Can I work part-time at my second job while on EDD PFL from my primary employer?

This is a tricky situation that could affect your benefits. When you're on PFL, you're certifying that you're taking time off to bond with your child. Working at another job during this period could potentially be considered fraud, especially if you didn't report that second job on your PFL application. The EDD may view this as evidence that you don't actually need the bonding time. I'd recommend contacting EDD directly to ask about your specific situation before starting any work.

I did something similar last year and it caused me HUGE problems!! Had to repay like $2300 to EDD because they found out I was working part-time at my side hustle while on baby bonding. They said I wasn't eligible for benefits for those weeks I worked even tho it was totally different job. NOT worth it!!

The technical answer is that PFL benefits are based on your inability to perform your regular or customary work because you're caring for a family member or bonding with a new child. Working at any job during this time could be seen as evidence that you're able to work in some capacity. However, there are some important details: 1) If you already reported both jobs on your claim, you're in a better position 2) The key issue is whether you're using the time for bonding or not 3) EDD calculates benefits based on all wages reported in your base period You should contact EDD directly with your specific situation, as there may be ways to reduce your PFL benefits rather than lose them entirely if you work reduced hours.

my sister inlaw had 3 jobs when she had her baby. she kept working at her favrite one part time and still got pfl from the other 2. but thats cuz she told edd exactly what she was doing from the begining i think thats the key

If you're having trouble getting through to EDD about this question, I found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD agent in under 20 minutes when I had a similar question about my maternity leave transitions. I had been trying for DAYS on my own with no luck. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 and their website is claimyr.com. The agent I spoke with was really helpful in explaining exactly what I could and couldn't do with my claim. Worth it to get a clear answer directly from EDD rather than risking your benefits!

The EDD system is RIDICULOUS about this!! They expect you to survive on 60-70% of your wages but then punish you if you try to supplement your income. Meanwhile they take FOREVER to process everything and don't clearly explain the rules. I had a similar situation during my maternity leave and ended up just not working my 2nd job because I was too scared of messing up my benefits. The whole system is designed to keep new parents struggling!

wait i'm confused... isn't baby bonding different from disability? i thought disability was for when ur physically recovering and bonding is separat? so maybe the rules r different?

Thanks everyone for all your advice! I called EDD this morning (used that Claimyr service - it actually worked and got me through in about 15 mins!). The agent explained that working at my second job while receiving PFL from my main job would either reduce my benefits or potentially disqualify me, depending on hours worked. She said it would raise questions about whether I actually needed the bonding time. I've decided it's not worth risking my main PFL benefits for a few retail shifts. I'd rather be safe than have to deal with repayments or penalties. I appreciate all your help!

I'm so glad you called EDD and got a clear answer! It's really unfortunate that new parents have to navigate these complex rules when they're already dealing with the stress of having a baby and reduced income. Your experience with Claimyr is really valuable info - I've been struggling to get through to EDD for weeks about my own PFL questions. It's crazy that we have to pay a service just to talk to the agency that's supposed to help us, but if it works it might be worth it. Thanks for sharing your outcome - it'll definitely help other parents avoid making costly mistakes!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm planning to apply for PFL soon and had no idea about these potential complications with second jobs. It's really eye-opening to see how strict EDD is about working while on leave, even at a completely different job. The fact that Santiago had to pay back over $2000 is terrifying! I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's clear that being 100% transparent with EDD from the start is absolutely crucial. Maria, thanks for following up with what the EDD agent told you. It really helps to know that even getting through to them is such a challenge that people have to use paid services. This whole system seems designed to trap people into making mistakes they didn't even know were violations!

This whole thread really highlights how broken the EDD system is for new parents. You shouldn't have to choose between bonding with your baby and being able to afford groceries! The fact that they reduce your income to 60-70% and then penalize you for trying to make ends meet is just cruel. I'm currently pregnant with my first and honestly terrified about navigating this whole process. The stories about $2300 repayments and having to pay third-party services just to talk to EDD are really scary. Maria, I'm glad you got answers but it shouldn't be this hard! Has anyone had success appealing EDD decisions or is it pretty much hopeless once they decide you owe money back?

As someone who went through a similar situation last year, I can't stress enough how important it is that you got that official answer from EDD! I made the mistake of assuming I could work a few hours at my freelance job while on PFL without asking first. Even though I was genuinely bonding with my baby most of the time, EDD saw any work as evidence I wasn't fully utilizing my leave time. I ended up having to repay about $1,800 in benefits. The appeal process was a nightmare - took 6 months and I still lost. Your decision to prioritize your main PFL benefits over the retail shifts is definitely the right call. It's so frustrating that the system works this way, but protecting yourself from potential repayment is worth more than a few extra dollars in the short term. Enjoy this precious bonding time with your little one!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm currently 7 months pregnant and planning to take PFL after my baby arrives. I had no idea that working at a second job while on leave could cause such serious problems. The stories about having to repay thousands of dollars are really scary, especially when you're already dealing with reduced income. It sounds like the key lesson here is to be completely transparent with EDD from the beginning and get official answers before making any decisions about work. Maria, I'm so glad you called and got clarity before potentially getting into trouble! It's frustrating that new parents have to navigate such a complex system when they're already stressed and sleep-deprived. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this will definitely help me avoid making costly mistakes when I apply for my benefits.

This is such valuable information for all new parents! I went through a similar dilemma when my daughter was born last year. I had a small tutoring business on the side and was tempted to take on a few students while on PFL to help with expenses. Thankfully, I found threads like this one and decided to call EDD first. The agent told me that ANY work activity could potentially affect my benefits, even if it was just a few hours. Like Maria, I decided it wasn't worth the risk. The peace of mind was worth more than the extra income, especially after reading about people having to repay thousands. It's really unfortunate that the system puts new families in such difficult financial positions, but these stories show how important it is to get official guidance before making any work-related decisions while on leave. Thanks for sharing your experience, Maria - it's going to help so many other parents avoid costly mistakes!

This is such an important discussion for new parents! I'm currently on PFL myself and had wondered about this exact scenario. The stories about repayment requirements are really sobering - it shows how crucial it is to get official guidance rather than making assumptions. What strikes me most is how the system seems designed to penalize parents who are already struggling financially on reduced benefits. Maria, I'm really glad you got that clear answer from EDD before making any decisions. It's frustrating that we have to choose between financial stability and compliance, but your experience will definitely help other parents avoid costly mistakes. For anyone reading this thread, it seems like the golden rule is: when in doubt, call EDD first (even if you need to use a service like Claimyr to get through). The few dollars you might spend getting official guidance is nothing compared to potentially owing thousands in repayments!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm 6 months pregnant with my first baby and work two jobs - full-time as a teacher and part-time at a bookstore on weekends. I had no idea these restrictions existed and was already planning to keep working my bookstore shifts during PFL to help with the reduced income. Reading about Santiago's $2300 repayment and the 6-month appeal process that still failed is honestly terrifying! It really shows how the system puts new parents in an impossible position - you need the money but can't work to get it. Maria, thank you so much for following up with what EDD told you and for mentioning Claimyr. I'm definitely going to call them before I apply for benefits to get clarity on my specific situation. It's ridiculous that we have to pay a service to get basic information, but it's clearly worth it to avoid thousands in repayments. This conversation has probably saved me from making a very costly mistake!

This thread is a goldmine of information for anyone navigating PFL with multiple jobs! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while, I've seen so many parents get caught off guard by these rules. What really stands out to me is how EDD's definition of "needing bonding time" seems to conflict with the financial reality most families face - they reduce your income significantly but then question your commitment to bonding if you try to supplement it elsewhere. The consistency in everyone's advice here is telling: be completely transparent from day one, get everything in writing from EDD, and don't assume anything about what's allowed. Maria's decision to prioritize her main PFL benefits was absolutely the right call, and Miguel's proactive approach of calling before applying is exactly what more parents should do. It's frustrating that the system works this way, but threads like this are so valuable for helping families avoid financial disasters during what should be a joyful time!

This entire discussion perfectly captures the impossible position EDD puts new parents in - you're already stressed about money on reduced benefits, but trying to supplement that income could cost you thousands in repayments. As someone who's about to start my own parental leave journey, I'm honestly shocked at how punitive the system is. The fact that Santiago lost $2300 and others faced similar penalties for what seems like reasonable financial decisions is really eye-opening. Maria, thank you for sharing your experience with Claimyr - it's ridiculous that we need to pay a third party just to get clear answers from our own government agency, but your success getting through in 15 minutes versus days of failed attempts shows it might be necessary. The consistent message here seems to be: when in doubt, get official written guidance from EDD before making ANY work decisions while on leave. It's better to struggle financially in the short term than face massive repayments later. This thread should be required reading for anyone applying for PFL!

This entire thread has been such a wake-up call! I'm currently 8 months pregnant and work as a nurse at a hospital plus do private duty nursing on weekends. I was planning to keep doing some private shifts during my bonding leave since it's "technically different" from my hospital job, but reading about Santiago's $2300 repayment and all the appeal failures has completely changed my mind. It's so messed up that EDD reduces our income but then punishes us for trying to make ends meet! Maria, thank you for calling EDD and sharing what they told you - it probably saved me from making the same mistake. The fact that you had to use Claimyr to get through is telling about how broken this system is, but I'm definitely going to try that service when I apply for benefits. I'd rather pay a small fee upfront than risk thousands in repayments later. It's heartbreaking that new parents have to choose between bonding time and financial stability, but at least this community is helping us navigate these impossible decisions together!