Can I use EDD PFL after SDI ends if I lost my job and went on unemployment first?

You're asking about something that trips up a lot of people! PFL baby bonding needs to be taken within 12 months of your child's birth, but it doesn't have to be immediately after SDI. However - and this is important - you need to have been employed and paying into SDI to qualify for PFL. Since you lost your job in January 2024, the key question is whether you had enough wage credits in your base period when you filed for SDI. If you qualified for SDI after losing your job, you should also qualify for PFL baby bonding as long as you take it within the 12-month window. You CAN collect unemployment in between if needed.

this happened 2 me! lost job last yr, had baby, got SDI then did ui for like 2 mnths. then later did pfl and it was fine. jst make sure ur not getting ui while ur doing pfl cuz thats not allowed!!! they check

I'd be careful with this approach. While technically you can take PFL anytime within 12 months of birth, there's one MAJOR issue to consider: when you switch to UI, you're certifying that you're able and available for work. When you later switch to PFL, you're certifying that you're NOT able to work because you're bonding with your baby. This contradiction can trigger a review of your claim and potentially lead to an overpayment situation if EDD determines you weren't truthful on either claim. Make sure when you transition between programs, you're very clear about your status and availability changing. Also, check your benefit year end (BYE) date on your SDI paperwork. Your PFL needs to be filed before that date expires too.

NOBODY CAN REACH EDD TO GET ACTUAL ANSWERS ABOUT THIS STUFF!!!! I tried calling for WEEKS with the same kind of question and never got through. Ended up taking UI first then PFL and got flagged for an interview because they said my situations didn't match up. Had to wait 8 more weeks for that to get sorted out. The system is BROKEN. Good luck!!!!

Speaking from my own experience (which was admittedly back in 2023), you should be fine! The important thing is that you qualified for SDI based on your base period wages BEFORE you lost your job. Here's how it worked for me: 1. Had my baby 2. Got SDI for recovery 3. Did UI for 3 months (while job hunting) 4. Used PFL for 2 months when my baby was about 5 months old 5. Then went back to UI until I found a job The key thing is that when you switch to PFL from UI, you need to notify the UI department that you're temporarily unavailable for work. They'll put your UI claim on hold. When you finish PFL, you can reopen your UI claim. Also important - you're allowed 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding in California now (up from 6 weeks in previous years). Make sure you get the full benefit!

my sister tried to do this and got denied for pfl after being on unemployment said something about not having an active employment relationship anymore once she started collecting unemployment i dont think what ur trying to do works anymore they changed the rules

Thanks everyone for all the amazing advice! After reading through everything, I think I have a much better understanding of how to approach this. My plan now is: 1. Finish my current SDI (ending Nov 14) 2. Apply for UI and actively search for jobs 3. If I still haven't found employment by February, pause my UI and apply for my 8 weeks of PFL 4. Make sure to properly notify UI when I start PFL 5. After PFL ends, reactivate UI if I still need it I'll also check my benefit year end date and make sure I use my PFL before that expires. And I'll definitely use that Claimyr service if I have trouble reaching EDD for specific questions about my case. This forum has been so helpful - thank you all again!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through a similar situation recently! I was also laid off early in my pregnancy and had to navigate this maze of benefits. One thing I learned that might help you: when you're on UI between SDI and PFL, make sure you're genuinely available and actively looking for work. Don't just go through the motions because you're planning to take PFL later - EDD can review your job search activities retroactively if they suspect you weren't truly available. Also, if you do find a job before you take your PFL, you might be able to take it intermittently while working (depending on your employer's policies). Just something to keep in mind as another option! The timing you're planning sounds reasonable - waiting until baby is 4-5 months old for bonding time can actually be really nice because they're more interactive by then. Best of luck with everything!

I'm in a really similar situation right now - also had my baby recently and trying to figure out the best way to handle the transition between benefits! This thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my own research: make sure to keep copies of ALL your paperwork from each benefit program. When I transitioned from SDI to UI, having my SDI award letter helped speed up the UI process since they could see my previous earnings history. Also, if anyone else is reading this and in a similar boat - the 12-month window for PFL starts from your baby's birth date, NOT from when your SDI ends. So even if you take a few months of UI in between, you still have that full year to use your bonding time. @Mateo Hernandez your plan sounds really solid! I'm probably going to follow a similar approach. It's so stressful trying to navigate all this while also being a new parent, but knowing other people have successfully done this exact thing makes me feel much more confident. Good luck with the job search and congratulations on your new baby! 🍼