Can husband get PFL for baby bonding while on unemployment after layoff?

Yes, he CAN do this, but the timing has to be managed carefully. Your husband should apply for unemployment immediately after his last day of work (March 15). He'll collect UI until the baby arrives. Once baby is born, he can temporarily stop certifying for unemployment and apply for PFL baby bonding instead using the DE2508 form. After his 8 weeks of PFL are exhausted, he can resume his unemployment claim if he still hasn't found work. Just make sure he formally stops certifying for UI when he transitions to PFL - don't just ghost the EDD or they'll close his claim entirely. And a heads up - his PFL weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on his previous earnings, not his unemployment amount. Make sure he includes his WARN notice with his PFL application to explain the employment gap.

my husband was in this EXACT situation last year!!! lost his job 3 weeks b4 i gave birth. what a nightmare. make sure ur husband gets a copy of his final paystub and employment records ASAP. also tell him to screenshot EVERYTHING in the UI portal cause the EDD website is terrible and stuff randomly disappears sometimes. the phone lines are hell to get through if u have questions

This happened to me! Different timing tho. Husband can definitely do both BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME. He needs to STOP UI certifications the week he starts PFL. When he's done with baby bonding, he just starts certifying for UI again. Easy peasy.

When I was in a similar situation, I found that the EDD benefits guide states specifically that you can receive Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) and Paid Family Leave (PFL), just not for the same period. Your husband would need to stop certifying for unemployment during the weeks he's receiving PFL, then resume afterward. Keep in mind that his PFL benefit amount will be based on the highest quarter earnings in his base period (typically 5-18 months before filing), not on his unemployment amount. So if his job was well-paying, PFL might actually provide more weekly income than UI. The key things to remember are: 1. He must have earned at least $300 in the base period 2. Must provide proof of relationship to the child 3. Must submit the claim within 41 days of the baby's birth 4. Must have the other parent sign the DE2508 form to ensure you're not both claiming PFL for the same period Also, while on PFL, he doesn't need to be looking for work, but when he returns to UI, he'll need to resume his job search activities. Good luck!

Ugh the EDD is a NIGHTMARE to deal with. i spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone when I had a UI/PFL issue last summer. Kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold for 3+ hours only to get hung up on. SO FRUSTRATING!!! If your husband runs into any issues with his claim (and trust me, there's always SOMETHING), check out Claimyr.com - it's the only thing that actually worked for me. They got me connected to an EDD rep in under 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 that shows how it works. Honestly worth every penny because time is money when you're waiting on benefits!

i think ur husband should just take the unemployment and forget the pfl. the baby bonding is nice but u need money more with a new baby. unemployment pays for longer and u dont have to deal with switching back and forth which is a headache trust me

Your husband is eligible for both benefits, just not simultaneously. I went through this exact process in 2024. Here's what he should do: 1. File for UI immediately after his last day of work 2. Upon baby's birth, submit a PFL claim (DE2508 form) for baby bonding 3. When approved for PFL, STOP certifying for unemployment - very important! 4. After 8 weeks of PFL, contact EDD to reopen his UI claim 5. Resume certifying for UI going forward One crucial tip: when he applies for PFL, he must check the box for "BONDING" not "CARE" - many people select wrong and it causes delays. Also, he'll need the birth certificate (or hospital documentation if certificate isn't available yet). Also, when he transitions back to UI after PFL, he'll need to meet job search requirements again, so make sure he keeps records of all his applications during this stressful time.

What about SDI? Isn't that something different? My wife got that when our baby was born last year and then I took the PFL after her SDI ended. Is that something that would apply to your situation at all?

Thank you all SO MUCH for your helpful responses. I'm feeling much better about our situation now. My husband is going to apply for UI right after his last day, and then switch to PFL once our baby arrives. We'll be super careful about stopping the UI certifications properly before starting PFL. I'm also going to look into my own SDI benefits as someone pointed out - I hadn't even thought about that part yet (pregnancy brain is real!). This community has been an absolute lifesaver during such a stressful time. Will update once we get through this process in case it helps anyone else!

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival! Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - make sure your husband keeps detailed records of all his job applications during this whole process. When he transitions back to UI after PFL, EDD may ask for proof that he was actively seeking work before the baby was born, and they'll definitely require it once he resumes UI benefits. Also, if he hasn't already, he should sign up for CalJOBS (the state job portal) as it integrates with the UI system and can help streamline the work search documentation. Having everything organized will make the transitions smoother. Wishing you both the best with your new baby and hoping he finds something soon! The job market is tough right now but project management skills are definitely in demand.