Extending PFL after exhausting SDI benefits - options for severe postpartum anxiety?
I'm supposed to go back to work in 3 weeks after finishing my PFL baby bonding time, but I'm absolutely terrified about it. My 4-month-old refuses to take a bottle from anyone else and screams until I hold him. I was diagnosed with severe postpartum anxiety last month and just started therapy, but I'm nowhere near feeling better. I've already used all 8 weeks of my PFL benefits after my 6 weeks of SDI for vaginal delivery. My doctor mentioned possibly extending leave but wasn't clear on how that works with EDD. Does anyone know if there are ways to get more time off when you're dealing with postpartum mental health issues? Can I apply for disability based on anxiety/depression separate from the pregnancy disability? My HR department hasn't been helpful at all - they just keep saying "you've used all your protected leave." I'm desperate for options and terrified of leaving my baby. Has anyone navigated this successfully?
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Jason Brewer
Yes, this is possible! You can apply for standard disability (not pregnancy disability) for postpartum depression/anxiety as a separate claim. Your therapist or psychiatrist would need to certify that your condition prevents you from working. It would require a new DE2501 form with your mental health provider as the certifying doctor rather than your OB. I went through this exact situation last year. After my PFL ended, I got an additional 6 weeks of disability for severe PPD. The key is having your provider clearly document that your condition prevents you from performing your regular work duties.
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Nina Fitzgerald
AuthorThank you so much for this information! I had no idea this was even an option. Did you have any issues with the transition between benefits? Did you have to wait for approval before the new disability kicked in? I'm worried about having a gap with no income.
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Kiara Fisherman
DONT COUNT ON EDD!!! They make everything so complicated and ALWAYS mess up mental health claims. I tried doing this last year and they denied me even tho my doctor filled everything out. Then I had to appeal and was without money for WEEKS!!! They said I could work with anxiety which is BS. Just be super careful and know they might deny you at first cuz thats what they do with everything.
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Liam Cortez
omg this happened to me too! i had to appeal with like a million medical records. its like they think mental health isnt real or something
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Savannah Vin
You might want to look into FMLA/CFRA options too, especially if your postpartum anxiety qualifies as a serious health condition (which it likely does). While these don't provide payment, they can protect your job for up to 12 weeks. Some employers also offer extended personal leaves that you could use. I had severe PPD that turned into scary panic attacks. My psychiatrist wrote that I couldn't safely return to work, and I did get approved for regular disability after my PFL ended. Make sure your mental health provider specifically documents how your condition impacts your ability to perform essential job functions. That's what EDD looks for.
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Jason Brewer
This is great advice about documenting specific work limitations. My therapist had to resubmit paperwork because she initially wasn't specific enough about why my anxiety prevented me from working. Once she detailed the panic attacks, inability to focus, and safety concerns, my claim was approved.
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Mason Stone
If you need to reach EDD regarding this transition, I'd recommend Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to a real person at EDD within 20 minutes after I spent days getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 I was in a similar situation trying to file a mental health claim after PFL, and really needed to talk to someone at EDD about the process. The representatives actually gave me some useful advice about how to have my doctor fill out the forms to avoid denial.
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Nina Fitzgerald
AuthorI'll definitely check this out! I've been calling EDD for 3 days straight and either get disconnected or told the wait time is 2+ hours. Is this service reliable? I really need to speak with someone who can give me clear information about transitioning to a new claim.
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Makayla Shoemaker
my baby was the same way! wouldn't take bottle from anyone else and screamed bloody murder if i wasnt holding him. what helped us was having someone else feed him while wearing one of my unwashed shirts (gross i know lol). the smell helped calm him down. this doesnt solve your leave situation but might help with the transition when you do go back.
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Nina Fitzgerald
AuthorThank you for the suggestion! I've tried having my husband wear my shirt while feeding, and our little one still screams. He'll actually push the bottle away and arch his back if I'm not the one holding him. I'm going to keep trying different things though - maybe a combination of my shirt plus being in our bedroom where I usually feed him might help.
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Christian Bierman
I think soemtimes we need to be brave for our babies. I was scared to death about going back but guess what - my baby adjusted faster than I did! Yes there were tears but by week 2 he was totaly fine with the sitter. Dont mean to sound harsh but sometimes making it a huge deal makes it worse.
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Kiara Fisherman
Wow way to completely ignore that she has DIAGNOSED postpartum anxiety and depression. This isn't just normal back to work jitters. Mental health is SERIOUS and saying "just be brave" is super dismissive and harmful!!
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Jason Brewer
One important thing to note: if you do apply for disability based on postpartum anxiety/depression, it's a completely separate claim from your pregnancy and PFL claims. You'll need to have your doctor start the paperwork before your PFL ends to avoid gaps in payment. Also, there's a waiting period for the new claim (I think it's 7 days) where you won't receive benefits. EDD may also require additional medical documentation for mental health claims, so be prepared to provide that. Having your therapist and/or psychiatrist document your symptoms thoroughly makes a huge difference in approval rates.
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Nina Fitzgerald
AuthorThis is so helpful! I have an appointment with my therapist tomorrow and will talk to her about documenting everything properly. Do you know if there's any specific wording they should use on the DE2501 form to increase chances of approval? I'm worried because I've heard mental health claims get denied more often.
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Liam Cortez
my friend just went thru this! she got her regular doctor to fill out disability paperwork for PPD and she got 8 more weeks. dont just assume u cant get more time - if ur truly not ready to go back most doctors understand this!! sending u good vibes mama u got this
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Nina Fitzgerald
AuthorThank you for the encouragement! I have an appointment with my primary care doctor next week too. Did your friend go through her regular doctor or a psychiatrist/therapist? I'm trying to figure out which doctor would be best to sign the forms.
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Aisha Abdullah
Either can work, but a psychiatrist or therapist who specializes in mental health is usually better because they understand exactly what EDD is looking for in the documentation. My therapist knew to include specific symptoms like panic attacks, inability to concentrate, sleep disruption, and how these directly impact my ability to perform work tasks. If your primary care doctor isn't familiar with mental health disability claims, they might not be as detailed in their documentation. I'd recommend asking both doctors which one feels more comfortable handling this type of claim!
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