Can I use baby bonding PFL after being terminated while on disability?

Yes, you CAN file for baby bonding PFL even if your employment terminates! The important thing is that you were employed and paid into SDI during your base period (5-18 months before your claim). Your right to PFL benefits isn't dependent on current employment status when you file. You have up to 12 months from your child's birth to use your baby bonding time.

my sister got fired while on maternity leave last year and still got her full baby bonding pay from edd. its not thru ur job its thru the state so dont worry about it

I'm a benefits counselor, and I can confirm you're eligible for PFL baby bonding even if terminated. However, there are some important technical details to understand: 1. You should file for baby bonding PFL immediately after your disability claim ends (the system should prompt you) 2. Make sure there's no gap between your disability end date and PFL start date 3. Your benefit amount will be the same as your disability payments 4. You WILL lose job protection if terminated (normally CFRA/FMLA would protect your job during baby bonding) 5. Document everything from your employer in writing If you're having trouble reaching EDD to discuss your transition from disability to PFL, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that connects you directly to an EDD agent without the usual hours of waiting. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. This transition period is exactly when you need clear answers from an actual EDD representative.

I went thru something similar in January. My employer actually terminated me while I was still on disability for pregnancy complications. I transitioned to baby bonding without any problems. Just make sure your doctor submits the final disability certification correctly showing your recovery date, and then immediately submit your DE2508 form for PFL baby bonding. Oh and apply for unemployment after your baby bonding ends! Since you didn't quit voluntarily you'll likely qualify.

This is exactly why California's system is SO BROKEN!!!! They make it impossible to understand what you're entitled to and when. I spent HOURS on hold with EDD when transitioning from disability to baby bonding last year. Then they "lost" my DE2508 form TWICE!!! Had to resubmit everything and went 6 weeks with NO INCOME while taking care of a newborn. The whole system is designed to make you give up!!!

To answer your follow-up question about timing: Ideally, you should start the baby bonding application process about 1-2 weeks before your disability claim ends. The online system allows you to specify the start date for baby bonding, which should be the day after your disability ends. This ensures a smooth transition without gaps. One other thing to consider: while you can get PFL benefits after termination, you might want to consult with an employment attorney about the termination itself. Depending on your situation, there could be potential FMLA/CFRA violations if your employer is of sufficient size (20+ employees for CFRA or 50+ for FMLA).

My friend went through this whole mess in 2024 and what nobody tells you is that sometimes EDD automatically starts the transition process from disability to PFL and sometimes they don't! It's totally random! When her disability claim was ending, she got a message in her EDD account asking if she wanted to transition to baby bonding. But my sister never got that message and had to call like 40 times to get it fixed. Also, don't forget that baby bonding is only 60% of your salary not the full amount! I got caught by surprise with that part.

I'm actually going through this EXACT situation right now!! My employer terminated me after 16 weeks of disability leave (I had severe preeclampsia and then postpartum complications). I just started my baby bonding PFL last week without any issues. BUT make sure you download and save ALL your disability payment history before your account status changes!! For some reason, once you switch to PFL, sometimes the disability payment history disappears from your account and you might need that for tax purposes later!!

I'm a former EDD caseworker and want to add a few crucial points that haven't been mentioned yet: 1. TIMING IS CRITICAL - You must file your PFL claim within 49 days of when you want benefits to start. Don't wait until the last minute! 2. MEDICAL CERTIFICATION - Make sure your doctor clearly states your disability END date on the final medical form. Any ambiguity can delay your PFL approval. 3. EMPLOYER SEPARATION - If you're terminated while on disability, request a written explanation from HR about the reason. This documentation could be important for potential wrongful termination claims AND for your unemployment application later. 4. CONTINUOUS CLAIM STRATEGY - File your PFL application while still on disability (about 2 weeks before disability ends) and specify your desired start date. This prevents gaps in coverage. 5. BACKUP PLAN - If there are any delays or denials with PFL, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits since the termination wasn't voluntary on your part. The good news is that PFL eligibility is based on your wage history during the base period, not your current employment status. You've earned these benefits through your payroll deductions, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

This is such valuable information from someone with inside knowledge of the system! I'm definitely going to follow the continuous claim strategy and file my PFL application this week (about 10 days before my disability ends). One quick question - when you mention filing "while still on disability," do I need to wait for any specific status change in my online account, or can I just submit the DE2508 form directly? I want to make sure I don't accidentally create any conflicts between my active disability claim and the pending PFL application. Also, thank you for the point about getting written documentation from HR. I hadn't thought about how that could be important for both potential legal issues AND unemployment eligibility later. I'll request that in writing today.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress while recovering and caring for a newborn! I went through a similar situation two years ago and can share what I learned. You absolutely CAN receive baby bonding PFL even after termination - your eligibility is based on your wage history during the base period (when you were working and paying into SDI), not your current employment status. Here's what worked for me: I submitted my DE2508 form about 10 days before my disability ended, specifying that I wanted PFL to start the day after my disability benefits stopped. This created a seamless transition with no gap in payments. Make sure your doctor is very clear about your disability end date on the final medical certification - any vagueness can cause delays. One thing I wish someone had told me: even though you'll lose job protection when terminated, you may still have options. Document everything from your employer in writing, especially their reasons for termination. This could be important if you need to file for unemployment after your baby bonding period ends. The whole process felt overwhelming at the time, but the PFL benefits did come through as expected. You've earned these benefits through your payroll contributions, so don't let the termination make you think you're not entitled to them. Hang in there!

I'm going through something very similar right now! I was terminated while on disability for postpartum complications, and I was terrified about losing my benefits. But I can confirm that you absolutely CAN get baby bonding PFL after termination - I just got approved last week! The key things that helped me were: 1) Filing my PFL application about 2 weeks before my disability ended, 2) Making sure there was no gap between my disability end date and PFL start date, and 3) having my doctor be very specific about my recovery timeline on the final medical forms. Don't let your employer make you feel like you're not entitled to these benefits - you paid into the system through your paychecks, so this is YOUR money! I know it's incredibly stressful dealing with this while caring for a newborn, but the benefits will come through. Also definitely save all your payment history and get everything from your employer in writing like others mentioned. You've got this!

I'm a new mom who just went through this exact situation last month, and I wanted to share what I learned! Yes, you can absolutely get baby bonding PFL after being terminated - your eligibility is based on your work history during the base period, not your current employment status when you file. Here's what worked for me: I submitted my DE2508 form online about 2 weeks before my disability was set to end. The key is making sure your doctor puts a SPECIFIC end date on your final disability certification - not something vague like "will reassess" or "approximately." EDD needs that clear end date to process the transition smoothly. I was also worried about the timing, but you can actually specify your desired PFL start date right on the application. I made mine the day after my disability ended, and there was no gap in payments. The whole transition took about 10-14 days to process once I submitted everything. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of everything - all my EDD correspondence, medical forms, and especially anything from my employer about the termination. Even though losing job protection is scary, remember that you've EARNED these benefits through your payroll deductions. Don't let anyone make you feel like you don't deserve them! Hang in there - I know how overwhelming this feels when you're dealing with health issues and a newborn, but the system does work once you understand the process. You've got this mama! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation! As someone who works in HR and has helped employees navigate similar circumstances, I can confirm what others have said - you absolutely CAN receive baby bonding PFL even after termination. Your eligibility is based on your earnings during the base period (5-18 months before your claim), not your current employment status. A few additional tips from my experience helping people through this process: 1. When you file your DE2508 form, make sure to upload or mail ALL required documents at once - missing paperwork is the #1 cause of delays 2. Keep copies of everything you submit to EDD (seriously, everything!) 3. If your employer tries to tell you that termination affects your PFL eligibility, that's incorrect - don't let them intimidate you 4. Consider setting up direct deposit if you haven't already to avoid any mail delays with benefit checks Also, while you're dealing with the immediate PFL situation, start thinking ahead about your next steps. After your 8 weeks of baby bonding ends, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits since your termination wasn't voluntary. Having a plan can help reduce some of the financial stress you're feeling right now. You've got this! Take care of yourself and that little one. 💕

I'm a new member here but I've been following this conversation because I'm in a somewhat similar situation. I wanted to add something that might be helpful - if you're having trouble getting through to EDD by phone (which seems to be a common issue based on the comments), you can also try their "Contact EDD" online form through your UI Online account. It's not as immediate as talking to someone, but I got a response within 3-4 business days when I had questions about my claim transition. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the importance of having no gap between disability and PFL - this is SO important! My cousin had a 5-day gap because of a paperwork delay and it took weeks to get it resolved. She ended up having to call multiple times and escalate to a supervisor to get the missing days paid retroactively. One more thing - make sure you're checking your EDD account notifications regularly during the transition period. Sometimes they'll send important updates or requests for additional information through the online portal that you might miss if you're only checking for payment status. Wishing you all the best with your situation! It sounds like you're getting great advice from this community. 🙏

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly stressful situation while recovering and caring for a newborn! Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like you definitely CAN get baby bonding PFL after termination - your eligibility is tied to your work history, not your current job status. I wanted to add one thing I learned when my sister went through something similar last year: make sure to save/screenshot your current EDD account dashboard showing your disability claim details before you start the PFL transition. Sometimes the system glitches during transitions and having that documentation helped her resolve a payment delay issue. Also, when you talk to your doctor about the final disability certification, ask them to write the exact end date clearly at the top of the form too, not just buried in the medical notes. My sister's doctor did this and it seemed to help EDD process everything faster. You're being so proactive by asking these questions and planning ahead - that's going to serve you well through this process. Sending you lots of support during this challenging time! 💙

I'm a new parent advocate who helps families navigate these exact situations, and I want to emphasize what others have correctly stated - you absolutely CAN receive baby bonding PFL after termination! Your benefits are earned through your payroll contributions during the base period, so termination doesn't affect your eligibility. Here are some additional protective steps I recommend: 1. **Document the termination reason** - Request written confirmation from your employer about why you're being terminated. If it's due to exceeding leave time while still medically unable to return, this could potentially be problematic for them under certain circumstances. 2. **Medical documentation timing** - Schedule your final medical appointment strategically so your doctor can provide the most accurate end date for your disability. Don't let your employer pressure you to return before you're medically cleared. 3. **Know your rights** - Even with a smaller employer (under 20 employees), California has additional protections. Consider a brief consultation with an employment attorney, especially since you're being terminated while still medically unable to work. 4. **Plan your sequence** - Disability → Baby bonding PFL (8 weeks) → Unemployment benefits (if still jobless) → Job search. This gives you maximum financial runway during recovery. The system works when you understand it, but don't hesitate to advocate for yourself throughout this process. You've earned these benefits and deserve to use them without harassment from your employer!

I'm a new mom who recently transitioned from disability to baby bonding PFL after my employer terminated me during my recovery period. I can definitely confirm that you CAN receive PFL benefits even after termination - your eligibility is based on your wage history during the base period, not your current employment status when you file. Here's what made my transition smooth: I filed my DE2508 form online about 10 days before my disability ended, making sure to specify that my PFL should start the day after my disability benefits stopped. The key was having my doctor put a very clear, specific end date on the final medical certification - no vague language like "approximately" or "pending reassessment." One thing I wish I'd known earlier: save screenshots of your entire EDD account before starting the transition! During my switch from disability to PFL, some of my payment history temporarily disappeared from the portal, and having those screenshots helped when I needed to reference past payments. Also, don't let your employer intimidate you about your benefits. When mine tried to suggest that termination would affect my PFL eligibility, I knew from researching that they were wrong. You've paid into this system through your paychecks - these benefits are YOURS. The financial stress is real, but the system does work once you understand the process. You're asking all the right questions and planning ahead, which will serve you well. Take care of yourself and that little one! 💕

I'm so sorry you're going through this stressful situation! As a new member here, I've been reading through all the responses and I'm amazed by how supportive and knowledgeable this community is. I wanted to add my perspective as someone who just went through a similar transition last month. Yes, you absolutely CAN receive baby bonding PFL after termination! Your eligibility is based on your earnings during the base period (when you were working and paying into SDI), not whether you're currently employed when you file. Here's what worked perfectly for me: I submitted my DE2508 form about 2 weeks before my disability was set to end, and I made sure to specify the exact start date for my PFL (the day after my disability ended). The transition was seamless with no gap in payments. Two things that really helped: 1) I had my doctor write the disability end date very clearly at the top of the final medical form, not just buried in the notes, and 2) I took screenshots of my entire EDD account dashboard before starting the transition process, which came in handy when I needed to reference information later. Don't let your employer make you feel like you're not entitled to these benefits - you've earned them through your payroll deductions! I know how overwhelming this feels when you're dealing with recovery and caring for a newborn, but you're asking all the right questions and you've got this! The community here has given you excellent advice. Wishing you and your little one all the best! 💙