Help with EDD DI vs PFL for pregnancy - confused about application!
Hey everyone, I'm pregnant with my first baby and I'm trying to figure out this whole disability and paid family leave thing. I got the application for disability insurance benefits from EDD, but I'm not sure if that's the right one. Can someone help me understand the difference between paid family leave and disability insurance? Also, I'm struggling with some of the questions on the form. Like, when should I say my disability began? And what about the question about being in custody? I'm so confused!
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Mei Lin
Congrats on your pregnancy! š Here's a breakdown of what you need to know: ā¢ Disability Insurance (DI) is for when you can't work due to pregnancy and recovery after birth ā¢ Paid Family Leave (PFL) is for bonding with your baby after birth ā¢ Start with DI during pregnancy and right after birth ā¢ Apply for PFL after your DI benefits end For the application: ā¢ Your disability begin date is when your doctor says you can't work anymore ā¢ The custody question is asking if you were in jail - just answer 'No' if you weren't ā¢ For your occupation, just put your regular job title Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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Jamal Wilson
ā¢Thank you so much! This is really helpful. So I should fill out the DI application now, right? And then do the PFL one later?
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Mei Lin
ā¢Exactly! Fill out the DI app now, and then after you give birth and your recovery period ends, you'll apply for PFL. Just make sure to keep track of your dates!
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Liam Fitzgerald
ā¢This is great info! š I wish someone had explained it to me like this when I was pregnant. The whole process is so confusing.
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GalacticGuru
ugh the EDD system is such a nightmare. i've been trying to get through to them for weeks about my claim. good luck with your application, OP!
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Amara Nnamani
ā¢Same boat here. Its like they dont want us to get our benefits or something š
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Giovanni Mancini
ā¢Have you guys tried calling right when they open? I heard that's the best time to get through.
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GalacticGuru
ā¢yeah, ive tried everything. early morning, late afternoon, different days. no luck. its so frustrating!
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
Hey, I found a way to actually get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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Dylan Cooper
ā¢Sounds too good to be true. Does it really work?
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
ā¢Yeah, it actually does! I was skeptical at first too, but I was desperate. Got through to an agent in about an hour.
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Sofia Morales
ā¢$20 just to talk to someone? That's ridiculous. The system is so broken.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
ā¢I get it, but for me it was worth it. Spent way more than $20 in time and frustration trying to get through on my own.
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StarSailor
Pro tip: make copies of EVERYTHING before you send it in. EDD has a habit of 'losing' paperwork š
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Dmitry Ivanov
Anyone else feel like they need a law degree just to fill out these forms? š¤£
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Ava Garcia
ā¢LOL for real tho. I swear they make it complicated on purpose š¤
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Miguel Silva
ā¢Seriously! I spent hours googling what half the questions even meant š©
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Zainab Ismail
Quick question - does anyone know if the amount you get for DI is the same as what you'd get for PFL? Trying to budget here...
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Connor O'Neill
ā¢Pretty sure its the same. Both are based on your income from the past 5-18 months.
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Zainab Ismail
ā¢Thanks! That helps a lot with planning.
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QuantumQuester
Just went through this whole process. My advice? Document EVERYTHING. Every call, every letter, every form you submit. It'll save you so much headache later if there are any issues.
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Jamal Wilson
ā¢That's a great idea. I'll definitely start doing that. Any other tips?
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QuantumQuester
ā¢Yeah, set reminders for yourself about important dates - when to submit forms, when your benefits should start, etc. The EDD won't always notify you if something's missing or wrong.
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Oliver Brown
As someone who just went through this process a few months ago, I wanted to add a couple things that really helped me: 1. When filling out the disability begin date, use the date your doctor gives you in writing - don't guess! Mine was different than I expected. 2. For the occupation section, be specific about your actual job duties, not just your title. It can affect your benefit amount. 3. Submit your application as soon as possible - there's usually a waiting period before benefits kick in. Also, @Jamal Wilson - make sure you have your doctor fill out their part of the form completely. That was the biggest delay for me because I had to go back and get missing info. Good luck with everything! š
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