Getting EDD disability for postpartum anxiety/depression after exhausting PFL and bonding time?

Yes! I did this exact thing in 2025. After using my 6 weeks disability for delivery + 8 weeks PFL bonding, I still wasn't mentally well. My general doctor (not OB) filed a new claim using form DE2501 for postpartum depression and anxiety as a separate mental health condition. It was approved for an initial 6 weeks, then extended twice for a total of 14 weeks additional disability leave. The key was having it filed as a mental health disability rather than as a pregnancy complication. My doctor specifically documented that while it was triggered by childbirth, the severity required treatment as a standalone condition. I also had therapy notes documenting failed attempts to return to work. Make sure your doctor codes it correctly on the form - it can't look like just a continuation of pregnancy disability.

i dont think its possible becuz technically its all from the same pregnancy. my friend tried this last yr and got denied cuz they said it was all connected to the same "disability event" even tho it was mental health. maybe im wrong tho

You can definitely file for this! I had a very similar situation last year. My baby was born in November 2024, used the 6 weeks disability after birth, then the 8 weeks PFL for bonding. But I was struggling with severe postpartum anxiety and couldn't function at work. My primary doctor filed a NEW claim in March 2025 (so there was a little gap after my bonding time ended). The important thing is they classified it as "Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety Features" not specifically as "postpartum depression" to show it was a condition needing treatment on its own. One weird thing - I did get a call from an EDD medical examiner who asked questions about my symptoms and treatment plan. Just be prepared for that possibility.

Just came here to share my experience with getting through to EDD about this exact issue! After my doctor filed my second claim for postpartum anxiety, it got stuck in processing for WEEKS. I spent 3 days trying to reach someone at EDD and kept getting disconnected. FINALLY used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an EDD rep in about 8 minutes. They were able to review my claim on the spot and told me exactly what additional documentation I needed from my doctor. Saved me weeks of waiting! You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 - was super helpful for getting a real person on the phone.

I wish someone had told me this earlier!!!! I struggled HORRIBLY with PPD and PPA after my baby was born in 2024 and had NO IDEA I could file a separate claim after my bonding time ended. My doctor never mentioned it either. I ended up quitting my job because I just couldn't function. THIS INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE TO NEW MOMS!!!

I want to add something important: timing matters with these claims. If you try to file immediately after your bonding time ends, it can sometimes trigger extra scrutiny because it looks like you're trying to extend the same claim. Some doctors recommend waiting 2-4 weeks after PFL ends before filing the mental health disability claim. This creates a clearer separation between pregnancy benefits and mental health disability. Also, documentation is critical. You should have: 1. A formal diagnosis from a licensed medical provider 2. Documentation of treatment plan (therapy, medication, etc.) 3. Clear statements about how your condition prevents specific job functions 4. Any previous attempts to return to work that were unsuccessful The DE2501 form needs to be completed thoroughly with specific details about functional limitations.

My sister had to do this last year and her experience was it matters WHO files the claim. Her first attempt was denied because her OB filed it and referenced her pregnancy. The second time her psychiatrist filed it as a standalone mental health condition and it was approved right away. So definitely have a mental health provider or your PCP file it rather than your OB if possible.

Has anyone actually gotten Paid FAMILY Leave extended? I know you can get disability for PPD/PPA which is different, but my issue is I need more time for BONDING not because I'm personally disabled. My baby has severe colic and reflux and literally needs to be held upright 24/7. I'm at the end of my 8 weeks bonding and I can't imagine putting him in daycare like this. Any way to extend the actual BONDING time with EDD?

Watch out with these seperate claims! My coworker did this and while she got approved, her employer fought it and made her life miserable when she returned. They basically implied she was gaming the system and put her on a PIP within a month of coming back. Make sure your employer is supportive before going this route!!!!

To add some clarification about the regulations here: EDD does recognize postpartum depression/anxiety as a legitimate disability separate from pregnancy disability when properly documented. California law doesn't have a specified limit on disability claims for different conditions, even if they're somewhat related. The key legal distinction is that pregnancy disability covers physical recovery from childbirth (limited to 6-8 weeks typically), while a mental health disability claim covers a separate medical condition that happens to have been triggered by pregnancy/childbirth. Regarding the timing question: there's no statutory waiting period required between claims, but as others have mentioned, a small gap helps establish that this is a new claim rather than an extension. The critical factor is medical documentation showing that: 1) Your condition meets disability criteria (prevents you from performing regular work) 2) It requires treatment as a primary condition 3) Your doctor certifies the duration of disability If denied initially, you have appeal rights. Many legitimate PPD/PPA claims are approved on appeal with proper documentation.

I went through this exact situation in 2024! After my 8 weeks of PFL bonding ended, I was having severe panic attacks and couldn't sleep more than 2 hours at a time due to anxiety. My primary care doctor filed a new disability claim for "Postpartum Anxiety Disorder" about 3 weeks after my bonding time ended. The process took about 2 weeks to get approved, and I was granted 8 weeks initially. What really helped was that I had already started therapy and medication, so there was clear documentation of treatment. My doctor made sure to focus on how the anxiety was preventing me from concentrating at work and performing my job duties rather than linking it back to pregnancy recovery. One tip: keep a daily symptom journal if you can. I wrote down panic attack frequency, sleep patterns, and specific work tasks I couldn't handle. My doctor said this really helped strengthen the claim. You're not alone in this - postpartum mental health struggles are SO real and you deserve support!

I'm going through this exact situation right now! Just wanted to add that when I filed my mental health disability claim after exhausting PFL, EDD required additional documentation from my therapist beyond just the DE2501 form from my doctor. They wanted specific treatment notes showing my progress (or lack thereof) and how my symptoms were impacting daily functioning. My therapist had to write a detailed letter explaining that despite ongoing treatment, I was still experiencing severe anxiety that made it impossible to concentrate at work or handle normal job responsibilities. The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to approval, but having that extra documentation from my mental health provider really seemed to make the difference. Also, just a heads up - they may ask for periodic updates on your treatment progress if you need extensions. I had to have my doctor recertify every 4 weeks initially. Hang in there, you're not alone in this struggle and there IS help available!

I'm so sorry you're going through this, but please know you're not alone and there IS hope! I successfully filed a separate disability claim for postpartum anxiety after exhausting my PFL bonding time in 2024. The key things that helped me get approved: - Had my primary care doctor (not OB) file it as "Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Postpartum Onset" rather than just "postpartum anxiety" - Waited about 4 weeks after my bonding time ended to create clear separation between claims - Made sure my doctor documented specific work limitations (can't concentrate, panic attacks, insomnia affecting job performance) - Had therapy records showing ongoing treatment and medication compliance My initial claim was approved for 6 weeks and I was able to extend it twice with updated medical documentation. The whole process from filing to first payment took about 3 weeks. Don't let anyone tell you this isn't possible - postpartum mental health conditions are absolutely legitimate disabilities that can qualify for separate EDD claims when properly documented. Your mental health matters and you deserve the time you need to heal. Hang in there! 💙

I'm a new mom dealing with similar struggles and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I wanted to add that when I spoke with my doctor about filing a separate disability claim for postpartum depression, she mentioned that having a clear treatment plan in place really strengthens the claim. This includes not just therapy and medication, but also specific goals and timelines for recovery. My doctor recommended documenting how I've tried to return to work but couldn't manage it due to the severity of symptoms. She said EDD wants to see that this isn't just wanting more time off, but a genuine medical need for disability leave. For anyone going through this - please don't feel guilty about needing more time. Postpartum mental health conditions are serious medical issues that deserve proper treatment and recovery time. The fact that California recognizes these as separate disability claims shows that the system understands this isn't just an extension of pregnancy leave, but a real medical condition that needs attention. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's given me hope that I can get the help I need while protecting my job and financial stability.

I'm currently in this exact situation and reading all of your experiences has been such a lifesaver! I'm 4 weeks out from my PFL bonding time ending and struggling with severe postpartum anxiety - panic attacks, insomnia, the whole works. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: I called EDD directly to ask about filing a separate mental health disability claim, and the rep I spoke to confirmed that as long as it's properly documented as a standalone condition by a licensed medical provider, it CAN be approved even after exhausting pregnancy-related benefits. She emphasized that the key is making sure your doctor frames it as a mental health disability rather than a pregnancy complication. I'm scheduled to meet with my primary care doctor next week to discuss filing the claim. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm going to make sure to: - Document all my failed work attempts and specific symptoms - Ask for it to be diagnosed as a specific mental health condition (not just "postpartum" anything) - Bring my therapy records showing ongoing treatment - Request a detailed treatment plan with recovery timeline Thank you all SO much for sharing your stories. It's given me hope that I can get the help I need without losing my job or going bankrupt. This information really should be more widely available to new moms - I had no idea this was even an option until I found this thread!

I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - used my 6 weeks disability after delivery in February, then the full 8 weeks of PFL bonding which just ended two weeks ago. I thought I'd be ready to go back to work but my postpartum anxiety has gotten so much worse. I'm having intrusive thoughts, severe insomnia, and can barely function let alone work. Reading all your success stories gives me so much hope! I had no idea that filing a separate mental health disability claim was even possible. My OB just kept telling me this was "normal" and would pass, but clearly wasn't thinking about EDD options beyond the standard pregnancy benefits. I'm calling my primary care doctor tomorrow to set up an appointment. Based on everyone's advice here, I'll make sure to: - Wait another week or two to create more separation from my PFL end date - Document my symptoms and how they prevent me from working - Ask for it to be diagnosed as a specific mental health condition - Bring my therapy notes as supporting documentation Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it's giving struggling moms like me the roadmap we desperately need. This information should definitely be more widely available!

As someone who went through this process successfully in early 2024, I want to emphasize something really important that helped me get approved: make sure your doctor includes specific functional limitations in the DE2501 form. Don't just say "patient has postpartum anxiety" - be detailed about HOW it prevents you from working. My doctor wrote things like "unable to concentrate for more than 10 minutes due to racing thoughts," "experiences panic attacks triggered by work-related phone calls," and "severe sleep disruption prevents cognitive functioning required for job duties." Also, if you're taking medication, document that you're still symptomatic DESPITE treatment - this shows the severity isn't just from lack of care. I had been on antidepressants for 6 weeks when I filed and my doctor noted that symptoms persisted despite medication compliance. The whole process from filing to first payment took about 3.5 weeks for me, and I was initially approved for 8 weeks with two successful extensions. Having that specific functional language in the medical certification made all the difference compared to my friend who got denied with vague documentation. You absolutely deserve this support - postpartum mental health conditions are legitimate disabilities that can severely impact your ability to work, regardless of when they occur in relation to your pregnancy benefits!

I'm currently going through this exact situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far! After using my full pregnancy disability and 8 weeks of PFL bonding, my postpartum anxiety became completely unmanageable. I couldn't even make it through a full workday without having multiple panic attacks. My therapist connected me with a psychiatrist who explained that postpartum mental health conditions can absolutely qualify as separate disability claims when they're severe enough to prevent you from working. The key is having it properly documented as a standalone mental health disability, not as an extension of pregnancy-related benefits. I'm in the process of filing now - my psychiatrist is handling the DE2501 form and specifically documenting it as "Major Depressive Disorder with Anxiety Features, Postpartum Onset" rather than just "postpartum depression." She's being very detailed about functional limitations like "unable to maintain focus during meetings due to intrusive thoughts" and "sleep disruption prevents completion of complex tasks." I waited about 5 weeks after my PFL ended to file, which my doctor said helps establish this as a new medical event rather than a continuation. One thing that's been helpful is keeping a symptom diary - tracking panic attack frequency, hours of sleep, specific work tasks I can't handle, etc. For anyone considering this: don't feel guilty about needing more time. These are legitimate medical conditions that deserve proper treatment, and California law recognizes that mental health disabilities can occur independently from pregnancy recovery. You're not "gaming the system" - you're accessing support that exists specifically for situations like this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this, but I want to add some hope to this conversation! I successfully filed a separate mental health disability claim for severe postpartum anxiety and depression after exhausting both my pregnancy disability and PFL bonding time in late 2024. The key things that made my claim successful: - I waited about 6 weeks after my bonding time ended to create clear separation - My primary care doctor (not OB) filed it as "Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood" specifically noting it was triggered by but separate from childbirth - We documented specific work limitations: "unable to concentrate on tasks for more than 15 minutes," "experiences panic attacks when handling client communications," "severe insomnia prevents cognitive functioning required for data analysis" - I had been in therapy for 8 weeks and on medication for 4 weeks, showing ongoing treatment despite persistent symptoms The process took about 4 weeks from filing to approval, and I was initially granted 10 weeks with the option to extend if needed. Having detailed therapy notes really helped - my therapist wrote a letter explaining how my symptoms were interfering with daily functioning despite consistent treatment. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: start documenting everything NOW. Keep a daily log of symptoms, panic attacks, sleep patterns, and specific work tasks you can't handle. This concrete evidence really strengthens your case. You're absolutely not alone in this struggle, and seeking additional disability support doesn't make you weak - it makes you a responsible parent taking care of your mental health so you can better care for your baby in the long run. Hang in there! 💙