Can I still qualify for EDD maternity leave if I last worked in November?

This isn't a dumb question at all! The good news is that you may still qualify for Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) through EDD even if you haven't worked since November. The key factor is whether you were paying into SDI during your base period, not whether you're currently employed. Your base period for SDI claims is the 12-month period approximately 5-18 months before you file your claim. If you worked enough during that time and paid into SDI, you should qualify. Since you worked and paid into SDI for over 2 years before November, it sounds like you should meet those requirements. You'll need to fill out the DE2501 form and have your doctor certify your disability. You can get up to 4 weeks before birth and up to 6-8 weeks after birth depending on delivery type. Then you can transition to PFL for baby bonding after that.

I was in almost the exact same situation!!! last worked in oct becos of pregnancy complications (hyperemesis gravidarum) & got my disability approved. but make sure u apply ASAP, they dont really do backpay from what i heard. good luck mama!!

Everyone here is giving you halfway correct info. I worked in HR for 6 years dealing with this stuff. Here's the ACTUAL requirements: 1. You DO NOT need to be currently employed to get SDI for pregnancy 2. You DO need to have paid into SDI during your base period (which is correct - it's the 5-18 months before filing) 3. BUT they DO NOT BACKPAY from when your condition started - they only pay from when you FILE and your doctor certifies you can't work 4. After birth, you'll get 6-8 weeks of continued SDI depending on delivery type 5. THEN you can get 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding File that DE2501 IMMEDIATELY with your doctor's certification. Every day you wait is money lost that you'll never get back. Don't make that mistake.

dont listen to these ppl saying u qualify. u have to have earned at least $300 in ur base period to qualfy for SDI and if u havent worked since november u probably dont meet that. call EDD and ask them 2 be sure.

I spent DAYS trying to get through to EDD on the phone when I was pregnant last year with the same question. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally tried this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. Totally worth it for me since I was also panicking about benefits. They basically call EDD for you and then connect you when they get through to an agent. Saved me so much stress! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 But yeah, definitely apply ASAP. I qualified even though I hadn't worked for 4 months when I applied. The EDD agent helped me fill everything out correctly over the phone.

I process disability claims at a doctor's office and work with EDD daily. Here's what you need to do: 1) Have your doctor complete a DE2501 form certifying you are disabled due to pregnancy complications 2) Submit it ASAP - benefits start when you FILE, not when you became disabled 3) Your doctor must list a specific pregnancy complication, not just "pregnancy" 4) You'll need to provide your last employer's info from November 5) For hyperemesis, make sure all your ER/urgent care visits are documented You should qualify based on what you've shared. And whoever said you need $300 in your base period is correct, but that's an extremely low threshold you've clearly met if you worked for 2+ years before November. Also worth noting: after your pregnancy disability ends, you transition to PFL for baby bonding. That's a separate claim with a separate application (DE2508) you'll file AFTER delivery.

Why would you quit instead of going on disability back in November??? Seems like you really messed up by not knowing your rights. You could have been collecting benefits this whole time instead of struggling. EDD is such a nightmare to deal with anyway, good luck even getting through to them now.

I've seen a lot of conflicting info in this thread, so let me clarify: Yes, you definitely still qualify for maternity disability benefits even if you last worked in November. The base period calculation means you almost certainly have enough earnings history. BUT - and this is critical - EDD will only pay benefits from the date you FILE FORWARD, not retroactively from when you stopped working. So if you're 7 months pregnant, file immediately to at least get benefits for these last couple months of pregnancy. After you deliver, you'll be eligible for 8 weeks of baby bonding through PFL. Combined, you should be able to get financial support for the next 3-4 months if you apply right away. Don't wait - every day matters for your benefit amount!

Hey Laura! I just wanted to add that when you call your doctor, make sure they're familiar with the DE2501 form - some doctors haven't filled these out before and might need guidance. The form needs to be very specific about your diagnosis and functional limitations. Also, a heads up that EDD's online portal can be really glitchy, so if you have trouble submitting online, you can mail or fax the forms too. I learned this the hard way when my online submission kept timing out! One more thing - start gathering all your pay stubs from your last job now. EDD will want to verify your earnings history, and having everything organized will speed up the process. You've got this mama, and don't beat yourself up about not knowing earlier - the system is confusing and they don't exactly advertise these benefits well!

I went through this exact same situation last year! I had to leave work at 6 months pregnant due to severe hyperemesis and was panicking about money. The good news is you absolutely can still qualify for SDI even though you haven't worked since November - I got approved even after being out of work for 3 months. A few practical tips from my experience: 1) Get your doctor to fill out the DE2501 form ASAP - mine was hesitant at first but once I explained it was for state disability, they were totally fine with it. 2) Make sure your medical records clearly document all your pregnancy complications and ER visits. 3) Don't stress if the EDD website is confusing - I ended up mailing my forms because the online system kept crashing. The weekly benefit amount isn't huge but it was enough to cover my basic expenses until after the baby came. Then I transitioned to PFL for bonding time which gave me another 8 weeks of benefits. Hang in there - you're going to get through this! And congratulations on your pregnancy! 💕