Can I get EDD disability and PFL benefits if currently unemployed but worked in last 18 months?

Yes, you absolutely can get both disability (for the pregnancy/birth) and PFL (for baby bonding) if you paid into SDI during your base period! The base period is typically 5-18 months before your claim. You don't need to be currently employed to qualify. For retroactive disability, you'll need your doctor to complete the medical portion of the DE2501 form with your actual disability period (usually 4 weeks before birth through 6-8 weeks after depending on delivery type). You'll need to explain the delay in filing. Then after that ends, you can transition to PFL baby bonding for 8 weeks. You'll need your baby's birth certificate for that part.

i was in this exact situation last year! got laid off when i was 6 months pregnant, collected unemployment until my due date, then got disability and then pfl. u definitely qualify if u were paying SDI taxes at ur job. the key is the base period like the other person said

CAREFUL HERE! You cannot collect unemployment and disability/PFL for the same period!! If you were on unemployment before giving birth, make sure you properly ended your UI claim before your disability start date. EDD will catch this and it creates a HUGE headache when they demand repayment + penalties for overlapping benefits. Also the 18 month thing is slightly off - it's really about your "base period" which is a specific calculation EDD uses. But yes, you can absolutely claim while unemployed as long as you paid into SDI during your base period quarters.

I help people navigate EDD benefits regularly, and there's definitely a filing deadline you need to be aware of! For disability claims, you must file within 49 days of the start of your disability to avoid losing benefits. Since you're filing retroactively for both pregnancy and delivery, you need to file ASAP. For the retroactive pregnancy portion (4 weeks before birth), you're already past the 49-day window, so you might lose some of those benefits. For the postpartum recovery portion, you're still within the window but getting close to the deadline. The fastest way to resolve this is to speak directly with an EDD representative who can advise on your specific situation. However, many people struggle to get through on the phone. I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you bypass the long wait times and connect with EDD quickly. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 In your situation with the timing issues, speaking directly with an EDD rep is probably the best approach.

Just adding my experience - I was in a similar situation in 2024 and did receive both benefits! A few things I learned: 1) Your "base period" is a specific 12-month period within the 18 months your doctor mentioned. It's divided into calendar quarters. 2) You need to have earned at least $300 during your base period with SDI contributions. 3) For c-section recovery, you get 8 weeks post-birth disability. 4) After disability ends, you can get 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding. 5) You'll need your baby's birth certificate for the PFL portion. Oh and make sure you do the disability claim first! You can't go straight to PFL - it has to be disability for the pregnancy/birth and THEN transition to PFL baby bonding.

one more thing i forgot to mention - when i did my pfl claim they wanted proof of my relationship to the baby which was annoying cuz obviously im the mom lol. so have the birth certificate ready when u apply for the baby bonding part

To answer your question about transitioning from disability to PFL - there IS a gap if you don't file your PFL claim immediately when your disability ends. This was confusing for me too! What worked for me: I filed my PFL claim online about a week before my disability was scheduled to end. This way, there was no gap in payment. If you wait until after disability ends, you might have a 1-2 week gap while they process the new claim. The system recognizes you as a disability claimant transitioning to PFL, which makes the process smoother. They'll ask for your disability claim number during the PFL application.

Since you mentioned having a c-section, you're eligible for 8 weeks of post-birth disability (instead of the 6 weeks for vaginal delivery). EDD won't automatically know you had a c-section, so make sure your doctor indicates this on the medical certification form. Regarding retroactive claims - yes, there is a 49-day filing deadline from the start of your disability period. However, EDD can make exceptions for "good cause" delays. Your situation might qualify since you were getting conflicting information. Be sure to include a detailed explanation of why you're filing late. In total, you could potentially receive: - Up to 4 weeks of pre-birth disability (though you might miss some due to late filing) - 8 weeks post-birth disability for c-section recovery - 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding That's potentially 20 weeks of benefits, though you've already passed some of that period.

Just wanted to add a quick tip that helped me - when you're filling out the DE2501 form online, there's a section where you can upload documents directly. I scanned and uploaded my baby's birth certificate, my medical records showing the c-section, and a letter explaining the late filing all at once. This seemed to speed up the review process compared to mailing everything separately. Also, don't stress too much about the exact wording in your explanation for the late filing. I just wrote something like "I was unsure if I qualified for benefits while unemployed and received conflicting information about eligibility requirements." They approved it without any issues. One last thing - make sure your doctor fills out the medical certification completely and legibly. Any missing info or illegible handwriting can delay your claim for weeks while they request clarification. Good luck with your application! Having a newborn is stressful enough without worrying about benefits.

I just wanted to chime in with some encouragement - I was in almost the exact same boat last year! Lost my job at 7 months pregnant, had a c-section, and was so overwhelmed trying to figure out all the benefits stuff while caring for a newborn. The good news is that everyone here has given you spot-on advice. I ended up getting both disability and PFL even though I wasn't working when I gave birth. The key things that helped me were: 1. Getting my doctor to be very specific about dates and the c-section on the medical forms 2. Being honest about why I filed late (I literally wrote "I didn't know I was eligible while unemployed") 3. Having all my documents ready before starting the online application The process took about 3-4 weeks total from when I submitted everything to getting my first payment. It was such a huge relief financially during those early newborn days. Don't let the complexity of it all discourage you - you've got this! And congratulations on your baby girl! 💕

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - if you're worried about the 49-day deadline, you can actually call EDD and ask them to calculate your exact base period and eligibility before you file. This way you'll know for sure if you qualify and what your benefit amount would be. When I was going through this process, I found it really helpful to have that confirmation before spending time on all the paperwork. Plus, if there are any issues with your base period earnings, it's better to know upfront rather than after you've already filed. Also, since you mentioned your OB seemed confident you'd qualify - they've probably seen this situation many times before with other patients, so that's a good sign! Doctors who regularly fill out these forms usually know what they're talking about when it comes to eligibility. Hope everything goes smoothly with your application!

Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! 🎉 I'm a mom who went through this exact situation two years ago - unemployed after layoff but still qualified for both disability and PFL benefits. Everyone has given you excellent advice, but I wanted to add one thing that really helped me: when you're filling out the reason for late filing, be specific about your confusion. I wrote something like "I was unemployed at time of delivery and received conflicting information about whether I was eligible for benefits. I was not aware that previous SDI contributions during my base period would still qualify me for these benefits while unemployed." Also, since you're already 3 weeks postpartum, I'd recommend applying TODAY if possible. The 49-day window is firm for the postpartum disability portion, and you want to make sure you don't lose any of those 8 weeks of c-section recovery benefits. One last tip - when you transition to PFL baby bonding, you can actually start that application about a week before your disability ends to avoid any payment gaps. The system will recognize you're transitioning from an existing disability claim. You've got this! Those benefits will make such a difference during this precious time with your little one. ❤️

I'm so glad you posted this question because I'm in a very similar situation! I was laid off 4 months ago when I was about 6 months pregnant, and I'm due in a few weeks. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea I could still qualify for disability and PFL benefits even while unemployed as long as I paid into SDI during my base period. The information about the 49-day filing deadline is especially important to know ahead of time. I'm definitely going to get all my paperwork ready now so I can file immediately after delivery and not run into the timing issues you're dealing with. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice in this thread - it's given me so much clarity about what to expect and how to navigate the process. And congratulations on your baby girl! 💕 I hope your application goes smoothly and you get the benefits you deserve.

I went through this exact situation 18 months ago! Was laid off at 7 months pregnant and panicked thinking I wouldn't get any maternity benefits. Turns out I was totally wrong - you absolutely can get both disability and PFL while unemployed as long as you paid SDI taxes during your base period. A few things that might help based on my experience: 1) For the late filing explanation, I kept it simple: "I was unaware that I could qualify for disability benefits while unemployed and delayed filing due to confusion about eligibility requirements." 2) Since you had a c-section, make sure your doctor specifically notes this on the DE2501 form - you're entitled to 8 weeks of recovery vs 6 weeks for vaginal delivery. 3) The transition from disability to PFL can be seamless if you file your PFL claim about a week before your disability period ends. Don't wait until after or you'll have a payment gap. 4) Have your birth certificate ready for the PFL portion - they'll definitely ask for proof of relationship to the baby. The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to first payment for me. It was such a lifesaver financially during those early weeks with my son. You've got this mama - file as soon as possible given the timing constraints everyone mentioned!

I just want to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently 8 months pregnant and was laid off 2 months ago, so I've been stress-eating ice cream wondering if I'd have any income after the baby arrives. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a relief - I had no clue I could still get disability and PFL benefits even while unemployed! The timing information is so crucial. I'm going to get all my paperwork organized now and have my OB fill out the medical portions ahead of time so I can file immediately after delivery. The 49-day deadline is definitely something I wouldn't have known about without this thread. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and practical tips! It's amazing how supportive this community is. Dylan, I hope your application goes smoothly and you get the benefits you deserve. Your question has probably helped so many other moms in similar situations! 💕

Hey Dylan! I was in almost the exact same situation last year - laid off during pregnancy and completely clueless about benefits eligibility. The advice everyone has given you is spot on! One thing I'd add that really helped me: when you call EDD (and you should definitely call to confirm your base period eligibility first), ask them to walk you through the entire timeline of benefits. They can tell you exactly when your disability period should start/end and when to file your PFL claim to avoid gaps. Also, don't stress too much about the late filing - I filed about 4 weeks after delivery and they accepted my explanation that I "didn't know unemployed individuals could qualify for SDI benefits." The key is being honest about the confusion. Since you had a c-section, you're looking at potentially 12 weeks total (4 weeks pre-birth if approved + 8 weeks post-birth disability) plus the 8 weeks of PFL bonding. Even if you lose some of the pre-birth period due to late filing, that's still a significant amount of support during this precious time with your little one. Congratulations on your baby girl, and don't let the paperwork overwhelm you - you've got this! 💕

I'm a new mom who went through this exact situation 6 months ago! I was laid off at 32 weeks pregnant and had no idea I could still get benefits while unemployed. Everyone here has given you amazing advice - I just wanted to add my experience with the actual application process. When I filed my DE2501 online, I made sure to include a detailed note in the "additional information" section explaining why I was filing late. I wrote something like: "I was unemployed at time of delivery and was unaware that previous SDI contributions made me eligible for disability benefits. I received conflicting information about eligibility and delayed filing due to this confusion." For the c-section documentation, my doctor was super helpful and made sure to clearly indicate the delivery type and recovery period needed. The 8 weeks vs 6 weeks really does make a difference financially! The whole process from filing to first payment took about 4 weeks for me. Having that income during those early newborn days was such a blessing - I can't imagine how stressful it would have been without it. You're going to get through this! File as soon as you can and don't let the complexity intimidate you. Your baby girl is lucky to have such a proactive mama looking out for your family's financial security. Congratulations and good luck! 🍼💕