Can someone explain how EDD PFL works with my maternity leave? Super confused about timing

Congrats on your baby! Here's how it works in CA:\n\n1. Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) through State Disability Insurance (SDI) typically starts 4 weeks before your due date (or earlier if medically necessary) and continues for 6-8 weeks after birth (8 weeks for c-section).\n\n2. Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding starts after your PDL/SDI ends. This gives you 8 weeks of paid time.\n\n3. You need to file two separate claims on the EDD website:\n - First file the SDI claim (form DE2501) about 9 days before you plan to stop working\n - Then file PFL claim (form DE2508) as your disability period ends\n\n4. Both programs pay about 60-70% of your wages up to a maximum weekly benefit.\n\n5. Your job protection comes from FMLA/CFRA, which is separate from the payment programs.\n\nHope this helps! The transitions between programs can be confusing.

Thank you so much! That makes more sense now. So I need to file the SDI claim first in February, then the PFL claim sometime in April/May? Does EDD automatically know when to switch me from one to the other or do I have to time it exactly right?

i was soooo confused too!! my first baby was in 2023 and i messed up all the paperwork lol. ended up getting my disability payments late cuz i didnt know you had to apply BEFORE you stop working. dont make my mistake!! also the website is super glitchy, i had to call EDD like 50 times

Oh no! That sounds stressful. When did you end up getting paid? I'm really worried about having enough money while I'm off work.

One important thing to understand is that the standard timeline can vary based on your specific situation. If you have pregnancy complications, your doctor can certify you for SDI earlier than the standard 4 weeks before birth. After delivery, SDI typically lasts 6 weeks for vaginal birth or 8 weeks for C-section.\n\nFor your PFL baby bonding, you get 8 weeks total, but you can split it up if needed (minimum 2-week increments). So you could take some time immediately after your disability ends, then save some for later in the year if you want.\n\nJust make sure to have your doctor complete their portion of the SDI form, and don't wait until the last minute. EDD processing times can vary wildly.

That's good to know about being able to split up the baby bonding time. I might want to save some for when my husband goes back to work. Do I need to decide that when I first apply or can I decide later?

Just to add one thing - your employer might offer supplemental benefits that 'top up' the state benefits to get you closer to your full salary. Some companies have short-term disability insurance or paid parental leave policies. Worth checking with HR!

I'll definitely check with HR again. I think they mentioned something about a top-up policy but I was so overwhelmed with all the information I didn't fully process it.

THE WORST PART IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO REACH SOMEONE AT EDD IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS!! I spent HOURS calling them when my baby bonding claim was stuck in processing last year. They kept saying

I had the same issue but found a service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes! Saved me days of frustration. They basically dial for you and call when an agent picks up. I was skeptical but it worked really well - check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 or their website claimyr.com. I used it twice during my maternity leave when I had issues with my transition from disability to PFL.

OMG really? I wish I knew about this sooner! Bookmarking for future reference!

I think everyone here is giving great advice about the process, but you asked about the pay too. Just so you're prepared - you will NOT get your full salary from EDD. The current benefit rate is about 60-70% of your wages up to a maximum (which is like $1,620/week right now but may be higher in 2025). \n\nAlso important - these benefits are taxable! But EDD doesn't automatically withhold taxes unless you request it. I didn't know this and got hit with a tax bill the following year. You can request tax withholding when you file your claim.

Omg thank you for the tax info! I definitely would have missed that. I'll make sure to request withholding. Do you know if the 60-70% is based on your base salary or does it include bonuses/overtime?

To answer your follow-up question about timing the transition from SDI to PFL: You don't need to time it perfectly. When your SDI claim is nearing its end, the EDD system will automatically prompt you to apply for PFL if you want to continue with baby bonding leave. You'll get a message in your EDD account and usually an email notification too.\n\nFor your question about splitting the PFL time - yes, you need to indicate your plan when you first apply, but you can modify it later if needed by contacting EDD. Just remember that any baby bonding leave must be completed within 12 months of the birth.

Thank you! That's super helpful. One last question - does vacation time or PTO from my employer affect any of this? Should I use that before or after the state benefits?

i used my vacation time to \

That's such a good idea! I'll definitely ask HR about that option. Thanks for sharing!

Here's my final advice after going through this three times:\n\n1. Create an SDI Online account NOW before you need it\n2. Put all the EDD deadlines and application dates in your calendar\n3. Save all your claim numbers and paperwork in an easy-to-find folder\n4. Take screenshots of all confirmations when you submit forms online\n5. Start the SDI application about 9 days before you plan to stop working\n6. Make sure your doctor submits their certification promptly\n7. Report any income you earn during your leave periods accurately\n\nThe system isn't perfect, but if you stay organized, it usually works out. Congrats again on your baby!

Thank you so much for this amazing checklist! I'm going to start getting organized right away. It's so helpful to hear from someone who's been through it multiple times!

Hey Kai! I just went through this whole process last year and wanted to add a few more tips that really helped me: 1. When you create your SDI Online account, make sure to use the same email address consistently - I made the mistake of using different emails and it caused delays in getting notifications. 2. If you're planning to breastfeed, you might be eligible for additional disability time beyond the standard 6-8 weeks if you have complications. My doctor was able to extend my SDI for breastfeeding-related issues. 3. Keep copies of EVERYTHING - your paystubs, doctor's notes, all EDD correspondence. I had to provide documentation multiple times during my claims. 4. The weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your highest quarter earnings in your base period (usually 5-17 months before your claim). So if you got a raise recently, it might not be reflected in your benefit amount. 5. You can actually start collecting PFL baby bonding leave while your partner is also on their own PFL claim - both parents can take it simultaneously if needed. Hope this helps ease some of your stress! The whole process seems overwhelming at first but you've got this! 💪