Can I get baby bonding PFL after quitting my job 2 weeks before birth?

Yes, you can still apply for PFL baby bonding! California PFL is completely different from FMLA. As long as you were paying into SDI (State Disability Insurance) during your base period, you should qualify. When you leave work doesn't matter for PFL eligibility. The base period is usually 5-17 months before you file your claim. Since you worked full-time for 5 years and just recently quit, you definitely have enough wages in your base period. File your DE2508 form ASAP through the EDD website or by mail. Just remember, PFL gives you 8 weeks of partial wage replacement for bonding, which you can take all at once or split up, but you must use it within the first year of birth.

Be careful with the timing! I'm not 100% sure, but I think there might be an issue if you weren't actively employed when the baby was born. When I had my baby last year, the EDD rep told me you need to be employed or on SDI pregnancy disability leave when you start PFL baby bonding. Did you file for pregnancy disability leave after quitting but before giving birth?

You absolutely can file for PFL baby bonding! I was in almost the exact same situation in 2023. Left my toxic job about 3 weeks before my due date (couldn't take it anymore) and was approved for PFL with no issues. Here's what you need to do: 1. File form DE2508 through EDD website 2. Have your baby's birth certificate ready (they'll ask for a copy) 3. Provide your last employer's info and your last day worked The benefit is calculated based on your highest earning quarter in the base period. With 5 years at your previous job, you should qualify for the maximum weekly benefit (around $1,620 in 2025). One tip: EDD phone lines are impossible to get through if you have questions. I spent hours trying. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an EDD agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. Totally worth it for peace of mind. Good luck and congrats on your baby!

im pretty sure u need 2 b emplouyed when u give birth 4 PFL? my sister tried to get it after quitting her job and got denied. maybe the rules r different now tho?

I was on the EDD website yesterday for my own PFL claim and I noticed they specifically state: "You don't need to be employed or looking for work to receive PFL benefits." So I think you're good!

The CA system is so confusing!!! I'm going through this nightmare right now too. Just a heads up - they might ask why you quit your job. I had to provide a statement explaining why I left (medical reasons in my case) because some reasons for quitting can affect eligibility. They took FOREVER to process my claim because of this - like 6 weeks! And trying to call them was a joke - always busy signals or 3+ hour waits. DON'T wait to file your claim! Do it NOW even if you're missing some documents. You can always submit those later. The longer you wait, the more complicated it gets.

congrats on ur baby!! 🎉 my friend just had her baby and she said when she called EDD they told her u can get PFL as long as u paid SDI taxes in the last 18 months. so u should be fine since u worked for 5 yrs!

Wait I'm confused... You said you want to apply for FMLA in your post but then everyone's talking about PFL? Those are completely different things. FMLA is job protection through your employer (which you definitely don't qualify for since you quit). PFL is the CA wage replacement program. Just making sure you understand the difference?

One more thing I forgot to mention - make sure you have your ID.me account set up before trying to file your PFL claim online. The EDD website now requires this verification, and it can take a day or two to get approved. Would hate for you to have delays because of that technical step!

Hi Andre! I went through something very similar last year - had to leave my job at 36 weeks due to severe pregnancy complications and stress. I was so worried about losing benefits, but PFL saved us financially during those early weeks with our baby. Just wanted to add a few things that helped me with my application: 1. Keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit - EDD has a habit of "losing" documents 2. Take screenshots of your online application confirmation pages 3. If you have any pregnancy-related medical records mentioning work stress, keep those handy in case they ask why you quit The whole process took about 3-4 weeks for me to get my first payment, but it was such a relief when it came through. You've got this! And congratulations on your daughter! 👶✨ Also, don't let anyone tell you that quitting disqualifies you - that's just not true for CA PFL. You earned those benefits by paying into SDI for 5 years!

Hey Andre! I just wanted to chime in as someone who works in HR and deals with CA benefits regularly. You're absolutely eligible for PFL baby bonding benefits! The key thing everyone's mentioned is correct - you just need to have paid into SDI during your base period, which you definitely have with 5 years of full-time work. A few quick tips from what I've seen help people: - When you file the DE2508, make sure your baby's birth certificate is crystal clear (no blurry photos if submitting online) - Have your final paystub from your last employer ready - they sometimes ask for it to verify your wages - File as soon as possible! The 8-week bonding period starts ticking from when you could have first filed, not when you actually file The toxic work environment issue shouldn't affect your PFL claim at all - that's more of a concern for unemployment benefits. PFL is purely about your SDI contributions and the qualifying life event (your baby's birth). You made the right choice prioritizing your health and your baby's wellbeing. Good luck with the application process and enjoy this precious time with your little one! 🍼

Congratulations on your baby girl! 🎉 As someone who went through a similar situation (left my job at 37 weeks due to harassment), I can confirm that you're absolutely eligible for PFL baby bonding benefits. The fact that you quit doesn't matter at all for California PFL - it's completely separate from job protection laws like FMLA. Since you worked full-time for 5 years and were paying into SDI, you definitely meet the requirements. Here's what made my process smoother: - Apply online through EDD's website with form DE2508 ASAP - Have your baby's birth certificate, Social Security number, and your final pay stub ready - Don't worry about providing explanations for why you quit unless they specifically ask - The weekly benefit amount is based on your highest quarter earnings in the base period, so with 5 years of work history you should get a decent amount It took about 4 weeks for my first payment to arrive, but it was such a lifesaver during those early bonding weeks. The toxic work environment actually sounds similar to what I dealt with - prioritizing your mental health and baby's wellbeing was absolutely the right call. You've got this! The application process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Enjoy these precious early days with your daughter! 💕

Andre, I went through almost the exact same situation in 2022! I had to leave my job at 39 weeks due to severe workplace stress that was affecting my pregnancy, and I was terrified about losing benefits. But California PFL for baby bonding was a total lifesaver. The great news is that your employment status when baby was born doesn't matter at all for PFL eligibility. What matters is that you paid into SDI during your base period (which covers about 5-17 months before you file), and with 5 years of full-time work, you're definitely covered. Here's what I wish someone had told me before I applied: - File your DE2508 form ASAP through the EDD website (don't wait!) - Have your baby's certified birth certificate ready (not just a hospital record) - Keep your final paystub from your last job handy - The 8 weeks of bonding time can be taken all at once or intermittently within baby's first year My processing took about 3 weeks, and I received 60-70% of my regular wages. It was such a relief during those precious early weeks with my son. Don't let anyone tell you that quitting disqualifies you - that's simply not true for CA PFL. You paid into the system for 5 years and you've earned these benefits! Congratulations on your daughter and trust me, you made the right choice prioritizing both of your health! 🍼💕

Hey Andre! I actually just went through this exact situation last month - had to leave my job at 36 weeks due to a hostile work environment and was panicking about benefits. I can confirm that you're absolutely eligible for PFL baby bonding! The key thing is that California PFL is totally separate from your employment status at the time of birth. As long as you contributed to SDI during your base period (which you definitely did with 5 years of full-time work), you qualify for the full 8 weeks of partial wage replacement. I filed my DE2508 about 2 weeks after my baby was born and got approved within about 3 weeks. The weekly benefit amount was calculated based on my earnings from when I was still working, so leaving early didn't hurt that at all. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - screenshots of my application, copies of all documents I submitted, etc. EDD can be slow to respond if there are any issues, so having everything organized made the process much smoother. You absolutely made the right call leaving that toxic environment - your health and your baby's wellbeing come first! Don't let anyone make you feel bad about that decision. You earned these benefits fair and square. Congrats on your daughter and good luck with the application! 💕

Andre, I'm so glad you asked this question! I was in a very similar boat last year - had to leave my job at 37 weeks due to severe workplace stress and discrimination that was literally making me sick. I was absolutely terrified that I'd lose all my benefits by quitting so close to my due date. But here's the thing - California PFL is completely separate from your employment status! The only thing that matters is whether you paid into SDI during your base period, and with 5 years of full-time work, you're golden. I got my full 8 weeks of benefits at about 65% of my previous wages, and it was such a lifesaver during those early bonding weeks. A few things that helped me navigate the process: - Don't overthink the reason you quit - PFL doesn't care about why you left, only that you contributed to SDI - File online through EDD's website ASAP with form DE2508 - Have your baby's birth certificate, SSN, and last paystub ready - Take screenshots of everything you submit (EDD's system can be glitchy) The whole process took about 4 weeks from application to first payment. I know it feels scary applying when you're not sure about eligibility, but trust me - you've earned these benefits! You prioritized your health and your baby's wellbeing, which was absolutely the right choice. Congratulations on your daughter! These early weeks are so precious, and PFL will help you focus on bonding instead of stressing about finances. You've got this! 💕

Hey andre, so I am in the same situation as you but im quitting before my disability ends because they want me to go back to work but I am in a very stressful PP state that is not safe for me to go back to work and my disability will no longer be extended and I exhausted my FMLA so I have no job protection anymore. According to them, if I don't go back after my disability ends I will lose my job. So I plan to quit and then take my baby bonding. Did they ask you for any proof of employment or why did you quit?

Hi Alma! I actually haven't applied yet (I'm planning to do it today based on all the helpful advice in this thread), but from what everyone here has shared, it sounds like EDD typically doesn't ask for proof of employment status or reasons for quitting when it comes to PFL baby bonding claims. Several people mentioned that PFL is completely separate from your employment situation - it's only based on whether you paid into SDI during your base period. A few folks did mention that EDD might ask why you quit in some cases, but it doesn't seem to be a standard requirement and doesn't affect eligibility. Your situation with exhausted FMLA and disability ending sounds really stressful - I'm sorry you're dealing with that on top of everything else postpartum brings. From what I've learned from this thread, quitting shouldn't affect your PFL baby bonding eligibility at all since you've been paying into SDI. I'd definitely recommend reading through all the responses here - there's so much helpful information from people who've actually gone through similar situations. It sounds like we're both going to be just fine with PFL! Good luck with your application! 💕

Andre, I'm so glad you posted this question because I was literally in the exact same situation last year! I had to leave my job at 39 weeks due to an incredibly toxic manager who was causing me panic attacks daily. My son was born 10 days after my last day of work. I was absolutely terrified that I'd ruined everything by quitting so close to birth, but California PFL saved us! You are 100% eligible for baby bonding benefits because it's only based on your SDI contributions during the base period - not your employment status when baby arrives. Here's what I learned going through the process: - File form DE2508 online ASAP (don't wait any longer!) - You'll get partial wage replacement for up to 8 weeks of bonding time - With 5 years of full-time work, you definitely have enough SDI contributions - They don't care why you quit - PFL is separate from unemployment benefits My claim was approved in about 3 weeks and I received around 60% of my previous salary. It was such a lifesaver during those precious early weeks with my baby. You made the absolute right choice prioritizing your health and your daughter's wellbeing over a toxic work environment. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about that decision - you earned these benefits through years of SDI contributions! Apply today and enjoy this special bonding time with your little girl! 💕

Andre, I just wanted to add my voice to all the encouraging responses you've received! I work as a benefits coordinator for a large company in California, and I can confirm that everyone giving you advice about PFL eligibility is absolutely correct. You are definitely eligible for baby bonding PFL benefits! The key factors are: 1. You paid into SDI during your base period (✓ - 5 years of full-time work) 2. You have a qualifying family event (✓ - birth of your daughter) 3. You're seeking bonding time within baby's first year (✓) That's it! Your employment status at birth, reason for leaving, or current job situation are completely irrelevant for PFL claims. A few professional tips to make your process smoother: - Apply online at EDD's website with form DE2508 - Submit clear, legible copies of all documents - Keep records of everything you submit - Don't delay - the sooner you apply, the sooner benefits can start I see these claims processed regularly, and yours is a textbook case for approval. With your work history, you should receive a good weekly benefit amount for all 8 weeks of bonding time. You made the right choice prioritizing your health during pregnancy. Now focus on enjoying these precious early weeks with your daughter while PFL provides the financial support you've earned! Congratulations! 🍼

Andre, I just wanted to add one more encouraging voice to this amazing thread! I went through almost the exact same situation in early 2024 - had to leave my job at 38 weeks due to severe workplace harassment that was causing me daily stress and affecting my pregnancy. My baby was born 15 days after my last day of work. I was absolutely panicked about losing benefits, but California PFL for baby bonding came through for us! The application process was straightforward once I stopped overthinking it: - Filed DE2508 online about 2 weeks after birth - Provided baby's birth certificate and my final paystub - Never had to explain why I quit (they didn't ask) - Got approved in about 4 weeks - Received roughly 65% of my previous wages for the full 8 weeks The financial relief was incredible during those precious early bonding weeks. What really struck me reading through all these responses is how common this situation apparently is - so many of us have had to make the difficult choice to leave toxic work environments during pregnancy. You absolutely made the right decision prioritizing your health and your daughter's wellbeing. After 5 years of paying into SDI, you've more than earned these benefits! Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about accessing support you literally paid for. Apply today and then focus on enjoying this special time with your little girl. You've got this! 💕✨

Andre, I'm so glad you found this supportive community! Reading through all these responses has been really heartwarming - it's amazing how many people have shared their similar experiences to help you feel confident about your situation. I just wanted to add that as someone who's been following CA benefits discussions for a while, your case is absolutely straightforward for PFL approval. With 5 years of SDI contributions, you're exactly the type of person this benefit was designed to support. The fact that so many people here went through nearly identical situations (leaving toxic workplaces in late pregnancy) and all got approved should give you complete peace of mind. It sounds like you've got all your documents ready and a clear plan to apply today - that's perfect! Enjoy these precious early weeks with your daughter, and don't spend another minute worrying about eligibility. You've earned this support through years of contributions, and now it's time to focus on what matters most - bonding with your little one! Congratulations! 💕🎉