EDD PFL certification confusion: What return-to-work date should I enter when taking LOA after baby's birthday?

You should put February 16th as your return-to-work date on the EDD certification. That's when your PFL benefits end (day after baby's first birthday), regardless of any separate LOA arrangements you've made with your employer. The certification is telling EDD when to stop paying benefits, not actually tracking when you physically return to your workplace. Your employer won't be confused because they're already aware of your LOA plans. If you put March 3rd, EDD will likely continue payments until then, which would create an overpayment situation that you'd have to repay later.

For the love of GOD do NOT put March 3rd!!!! I made that exact mistake last year and got hit with a $2100 OVERPAYMENT notice six months later!!! EDD doesn't care about your LOA - they ONLY care about the PFL eligibility period which ENDS on your baby's birthday!!! Put Feb 16th or you'll regret it!!!

When I was in your situation, I put my actual return-to-work date which was 3 weeks after my baby's 1st birthday because that's what the form asked for. But then EDD kept paying me and I ended up with an overpayment notice. Such a headache. I finally got through to an EDD rep who explained that for PFL baby bonding, you should actually put the day after baby's birthday as your "return to work" date on the certification, even if you're taking additional leave. They really should make this clearer on the forms!

Put Feb 16! When i had my baby, the EDD claims specialist told me that for baby bonding PFL, the "return to work" date on certification is actually asking for "when are your PFL benefits ending" not literally when youre physically back at work. Those are two different things that EDD doesnt explain well.

If I understand correctly, you're asking about the final certification for your PFL baby bonding claim, not a new certification for the LOA period, correct? The certification's "return to work" field should reflect the date your PFL eligibility ends (day after baby's first birthday) because: 1. PFL baby bonding benefits legally end on your child's first birthday 2. Any arrangement for additional leave is between you and your employer only 3. EDD systems automatically calculate benefits based on this date 4. Your employer already has your LOA documentation separately Be sure to enter February 16th to avoid overpayment issues that would require repayment and potentially delay any future claims you might have.

my sister just went thru this! she put her real return date (after her extra time off) and got overpaid then had to deal with repayment drama for months. def put the day after baby bday!!!!

When you end baby bonding and start unpaid LOA, you technically have a "change in status" with EDD. You're going from "receiving benefits" to "not eligible for benefits but still not working." The certification is asking when that status change happens, not when you physically return to your desk. Hope that helps!

So important to get this right! For my first baby I put my actual return date and had no issues, but that was back in 2019. For my second in 2023, I did the same thing and got hit with an overpayment notice! Apparently they've gotten stricter about this. Now I tell all my mom friends to put the day after baby's birthday regardless of when they're actually returning.

Also make SURE you keep copies of EVERYTHING - I took screenshots of all my certifications because EDD "lost" my documents when they did the overpayment review. The system is BROKEN!!!