Can I still take PFL after getting a pregnancy disability extension from my doctor?

yes u can still take all ur bonding time after disability ends. i had pre-eclampsia and was on disability for like 12 weeks total (4 before birth + 8 after) and then did all 8 weeks PFL after that. its 2 different benefits.

The previous poster is correct. Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) are completely separate benefits. Your disability can be extended by your doctor for as long as medically necessary (with proper documentation), and it won't affect your eligibility for the full 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding. Here's how it typically works: 1. Pregnancy Disability: Begins when your doctor certifies you can't work due to pregnancy (usually 4 weeks before due date but can be earlier) 2. Post-birth Disability: Typically 6 weeks for vaginal delivery, 8 weeks for C-section, but can be extended with medical certification 3. PFL Baby Bonding: Full 8 weeks available after disability ends Make sure your doctor completes the extension paperwork properly on the DE2501 form to avoid any gaps in benefits.

I had the same question when I was pregnant last year!! My sister told me that PFL and disability are totally different things so I would get both but then my coworker said her cousin only got partial PFL after extended disability so I got all worried too. But turns out my sister was right! I had gestational diabetes and was put on bed rest at 32 weeks, then had an emergency c-section with complications so my disability was like 14 weeks total I think? And I still got my entire 8 weeks of baby bonding PFL after that. The EDD website is super confusing!!

Yes, you absolutely can take your full 8 weeks of PFL after your disability extension ends. These are separate benefits under different programs, even though they're both administered by EDD. One important thing to note - make sure there's no gap between when your disability ends and your PFL begins. You'll need to file your PFL claim (DE2508 form) before your disability ends to ensure continuous payment. I recommend filing it about 5-7 days before your disability is scheduled to end. Also, if your doctor extends your disability, the extension needs to be submitted and approved before your initial disability period ends. Otherwise, your claim could close and it becomes more complicated to reopen.

im sorry but this is wrong info!!! my friend just went thru this and she lost some of her bonding time becuz of the extension! they only give u a total of 14 weeks combined or something, its all counted together now

I went through this exact situation last year! Had pregnancy complications, was put on disability at 30 weeks, then had a c-section with a wound infection that extended my disability to almost 12 weeks post-delivery. I was worried too, but I still got my FULL 8 weeks of PFL after my disability ended. The most frustrating part was trying to get through to EDD to confirm this. I spent HOURS calling their number just to get disconnected or wait on hold forever. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 10 minutes. They have this callback service that somehow gets you past the EDD phone system. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The agent confirmed that disability extensions don't affect PFL eligibility at all. Just make sure your doctor documents everything properly!

also make sure u file ur pfl claim before ur disability runs out!! i waited til after and had a 2 week gap with no money coming in it sucked

Just to clarify a technical point: When calculating your benefit amount for both disability and PFL, EDD uses the same base period earnings. However, they are separate entitlements with separate maximum durations. For 2025, your weekly benefit amount can be up to $1,684 (this increases slightly each year). This amount would apply to both your disability and PFL periods, assuming your earnings qualify you for the maximum. One final tip: Keep detailed records of all your communications with EDD. Take notes during phone calls with the date, time, and name of the representative, and save copies of everything you submit online or by mail. This documentation can be invaluable if there are any issues with your claim.

Hey Mei! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago and wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease your worries. I had high blood pressure issues starting at 36 weeks and ended up on extended disability for 10 weeks total (started early + complications after delivery). I was SO stressed about whether I'd lose my bonding time, but I got every single day of my 8 weeks PFL after my disability ended! The key things that helped me: 1. My doctor was really thorough with the medical documentation on all the forms 2. I filed my PFL claim about a week before my disability was set to end (learned this from this community actually!) 3. I kept calling EDD to confirm everything was processing correctly One thing I wish someone had told me - even though the benefits are separate, make sure you understand how they transition. My disability technically "ended" on a Friday and my PFL started the following Monday, so there was no gap in payments. Also, don't let anyone tell you there's some combined limit - that's absolutely not true. You get what you're entitled to under each program separately. Hope this helps and congratulations on your upcoming arrival! 💕

I'm currently dealing with a similar situation and this thread has been so helpful! I'm 32 weeks and my doctor is already talking about putting me on bed rest due to some complications. It's reassuring to hear from so many people who got their full PFL after extended disability periods. One question - for those who had extended disability, did you have to keep getting new medical certifications from your doctor throughout the extension period, or was one form enough to cover the whole extended time? I want to make sure I don't miss any paperwork deadlines that could mess up my benefits. Also, has anyone had experience with their employer trying to pressure them to come back early or questioning the medical necessity of the extension? My workplace has been making some comments that are making me nervous about taking the full time I'm medically entitled to.

Just wanted to add another success story to help put your mind at ease! I had a very similar experience - started disability at 33 weeks due to preeclampsia, had an emergency c-section, and then had complications that extended my disability to 11 weeks total. I was terrified I'd lose my bonding time, but I got every single day of my 8 weeks PFL afterward! The biggest thing that helped me was staying organized with all the paperwork. I kept a folder with copies of everything I submitted and made sure to follow up on every form. Also, don't be afraid to advocate for yourself - if something doesn't seem right with your claim, keep calling until you get answers. Your doctor mentioning the possibility of extensions early is actually great because it shows they're being proactive about your care. Trust their medical judgment and don't let anyone (including well-meaning family or coworkers) make you feel guilty about taking the time you medically need. You're growing a human and that's hard work! Wishing you a healthy rest of your pregnancy and delivery! 🤱

Hi Mei! I'm a benefits coordinator and see questions like this all the time, so wanted to jump in with some clarity. You absolutely CAN take your full 8 weeks of PFL after any extended disability period - they're completely separate entitlements under different benefit programs. Here's what I always tell expecting parents: - Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) = for your medical recovery, can be extended as long as medically necessary - Paid Family Leave (PFL) = for baby bonding, always 8 full weeks regardless of how long your disability lasted The confusion often comes from employers or even some EDD reps who don't fully understand how these programs interact. But the law is clear - your disability length doesn't impact your PFL eligibility at all. Pro tip: Start gathering your documentation now! Have your doctor keep detailed records of any complications or need for extensions. This makes the claims process much smoother later. And yes, definitely file your PFL claim about a week before your disability is scheduled to end to avoid payment gaps. You've got this! Focus on your health and let the benefits work as they're designed to. 💙

Hey Mei! I just wanted to add one more reassuring voice to this thread. I went through almost the exact same situation last year - had blood pressure issues starting around 35 weeks, ended up on extended disability for about 10 weeks total due to delivery complications, and was SO worried about losing my bonding time. But I got every single day of my 8 weeks PFL! The thing that really helped me was understanding that EDD literally has separate computer systems for these benefits - they don't even "talk" to each other in terms of reducing one because of the other. One practical tip that saved me stress: I actually called EDD about 2 weeks before my disability was supposed to end and asked them to walk me through the PFL filing process. The rep was super helpful and even made notes on my account about when to expect my PFL application. It made the transition so much smoother. Also, don't let anyone make you feel guilty about taking extended time if your doctor recommends it. Your body knows what it needs to recover, and that recovery time is completely separate from the precious bonding time you'll get with your baby afterward. Hang in there - you're almost at the finish line and you're going to get all the time you're entitled to! 💕

Hi Mei! I'm so glad you found this thread helpful - it sounds like you've gotten some really great advice from everyone here! I just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who works in HR and deals with these situations regularly. What I always tell employees in your situation is that California's disability and PFL laws are actually designed to work exactly this way - they WANT you to have adequate recovery time AND full bonding time. The legislature specifically made these separate benefits so that medical complications wouldn't eat into your time with your new baby. One thing I'd suggest is also checking if your employer offers any additional benefits that might supplement these state programs. Some companies provide their own paid maternity leave that can run concurrently with or after state benefits. It's worth asking HR about your complete benefits package (even if they weren't initially helpful with the EDD questions). Also, since you mentioned blood pressure issues, make sure your doctor is documenting everything thoroughly in your medical records. This isn't just for EDD - it's also important for FMLA job protection and potentially for any future pregnancies. You're asking all the right questions and being proactive about planning. That's going to serve you really well through this whole process. Wishing you a healthy rest of your pregnancy! 🤗

Hi Mei! I just went through this exact situation a few months ago and wanted to share my experience to hopefully put your mind at ease! I had similar blood pressure concerns and ended up on disability at 32 weeks, then had complications after delivery that extended my disability to about 11 weeks total. I was absolutely terrified that the extension would somehow reduce my PFL time, but I'm happy to report that I got every single day of my full 8 weeks of baby bonding leave! These really are completely separate benefits, and your medical recovery time doesn't count against your bonding time at all. A couple things that really helped me navigate the process: - I kept in close contact with my doctor about documenting everything properly on the forms - I filed my PFL claim about 5 days before my disability was set to end (learned this tip from this community!) - I called EDD once to confirm the transition timing and they were actually pretty helpful The whole system is confusing and the EDD website doesn't explain it clearly at all, but once you understand that disability = medical recovery and PFL = baby bonding (completely separate!), it makes so much more sense. Don't let anyone tell you there's some combined limit - that's absolutely not true. Trust your doctor's recommendations about what you need medically, and know that your bonding time will be there waiting for you afterward. You've got this! 💙

Hi Mei! I'm currently 36 weeks and dealing with a very similar situation - my doctor is also monitoring my blood pressure closely and mentioned I might need to start disability earlier than planned. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful! I wanted to add that I just had my appointment with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and she explained that pregnancy complications requiring extended disability are actually quite common, especially with first pregnancies. She said the most important thing is making sure your OB documents everything thoroughly on the disability forms, including any ongoing monitoring or treatments you're receiving. One thing that might help you feel more prepared - I asked my doctor's office about their process for handling disability extensions, and they told me they actually prefer when patients ask about this stuff early (like you're doing!) rather than waiting until the last minute. They can prepare the paperwork in advance and have everything ready to submit if complications arise. Also, just to add another success story to the pile - my sister-in-law had gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, was on disability for 13 weeks total, and got her complete 8 weeks of PFL afterward with no issues at all. It sounds like you're being really proactive about understanding your benefits, which is going to serve you well. Hang in there - you're doing great! 💕

Hi Mei! I'm so glad you found this thread - it sounds like you've gotten some amazing advice from everyone here! I went through a very similar situation about 8 months ago. I had gestational hypertension and ended up on disability at 33 weeks, then had a c-section with some healing complications that extended my disability to about 12 weeks total. Just like everyone else has said, I got my FULL 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding after my disability ended! The key thing that helped me was understanding that these really are two completely different benefit programs with different purposes - one for your medical recovery and one for bonding with your baby. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - when you do transition from disability to PFL, make sure to check that your direct deposit information is still current in the EDD system. I had changed banks during my disability period and forgot to update it, which caused a small delay in my first PFL payment. It's a minor thing but worth double-checking! Also, don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions about the documentation process. Mine was really helpful in explaining exactly what information EDD needs on the forms to avoid any delays or requests for additional information. You're being so smart to research all this ahead of time. It's going to make the whole process much less stressful when you're actually dealing with a newborn! Congratulations and best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy! 🎉

Hi Mei! I just wanted to add my voice to all the reassuring responses you've gotten here. I had a very similar experience about a year ago - developed preeclampsia at 34 weeks, was put on bed rest immediately, then had complications after my c-section that kept me on disability for about 10 weeks total. I was SO worried about losing my bonding time, especially because my mom kept telling me "you can't have both" (which turned out to be completely wrong!). But I got every single day of my 8 weeks of PFL after my disability ended, no questions asked. One thing that really helped me stay organized was creating a simple calendar where I marked important dates - when forms were due, when to file my PFL claim, etc. It helped me feel more in control during a really overwhelming time. Also, I know everyone's mentioned this already, but I can't stress enough how important it is to file your PFL claim before your disability ends. I filed mine exactly 7 days early and the transition was seamless - no gaps in payments at all. You're asking all the right questions and you're going to do great! Focus on your health and your baby, and trust that the system will work the way it's designed to. Sending you lots of good vibes for a healthy delivery! 💕