I got approved for 4 weeks pre-birth disability, then 6 weeks post-birth recovery, followed by 8 weeks of baby bonding PFL. One tip: Keep checking your EDD online account regularly during the process. There was one point where they needed additional documentation and I almost missed the deadline because I wasn't checking frequently enough. Also, definitely file your FMLA/CFRA paperwork with your supervisor separately - it's what protects your job while you're on leave. The benefits and job protection are two different things that you need to handle separately. Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions about navigating the LAUSD system during this process!