How SDI maternity payments work - retroactive vs future payments (payment schedule confusion)

SDI maternity payments are retroactive (for time already taken off), not for future weeks. Typically EDD processes payments after each two-week period has passed. So if you started leave yesterday, your first payment would cover approximately 2 weeks from now, and would be processed a few days after that period ends. You'll continue receiving payments until either your pregnancy disability period ends (usually 6 weeks for vaginal delivery, 8 weeks for c-section) or until your doctor releases you to return to work, whichever comes first. You don't need to certify for SDI like you do with regular unemployment. After your pregnancy disability ends, you'll need to submit a separate PFL claim for baby bonding if you want to continue receiving benefits.

Actually it's even more complicated than that lol. There's a one-week UNPAID waiting period at the beginning of your SDI claim. So your first payment will only cover the second week of your leave. After that, yes, payments come every two weeks for time already taken. My first payment took almost 3 weeks to arrive after I started leave, but then they were pretty regular after that. Just budget accordingly because that first month can be tight with the delay + waiting period!

my sister just had a baby in december and she said you dont get paid till AFTER the weeks ur claiming. they dont pay in advance. and ya theres that stupid waiting week at the beginning that you never get paid for. also dont forget theyll take taxes out if u elected for that so ur payments will be less than u might expect

Let me clarify the payment schedule since there seems to be some confusion: 1. First week = unpaid waiting period (you never get this) 2. Weeks 2-3 = first payment (arrives ~5-10 days after week 3 ends) 3. Weeks 4-5 = second payment (arrives ~5-10 days after week 5 ends) And so on. You'll continue receiving payments until either: - Your doctor releases you to return to work - You reach the maximum pregnancy disability period (typically 6-8 weeks postpartum) Then you need to file a separate PFL claim for baby bonding (form DE2508) which has NO waiting period. There should be a seamless transition if you file your PFL claim before your disability period ends.

when i had my baby in 2024 i had the worst time getting thru to ask EDD questions about my payments!! i spent like 3 hours on hold and then got disconnected twice. so frustrating

Thank you all SO MUCH for these detailed responses! This clarifies a lot. So to summarize what I'm understanding: - First week is unpaid (boo) - Payments are for time already taken, not future weeks - First payment comes about 3 weeks after starting leave - After that, payments come every 2 weeks - Payments continue until doctor releases me or I hit the standard 6-8 weeks - Then I need to file the separate PFL claim (DE2508) for baby bonding I'm so glad I asked because I was budgeting all wrong assuming I'd get paid right away for the full period! Going to adjust my expectations and budget now.

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I was on maternity leave last year - keep track of all your dates! I made a simple calendar marking my start date, when I expected each payment, and when my disability period would end. It really helped me stay on top of everything and plan ahead for filing the PFL claim. Also, if you're planning to breastfeed, you might be eligible for additional disability time beyond the standard 6-8 weeks if you have complications. My doctor extended mine by 2 weeks due to breastfeeding issues, and EDD honored it without any problems. Just make sure your doctor documents everything properly! Good luck with your delivery! The payment system is confusing but once you get the hang of it, it's not too bad.

One thing that really helped me when I was navigating this process was to set up direct deposit if you haven't already! It can speed up your payments by a few days compared to waiting for checks in the mail. You can set this up through your EDD online account. Also, just a heads up - if you end up having a C-section (which you obviously can't plan for), your disability period will automatically extend to 8 weeks instead of 6, so you won't need to do anything special to get those extra 2 weeks of SDI payments. The hospital will send the updated medical certification to EDD directly. Congratulations on your upcoming arrival! The payment timing is definitely confusing at first, but everyone here has given you really solid advice to help you plan ahead.

Just want to add that it's also worth checking if your employer offers any supplemental short-term disability benefits that might kick in during that unpaid waiting week or help bridge any gaps. Some companies have policies that will cover part of your salary during the waiting period. Also, if you're planning to take the full 12 weeks of family leave (6-8 weeks disability + bonding time), make sure you understand how it interacts with FMLA if your employer is covered. The timing can get tricky if you want to maximize your protected leave time. One last thing - keep copies of ALL your paperwork and forms! I learned this the hard way when EDD claimed they never received my PFL application even though I submitted it online. Having screenshots and confirmation numbers saved me weeks of delays.

One thing I wish someone had told me before starting my maternity leave is to also think about your health insurance premiums! If your employer normally deducts premiums from your paycheck, you'll need to arrange to pay those directly while you're on unpaid or reduced-pay leave. Some employers will let you prepay or catch up when you return, but others require monthly payments. Also, if you're planning to add your baby to your insurance, make sure you understand the enrollment deadlines. You typically have 30 days from birth to add them, but it's good to have all the paperwork ready ahead of time since you'll be pretty busy those first few weeks! The financial planning aspect of maternity leave is so much more complex than I expected. This thread has been super helpful for understanding the EDD timeline - thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

As someone who just went through this process 6 months ago, I wanted to add a few more practical tips that really helped me: 1. Download the EDD mobile app if you haven't already - it makes it so much easier to check your claim status and payment history on the go, especially during those middle-of-the-night feeding sessions when you're wondering about payments! 2. If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), make sure you understand how to access those funds for delivery and postpartum expenses. You can often get reimbursed pretty quickly for eligible medical costs. 3. Consider setting up automatic bill pay for your essential expenses before your leave starts, since that first month with delayed payments can be stressful enough without worrying about due dates. 4. If you end up needing to extend your disability beyond the initial estimate (which happens more often than people think), don't panic! Your doctor can submit updated paperwork, but it might cause a brief delay in payments while EDD processes the change. The system definitely isn't perfect, but once you get into the rhythm of it, it's manageable. Wishing you a smooth delivery and recovery!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you everyone for breaking down such a confusing process! I'm also expecting my first baby (due in about 6 weeks) and had no idea about that unpaid waiting week or how the payment timing actually works. One quick question for those who've been through this - did anyone have issues with their employer during the transition periods? I'm worried about coordination between my company's HR, FMLA paperwork, and the EDD claims. My HR department seems pretty unfamiliar with California's system since we're a smaller company. Also, has anyone used both SDI and PFL and then had to coordinate going back to work part-time? I'm hoping to do a gradual return but not sure how that affects the benefit payments. You've all saved me from so much confusion and probably some financial stress too. This is exactly the kind of real-world advice that you just can't find on the official websites!

This has been such an informative thread! I'm currently 8 weeks postpartum and just transitioned from SDI to PFL, and I wish I had found this discussion earlier in my pregnancy. A couple of additional tips from my recent experience: - Make sure to submit your PFL claim (DE2508) about 10-14 days before your SDI period ends. I waited until the last minute and there was a 1-week gap in payments that really stressed me out financially. - Keep detailed records of all your doctor visits and any complications. I had some unexpected postpartum complications that extended my disability period, and having thorough documentation made the approval process much smoother. - If you're breastfeeding and plan to pump at work when you return, look into whether your employer is required to provide break time and a private space. It's not directly related to EDD payments, but it's another thing to coordinate for your return. The waiting week really is frustrating, but once you get through those first few weeks, the payments do become pretty predictable. And @Nina Fitzgerald - definitely get that coordination plan in writing with your HR! Small companies often don't deal with this frequently so being proactive really helps. Congratulations to everyone expecting! The system is confusing but this community is so helpful for navigating it all.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm 32 weeks pregnant and just starting to research the whole SDI/PFL process. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so much more informative than the confusing EDD website. I have a question about the tax withholding - for those who elected to have taxes taken out, roughly what percentage of your benefit amount was withheld? I'm trying to budget and want to get a realistic idea of what my actual take-home payments will be after taxes. Also, I keep seeing mixed information about whether you need to report any income while on SDI maternity leave. If I do some freelance work from home during my recovery (nothing strenuous, just some writing projects), do I need to report that to EDD? I don't want to accidentally mess up my benefits but could really use the extra income given all the delays and waiting periods everyone has mentioned. Thanks so much for creating such a supportive and informative discussion - this is exactly what expectant parents need to understand this complicated system!

This thread is amazing! I'm 28 weeks pregnant with my first baby and had been putting off researching the SDI process because it seemed so overwhelming. Reading through everyone's real experiences has made it so much clearer than any official website. I'm especially grateful for the timeline breakdown - knowing that first payment won't come for about 3 weeks after starting leave is crucial for budgeting. I was definitely planning wrong and would have been in trouble financially if I hadn't learned about that unpaid waiting week! Quick question for anyone who's been through this: do you recommend applying for SDI right when you go out on leave, or is there any advantage to applying a bit earlier? My doctor said she can provide the medical certification whenever I need it, but I'm not sure about the optimal timing for submitting the claim. Also, has anyone had experience with their employer trying to make them use vacation/sick days during that unpaid waiting week? My company mentioned something about this but I want to understand my rights before having that conversation with HR. Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical information that expectant parents need! I feel so much more prepared now.

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm 35 weeks pregnant and just realized I need to get serious about understanding the SDI process. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so eye-opening - especially about that unpaid waiting week that nobody warns you about! I have a couple of questions that I haven't seen addressed yet: 1. Does the timing change at all if you go into labor early or late? Like if my due date is April 15th but baby comes April 1st, does that affect when my SDI claim should start? 2. For those who had complicated deliveries or longer hospital stays, did that impact your payment timeline at all? I'm hoping for a straightforward delivery but want to be prepared just in case. Also, I keep seeing references to form DE2508 for the PFL claim - is this something I can download and fill out ahead of time, or do I need to wait until closer to when I'll need it? Thank you all SO much for sharing your real experiences. The official EDD information is so confusing, but reading how it actually works in practice from people who've been through it is invaluable. I'm definitely going to start that calendar tracking system someone mentioned and get my direct deposit set up ASAP!