EDD SDI after C-section before PFL baby bonding - correct order?

Yes! That's exactly the correct sequence. I delivered via C-section in February 2025 and here's how it worked: I received SDI for 8 weeks post-surgery for recovery (standard for C-sections), then transitioned to 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding. The key is that these are two separate benefits with different purposes - SDI covers your medical recovery, while PFL covers bonding time. You'll submit your initial claim on DE2501 form for disability, then about 1-2 weeks before your SDI ends, you'll file the DE2508 form for PFL. Don't file them simultaneously or you'll create confusion in the system. Make sure your doctor documents the C-section on your medical certification to qualify for the full 8 weeks of SDI instead of the 6 weeks for vaginal delivery.

This is gonna sound dumb but I actally messed this up lol. I had a C-section last november and filed for BOTH benefits at the same time because I thought that was efficient. Big mistake!!! It caused a 3 week delay in my payments because the system got confused. Definitely do what the previous person said - file SDI first, then wait until that's almost done before you apply for PFL. Also take screenshots of EVERYTHING you submit online. The EDD website randomly logged me out twice during my application process and I had to restart!!

You've got the right idea. The full sequence goes: 1. Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) through SDI: This starts when your doctor certifies you're disabled due to pregnancy (can be before birth) and extends 8 weeks after C-section 2. Baby Bonding through PFL: 8 weeks that must be taken within 12 months of birth In total, you can potentially get up to 16 weeks of paid benefits (sometimes more if you have pregnancy complications before birth). Just remember that SDI pays approximately 60-70% of your wages while PFL pays the same percentage. Also, your employer's policies might offer supplemental pay to bring you closer to 100%, so check with HR about that too. One other crucial tip: start gathering your wage information from the past 18 months now, as EDD sometimes miscalculates benefit amounts.

Anyone here try to reach EDD before filing to ask questions? I spent FOUR HOURS on hold and then got disconnected last month when I was trying to do exactly what you're describing. Was there in the third trimester on hold so long I thought I might deliver before someone answered 😂

Yes I did exactlty this in December! But be warned my doctor only certified me for 6 weeks after my c-section even tho everyone says its supposed to be 8 weeks. When I called the doctors office they said it depends on your recovery and they can extend it if needed but don't automatically give 8 weeks to everyone with a c-section. So don't count on the full 8 weeks of SDI unless your specific doctor approves it.

I'm actually dealing with this right now. Had my c-section 7 weeks ago and just submitted my PFL claim yesterday. The most annoying part was that I had to create a whole new online account for the PFL portion! My existing SDI online account wouldn't let me file the PFL claim for some reason. Also make sure you have your baby's birth certificate or hospital documentation ready - they required proof of birth for the PFL portion that wasn't needed for the SDI part. Good luck with your delivery!!

One more important thing I forgot to mention: When you transition from SDI to PFL, there can sometimes be a 1-2 week gap in payments while they process the new claim. Make sure you have some savings to cover this period just in case. Also, you can actually file your PFL claim up to 2 weeks before your SDI ends - I recommend doing this to minimize any gap between benefits. The online system should allow you to specify the start date for PFL that coincides with the end of your SDI benefits.

congrats on ur baby! i had my c section in january and yes do the disability first then pfl after. make sure u tell ur doctor to put 8 weeks on the form cuz mine tried to only give me 6 which is wrong for c sections!!! also when u do the online stuff save the claim number they give u cuz if the website crashes (it will lol) u need that number to get back to ur application

I just went through this whole process (my baby is 4 months old now). You're getting good advice here about doing SDI first and then PFL. One thing to be prepared for - when you transition from SDI to PFL, you might get some confusing notices. I received a letter saying my SDI claim was "closed" which briefly sent me into a panic thinking I'd done something wrong. It's just their normal process when one benefit ends and another begins. Also, if you need to speak with someone at EDD about your benefits (which you likely will at some point), set aside a full day for calling. Their phone lines are ridiculously busy, especially in the morning. I found slightly better luck calling around 3-4pm.

This is such helpful information! I'm also expecting my first baby via C-section in a few weeks and had the same confusion about the timing. Reading through everyone's experiences has really clarified things for me. A couple of follow-up questions based on what I've read here: 1) Should I notify my employer about this SDI-to-PFL transition timeline, or do they automatically get notified by EDD? 2) For those who had the payment gap between SDI and PFL, was it exactly 1-2 weeks or did some people experience longer delays? I'm trying to plan my budget accordingly. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences - this is way more helpful than anything I've found on the official EDD website!

This is such great timing for this post! I'm due for a C-section in 6 weeks and was completely lost about the SDI vs PFL sequence. Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) File SDI first for C-section recovery (8 weeks if your doctor certifies it), 2) Apply for PFL about 1-2 weeks before SDI ends, 3) Budget for potential payment gaps, and 4) Save ALL confirmation numbers and take screenshots. One question I haven't seen addressed - does anyone know if you can use FMLA leave concurrently with these benefits to get job protection? My employer offers 12 weeks unpaid FMLA but I want to make sure I'm maximizing both the paid benefits AND job protection. Also planning to have the conversation with my OB about the 8-week certification at my next appointment - thanks for that tip! This community is amazing for real-world advice that you just can't get from official websites.

Adding to all the great advice here! I just completed this exact process - had my C-section in January 2025 and finished my PFL in early March. A few additional tips from my experience: 1) When you file your initial SDI claim, make sure your doctor's office fills out the medical certification completely. Mine initially missed some fields and it delayed my first payment by almost 2 weeks while they requested corrections. 2) Keep a dedicated folder (physical or digital) with copies of EVERYTHING - your claim confirmations, medical forms, birth certificate, payment stubs, etc. I had to reference these multiple times during the process. 3) The transition timing is crucial. I filed my PFL application exactly 10 days before my SDI was set to end, and there was only a 3-day gap between payments. 4) One thing that caught me off guard - you'll need to do bi-weekly certifications for both SDI and PFL to continue receiving payments. Set phone reminders because missing a certification can interrupt your payments. The sequence definitely works and you can get the full 16 weeks of paid time if everything goes smoothly. Best of luck with your delivery! 🍼

I'm in a similar boat - expecting my first baby via C-section next month and this thread has been SO helpful! One thing I wanted to add from my research: I found out that some employers have their own supplemental disability insurance that can work alongside the state SDI to bring you closer to your full salary. Definitely worth checking with HR about this if you haven't already. Also, I've been keeping a spreadsheet with all the important dates (estimated delivery, when to file SDI, when to transition to PFL) and contact info for my doctor's office, HR, and EDD. Having it all in one place has helped me feel more organized during this overwhelming time. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - it's way more valuable than the confusing official websites!

This thread is amazing - so much practical advice that I couldn't find anywhere else! I'm due for a C-section in May and was completely overwhelmed trying to figure out the SDI/PFL process. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring. One thing I wanted to ask - has anyone dealt with filing these claims while also managing childcare for older kids? I have a 3-year-old and I'm worried about finding time to deal with all the paperwork and phone calls while recovering from surgery and taking care of a newborn. Any tips for streamlining the process or getting help with the administrative side? Also, for those who mentioned budget planning - did you find that the 60-70% income replacement was enough to cover your expenses during leave, or did you need to supplement with savings? Thanks again to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm not due until late summer but I'm already trying to plan ahead for my C-section and leave. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned - do any of you know if there are any differences in the SDI/PFL process if you're planning to take leave intermittently rather than all at once? My job has some flexibility where I might be able to work part-time for a few weeks before going full-time on leave. Also, I've been wondering about the tax implications - are the SDI and PFL payments taxable income? I want to make sure I'm setting aside the right amount for tax season. Thanks for creating such a comprehensive resource here!

This thread is such a goldmine of information! As someone who's currently 35 weeks pregnant and scheduled for a C-section next month, I can't thank you all enough for sharing your real experiences. I've been stressing about this exact process for weeks and my OB's office wasn't very helpful when I asked about the SDI timeline. Based on everything I've read here, I'm planning to: 1. Talk to my doctor at my next appointment about ensuring the medical certification reflects 8 weeks recovery for C-section 2. File SDI claim right after delivery 3. Set up that dedicated folder system someone mentioned with all documents 4. Apply for PFL about 10 days before SDI ends 5. Budget for a potential 2-3 week payment gap One quick question - for those who successfully transitioned from SDI to PFL, did you have to provide any additional medical documentation for the PFL application, or was it mainly just proving the birth happened? I'm trying to get all my paperwork organized in advance since I know I'll be exhausted those first few weeks with a newborn. You've all made me feel so much more prepared for this process. The EDD website is basically useless compared to the practical advice shared here!