EDD PFL waiting period - still unpaid week if I file for maternity leave in advance?

No no no, you ALWAYS have the 7-day waiting period for Pregnancy Disability regardless of when you file!!! I tried to be smart about this in January and still had to deal with the unpaid week. The EDD rep told me it's mandatory - that's why most people try to use a few vacation days to cover it. The 7-day wait only applies to the disability part though, not the PFL baby bonding portion.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. So even though I can submit the claim before I stop working, the waiting period still starts on my first day of leave? That sucks!

The previous comment is correct about the waiting period. The 7-day waiting period applies to State Disability Insurance (SDI) which covers your Pregnancy Disability Leave, but not to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding after delivery. For your second question, yes, you'll need to file separate applications. You'll start with the DE2501 form for pregnancy disability about 1-2 weeks before your leave date. Then after delivery, you'll file for PFL using the DE2508 form (or online) for the baby bonding portion. There's a transition process where EDD should automatically send you PFL information after your disability claim ends, but don't count on it - set a calendar reminder to follow up if you don't hear from them.

Thanks for explaining! So even though I'll be on continuous leave, I need two separate applications. And you're right - I definitely need to set reminders to follow up with the EDD. This all seems unnecessarily complicated.

I just had my baby in feb and i started leave 2 weeks b4 due date. yeah u still get the waiting period no matter what i tried asking the same thing. btw make sure u keep track of when ur disability is ending cuz u have to apply for pfl within like 41 days of that or whatever. they say theyll notify u but my notification got lost in the mail and i almost missed the window!!

Oh that's scary about almost missing the window! Did you have any issues with the transition to PFL? How long did it take to get your first payment?

Let me clarify a few things about the waiting period since there seems to be some confusion. The 7-day waiting period for Pregnancy Disability Leave (which is covered by State Disability Insurance) is indeed mandatory regardless of when you file your claim. This waiting period serves as a qualification period during which no benefits are paid.\n\nHowever, here's where planning ahead helps: if you file your claim in advance, you can potentially get your first payment faster after the waiting period ends. The EDD can process your claim during your waiting period, which means you might receive your first payment sooner than someone who files on the first day of their leave.\n\nFor the transition from PDL to PFL baby bonding: You'll start with PDL using form DE2501 (or file online), which covers 4 weeks before birth through 6-8 weeks after birth (depending on delivery type). Then you'll file for PFL baby bonding using form DE2508 for the additional 8 weeks. There's no waiting period for the PFL portion.\n\nThe key things to remember:\n1. File PDL 1-2 weeks before your leave date\n2. The 7-day waiting period is unavoidable\n3. File PFL as soon as your doctor confirms your recovery from childbirth\n4. Keep copies of everything and note your claim numbers

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation! It's really helpful to understand the whole process. So if I'm understanding correctly, filing early won't save me from the unpaid week, but it might help me get paid faster after that week is over? That's at least something!

I went through this last year. Filing early doesn't let you skip the waiting period, but it does get the paperwork moving faster. Also make sure your doctor fills out the exact dates correctly on your medical certification forms! My doc put the wrong start date and it caused a 3-week delay while they \

I had the exact same issue with my doctor putting wrong dates! I spent HOURS trying to get through to someone at EDD to fix it. Ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to reach an actual human at EDD after being on hold for 2+ hours multiple days in a row. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. Totally worth it to get the issue fixed in one day instead of waiting weeks.

Oh that's good to know about that service! I'll keep that in my back pocket if I run into trouble. My doctor's office has a dedicated person who handles all the EDD paperwork so hopefully they'll get the dates right!

Everyone here is focusing on the waiting period, but don't forget about your employer's policies too! Some companies let you use sick leave or PTO to cover that unpaid week. Mine did and it was a lifesaver. Check your employee handbook!

That's a really good point! I should check with HR about that. I have about 2 weeks of PTO saved up that I was planning to add at the end of my leave, but maybe using some for that first week makes more sense.

Just went through this whole process. The 7-day waiting period is definitely required no matter when you file. But to your second question about the transition from PDL to PFL - this is SUPER important and where many people run into trouble. After your pregnancy disability ends (usually 6-8 weeks postpartum), you need to have your doctor complete the form saying you've recovered from childbirth. Then you have to proactively apply for PFL baby bonding. It's NOT automatic despite what some people say! Set calendar reminders and call EDD if you don't receive the PFL paperwork within a week of your doctor releasing you. I learned this the hard way and had a 3-week gap with no income while they processed my PFL claim.

Oh, that's really good to know! I definitely don't want a 3-week gap with no income. I'll make sure to be proactive about the transition. Did you file for PFL online or with the paper form?

I did it online which was much faster! The EDD website is actually decent for this part. Just make sure you have your SDI Online account all set up before you go on leave. And don't forget you'll need your baby's birth certificate (or hospital documentation if the certificate isn't ready yet).

I'm actually going through this right now lol. Had my baby 5 weeks ago. One thing no one mentioned yet - if you work right up until delivery (like I did because surprise! baby came 2 weeks early), your waiting period week can be the first week after birth, which you'd be in the hospital anyway. So technically you're still

wait i never thought of that!!! that's actually kinda smart cuz ur gonna be in the hospital anyway those first days. wish i had known this trick before lol

I want to add a practical tip about maximizing your benefits: Consider the timing of when you start your pregnancy disability leave. If you begin it too early (like 4 weeks before your due date), you might use up some of that time before you actually need it. If your pregnancy is healthy, some women work until closer to their due date to maximize their postpartum time. However, only do this if medically appropriate - always follow your doctor's recommendations about when to stop working.\n\nAlso, for the transition from PDL to PFL: Mark your calendar for when your post-birth recovery period ends (typically 6 weeks for vaginal delivery, 8 weeks for c-section). About a week before that date, call EDD if you haven't received PFL information yet. This transition is where many claims get delayed.

That's a really good point about timing. My doctor mentioned starting leave 2 weeks before my due date, but I'm having a very healthy pregnancy so far. I'll discuss with her whether working a bit longer might be an option. I definitely want to maximize my time at home with the baby after birth.