Confused about EDD PFL baby bonding time - can I get more than 8 weeks after maternity leave ends?

Hi there! I just went through this process myself. California still provides 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding time - there hasn't been an increase to 12-14 weeks. Your coworker might be confusing it with the TOTAL time you get when combining Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) with PFL baby bonding. Typically, you get up to 4 weeks before birth and up to 6-8 weeks after birth for PDL (depending on delivery type), and then the 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding. So in total, that could be around 18-20 weeks, but the PFL portion is still just 8 weeks.

The previous responder is correct. California PFL for baby bonding is still 8 weeks total. What your coworker might be referring to is the combined leave you're entitled to under various programs. Here's how it typically works: 1. Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) - typically 4 weeks before birth and 6-8 weeks after (covered by SDI) 2. Baby Bonding PFL - 8 weeks There is no "extra" time beyond these standard benefits. However, if you work for a company with 5+ employees, you may be eligible for additional unpaid, job-protected leave under CFRA (California Family Rights Act), which could give you up to 12 weeks on top of your disability leave. This wouldn't be paid through EDD though.

My sister just had a baby in January and she got the same 8 weeks for bonding. Nothin extra. I think your coworker is wrong lol

To answer your question about splitting up PFL - yes, you can split your 8 weeks of baby bonding! You don't have to take it all at once. You can break it up however you want as long as you use it within the first year of your child's birth. And yes, both parents can claim PFL, even simultaneously. Each parent gets their own 8-week entitlement. Regarding CFRA, if you qualify, you'd need to coordinate with your HR department about how to use it. Some people use CFRA concurrently with PFL (to protect their job while receiving pay), while others use it after PFL ends (to extend their total time off).

when i had my baby last yr they gave me 6 wks disability then 8 wks bonding and then my work gave me 2 more wks paid. maybe thats what ur coworker meant?? every company has different benefits on top of state stuff

Ugh, the EDD system for maternity leave is SO CONFUSING! I spent hours on hold trying to figure it out with my first kid and ended up crying to the rep when I finally got through. The website is basically useless too - it's like they intentionally make things unclear!! I'm due with #2 in June and already having anxiety about dealing with it all again. 😫

One more thing I just remembered - if your employer offers any paid parental leave, that's completely separate from the state benefits. My company gives 6 weeks paid parental leave, which I can use after my EDD benefits end. Maybe check if your company has something similar?

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE US!!! I swear they WANT us to mess up our claims. When I applied for bonding time after my maternity leave disability ran out, they "lost" my application TWICE and I had to resubmit everything. Then I got a random DENIAL letter even though I qualified for everything. Had to appeal and wait ANOTHER 3 weeks with no income. Meanwhile bills kept coming! America hates mothers, I'm convinced.

Just to answer your final question clearly - you can definitely split up your 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding! The law allows you to break it into smaller chunks within the first 12 months after birth. Some parents take 4 weeks right after disability ends, then save the other 4 weeks for later. Or you could do 2 days a week for a longer period to ease back into work gradually. Just be aware that each time you start a new PFL period, you'll need to submit a claim form. Your husband can also take his own 8 weeks of PFL for bonding, and you can overlap if you want to - each parent has their own separate entitlement.

Regarding your question about minimum time chunks for PFL - the smallest increment you can claim is one day. So technically, yes, you could use one day per week for 40 weeks if you wanted to! However, be aware that each separate period of leave requires a new claim form, so doing it daily or weekly might create a lot of paperwork. Most people find it easier to take PFL in larger chunks (like weekly or monthly blocks). Also, your employer needs to approve intermittent bonding leave schedules, so make sure to discuss your plans with HR before finalizing anything.

Just wanted to add my experience from last year! I was in a similar situation and got really confused by all the different leave types. What helped me was creating a simple timeline on paper showing: 1) Pregnancy disability weeks, 2) PFL bonding weeks, 3) Any employer benefits, and 4) Unpaid CFRA time if needed. For the record, California PFL is definitely still 8 weeks for bonding - no recent increases. But like others mentioned, when you add up ALL your leave options (disability + bonding + employer benefits + unpaid protected time), it can total 12-20+ weeks depending on your situation. Pro tip: Submit your PFL application about 2 weeks before your disability ends to avoid any gaps in payments. The transition can be bumpy if you don't time it right!

I'm currently pregnant with my first and trying to wrap my head around all this before the baby arrives. This thread has been SO helpful! Just to make sure I understand correctly - the 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding is separate from and in addition to the pregnancy disability leave, right? So if I get 6 weeks of disability after birth, then I'd get another 8 weeks of bonding time after that? That would be 14 weeks total paid leave? Also, does the bonding time start automatically after disability ends or do I need to file a separate claim? Sorry for all the questions - I want to make sure I don't mess anything up when the time comes!

I went through this exact same confusion last year! Your coworker is mixing up the total time available versus just the PFL portion. California PFL for baby bonding is still 8 weeks - there hasn't been any increase to 12-14 weeks. What she might be thinking of is the TOTAL leave time when you combine everything: pregnancy disability (usually 6-8 weeks after birth) + PFL bonding (8 weeks) + any employer benefits. That can add up to 14+ weeks total, but the state PFL portion is still just 8 weeks. The good news is you can definitely split up those 8 weeks however works best for your family! I took 4 weeks right after my disability ended, then saved the other 4 weeks for when my husband went back to work. Just make sure to file your PFL claim about 2 weeks before your disability ends so there's no gap in payments. The EDD phone lines are a nightmare, but the online portal usually works okay for filing claims.

I'm a new mom who just went through this process a few months ago! Everyone here is absolutely right - California PFL for baby bonding is still 8 weeks, no changes. Your coworker is probably thinking of the total leave time when you add up disability + bonding + any employer benefits. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: make sure to check if your employer has a "top-off" policy where they pay the difference between your EDD benefits and your full salary. My company did this but I didn't know until week 3! Also, if you're breastfeeding, remember you can use some of your PFL time intermittently later in the year if you need time for pumping issues or pediatric appointments. The flexibility of being able to split the 8 weeks is honestly a lifesaver. I used 6 weeks right after disability ended, then saved 2 weeks for when my baby was around 8 months old and I was feeling burned out. Best decision ever!

I'm a new member here and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant with my first baby and have been stressing about understanding all the different leave options. Reading everyone's experiences has really clarified things for me. Just to confirm what I'm understanding from all the responses: California PFL for baby bonding is 8 weeks (not 12-14), it's separate from pregnancy disability leave, both parents can take their own 8 weeks (even simultaneously), and you can split it up however you want within the first year. Is that right? One question I haven't seen addressed - does the 8 weeks have to be used for actual "bonding" activities, or can it be used for things like childcare while your partner works, doctor appointments, or just general parenting duties? I'm trying to figure out the best way to use this time strategically once my baby arrives. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences - it's such a relief to get real-world advice from people who have actually been through this process!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who recently navigated this same confusion! Your coworker is definitely mixing things up - California PFL for baby bonding is still 8 weeks, period. There hasn't been any increase to 12-14 weeks at the state level. What might be happening is she's thinking of the TOTAL time off when you combine everything: pregnancy disability (typically 6-8 weeks after delivery) + PFL bonding (8 weeks) + any employer-provided benefits. When you add it all up, you could be looking at 14-20+ weeks total, but the actual PFL portion remains 8 weeks. I had my baby in September and went through the exact same transition from disability to PFL. My advice: start your PFL application about 2 weeks before your disability period ends to avoid any payment gaps. The online system worked fine for me - much better than trying to call! Also, definitely explore splitting those 8 weeks if it works for your situation. I took 6 weeks immediately after disability ended, then saved 2 weeks for when my baby was older and I needed a mental health break. Having that flexibility was amazing!