Can I take EDD PFL in smaller chunks or must I use all 8 weeks at once?

You can absolutely take PFL intermittently! Unlike SDI/pregnancy disability, Paid Family Leave for baby bonding can be split up. You just need to take it in minimum increments of 2 weeks at a time in most cases. You have 12 months from your child's birth to use all 8 weeks. Your employer might have additional requirements though, so double check your company's leave policy too.

No no no its not like UI at all!!!! PFL is totally diferent system even tho its all EDD. With UI you certify every 2 weeks but with PFL you apply for specific dates. I did baby bonding last year and tried to change my dates halfway thru and it was a NIGHTMARE!!! ended up losing 2 weeks of benefits cause of paperwork problems.

when my twins were born i took 4 weeks right away then saved the other 4 weeks for when my mom had to go back home (she was helping us). worked great but scheduling with edd was confusing. had to fill out another claim form for the second part.

I'm planning mine too! Due in April and sooo confused by all this. My coworker said I need to take all 8 weeks together but that doesn't work for us financially. Following this thread for clarity...

I just went through this whole process and found out there's a difference between what EDD allows and what your employer might require. California law says employers must allow PFL in minimum 2-week increments, with one exception: you're allowed ONE period of leave that's less than 2 weeks per year. So technically you can do something like: 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 2 weeks, and then 1 partial week. But here's where it gets complicated: if you're covered under CFRA or FMLA (job-protected leave), those have different rules that overlap with PFL. My HR department was totally confused about this and I spent hours on the phone with EDD trying to straighten it out. I eventually used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual PFL specialist at EDD. They have this service where they connect you directly to an EDD agent instead of waiting on hold for hours. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. The EDD agent explained everything clearly and helped me plan my intermittent leave correctly.

I think everyone here is making this more complicated than it needs to be. PFL is simple - you get 8 weeks TOTAL for baby bonding. You can split it up however you want (with minimum 2-week chunks usually) and you have a whole year from birth to use it. Submit the claim form, get approved, and then figure out your dates. Just make sure your employer is on the same page!

one more thing nobody mentioned - when u do intermittent leave u have to do a new claim form each time. Its not like just calling in, you gotta do paperwork each chunk of time. keep copies of EVERYTHING cuz edd lost my paperwork once.

Just wanted to add my experience since I'm currently using PFL intermittently for my 6-month-old. I took 4 weeks immediately after birth, then went back to work for 2 months, and now I'm taking my remaining 4 weeks while my partner returns to work. The process was smoother than I expected once I understood the system. Key things that helped me: 1. I coordinated with HR BEFORE submitting my initial claim to confirm they'd approve intermittent leave 2. I planned all my leave periods in advance and got written approval from my manager 3. For my second period of leave, I used the "Notice and Request for Additional Period" form about 3 weeks before I needed benefits to start The biggest challenge was the timing - there's about a 2-week processing period between when you submit forms and when payments start, so plan accordingly. Also, make sure your employer knows the exact dates you'll be out for each period since they need to verify your leave with EDD. Hope this helps with your planning! The flexibility is definitely worth the extra paperwork.

This is such helpful information! I'm due in February and was stressing about having to choose between taking all 8 weeks at once or losing benefits. It's reassuring to know that intermittent leave is an option, especially with the 2-week minimum increments. One question I have - does anyone know if there are any penalties or reduced benefits for taking PFL intermittently versus all at once? I want to make sure I'm not missing out on any money by splitting it up. Also, when you go back to work between PFL periods, do you need to notify EDD that you've returned, or does the system automatically know based on your claim dates? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been way more helpful than trying to navigate the EDD website!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a new parent (baby arrived last month) and I was completely overwhelmed trying to figure out the PFL system. Based on everyone's advice, I ended up taking 3 weeks initially, then I'm planning to take my remaining 5 weeks in two chunks - 3 weeks in the spring and 2 weeks in the summer when my partner has more availability to help. One thing I learned that might help others: when you're planning intermittent leave, it's worth having a conversation with your payroll department too, not just HR. They need to coordinate with EDD on the wage verification, and mine mentioned that having the dates planned out in advance makes their job much easier. Also, for anyone worried about the paperwork - yes, there are additional forms for each period, but it's not nearly as complicated as the initial claim. The "Notice and Request for Additional Period" form is pretty straightforward once you've been through the process once. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it made navigating this whole system so much less stressful!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm that intermittent PFL for baby bonding is absolutely allowed! I took mine in three chunks: 3 weeks right after birth, 2 weeks when my partner went back to work, and then my final 3 weeks during the holidays when childcare was harder to arrange. A few practical tips that saved me headaches: - Submit your paperwork at least 3 weeks before you need each period to start (processing takes time!) - Keep a calendar specifically for tracking your PFL usage - it helps when filling out forms - If your employer uses a third-party leave administrator (like UNUM or MetLife), make sure they understand California's intermittent PFL rules too The 12-month window to use all 8 weeks gives you SO much flexibility. Just remember that your employer's policy might be more restrictive than EDD's, so definitely get that conversation with HR sorted out first. Good luck with your little one!