EDD benefit year: 52-week maximum for pregnancy disability + PFL with postpartum complications?

There's a lot of confusion around benefit years and maximum duration. Let me clarify: 1. Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) through SDI has a maximum of 52 weeks for any ONE disability period. 2. The typical PDL claim lasts about 4 weeks before birth + 6-8 weeks after birth, so around 10-12 weeks total. 3. After PDL ends, you can transition to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding (8 weeks max). 4. The benefit year is 12 months from when you first filed your claim. A new benefit year starts 12 months after your initial claim. 5. Postpartum complications that are medically certified can extend your disability claim beyond the typical recovery period. If your sister is approaching a full year of combined benefits and still has medical complications, she should make sure her doctor is submitting the proper certification forms to EDD showing the continued disability. As long as her doctor certifies she's still disabled from the same condition, she can potentially continue receiving benefits even if it crosses into a new benefit year.

i was on disability for pregancy complications too but only for like 3 months total. pretty sure theres a max amount you can get and when that runs out your done, doesn't matter if a new year starts. they told me something like 52 or 56 weeks max for disability. baby bonding is totally seperate tho

The previous responses are mostly correct, but I'd like to clarify a few important details that might help your sister: - The 52-week maximum for SDI (State Disability Insurance) applies to each disability claim period for the same or related condition. - If your sister has a new and different medical condition that begins after her current claim ends, she could potentially qualify for a new disability claim, even within the same benefit year. - The benefit year concept is important for determining your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) based on your base period earnings, but doesn't necessarily limit your ability to file consecutive claims if medically necessary. - For postpartum complications specifically, if they're considered medically distinct from the pregnancy itself, her doctor needs to document this carefully on the continued certification forms. I'd strongly recommend she have her doctor submit detailed documentation about her current condition to EDD, specifying whether it's a continuation of pregnancy-related disability or a new condition. The key is proper medical documentation and timely submission of the continuing certification forms.

OMG I went through something similar last year!! I had HELLP syndrome and was hospitalized at 32 weeks, then had to deliver early and had TERRIBLE postpartum complications. I ended up on disability for almost 11 months straight!! Yes, there is a 52-week max for ONE disability period. But here's what my doctor did - after about 9 months, she classified my ongoing issues as a separate medical condition (postpartum depression and anxiety disorder) that resulted from but was distinct from my pregnancy complication. This allowed me to continue receiving benefits! Make sure her doctor is willing to advocate for her and document everything properly. The forms they submit make ALL the difference!!! Sending you and your sister good vibes! ❤️

This whole system is ridiculously complicated! I spent HOURS on the phone trying to get answers from EDD about my maternity leave transitions last year. They'd tell me one thing, then I'd call back and get completely different information! Such a broken system when people who are already dealing with health issues have to navigate this bureaucratic maze. Honestly, the max benefit periods don't even match reality. They expect women to recover from childbirth in 6-8 weeks?? And only 8 weeks for bonding?? It's like these policies were made by people who have never had children. 🙄 Your sister should keep fighting for what she deserves. The fact that she's been paying into this system and now has to worry about losing benefits when she's still sick is INFURIATING.

I had a similar nightmare trying to get clear answers from EDD about extending my disability claim. After spending days trying to get through on their phone lines (constant busy signals or disconnects), I finally used Claimyr.com and got connected to an actual EDD agent in about 10 minutes. The agent was able to look at my specific situation and explain exactly what documentation my doctor needed to provide for a continuing disability claim. They have a video demo here that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 Saved me so much stress during an already difficult postpartum period. Worth it just to get real answers from an actual EDD rep instead of trying to piece together information from online forums (though this forum has been helpful too!).

your sister should check if her employer offers any additional leave programs! my company had something called Extended Illness Leave that covered me when my state benefits ran out after my complicated pregnancy. worth asking HR!

I want to circle back to answer your specific question about the benefit year: Yes, a new benefit year does technically start 12 months after her initial claim date. However, this primarily affects how her benefit amount would be calculated if she filed a new claim, not necessarily her eligibility for continuing an existing claim. For ongoing complications from the same medical event (in this case, pregnancy and childbirth), EDD typically views this as one continuous disability period with the 52-week maximum. However, as others mentioned, if her doctor determines she has a new or distinct medical condition (even if it resulted from pregnancy), this could potentially be considered a new disability claim. This distinction is crucial and entirely depends on how her healthcare provider documents her condition. Make sure her doctor clearly states on Form DE 2501 whether her current condition is a continuation of pregnancy disability or a new medical condition. This will determine whether she's subject to the 52-week limit of the original claim or potentially eligible for a new disability period.

I'm so glad you're helping your sister navigate this - having family support during such a difficult time makes all the difference! One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet: if your sister does approach the 52-week maximum, she might also want to look into whether she qualifies for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if her complications are expected to last longer than a year. These are federal programs separate from EDD benefits. Also, make sure she keeps detailed records of all her medical appointments, treatments, and how her condition affects her daily activities. This documentation could be crucial if there are any disputes about her continued eligibility. The stress of dealing with benefits while recovering from serious complications is incredibly overwhelming. Encourage her to focus on her health first - the paperwork and phone calls can wait if she's having a particularly difficult day. Her recovery is the most important thing right now. 💙