How soon after pregnancy disability ends can I apply for PFL baby bonding? Need paperwork timeline!

You don't need to wait for anything to be mailed to you! You can apply for PFL baby bonding online through your SDI Online account. Just log in to the same account you used for your pregnancy disability claim, and there should be an option to file a new claim for PFL. This is definitely the fastest way. The transition from pregnancy disability to baby bonding is supposed to be smooth, but sometimes there are hiccups. I recommend applying online for baby bonding at least 5-7 days before your disability ends to avoid payment gaps. Just make sure you have your baby's birth certificate information handy when you apply. You'll need to provide that during the application process.

i did this last month! u dont need 2 wait 4 forms in mail. just log in 2 ur SDI acct and theres a button that says something like "file new claim" or "file PFL claim" - super easy! took me like 10 mins

I WOULD NOT TRUST THE ONLINE SYSTEM!!! When I had my baby in Dec, I tried filing online and my claim got stuck in processing for WEEKS. No one could tell me what was happening. I ended up having to go physically to an EDD office and they found out my online application had some glitch that wouldn't have been fixed without me going in. Seriously, if you can, just go to the EDD office with your ID, baby's birth certificate, and your disability claim info. They can process everything right there and you'll know it's actually being handled correctly.

To answer your follow-up question - there SHOULDN'T be any waiting period between disability and baby bonding if you time it right. The key is applying before your disability ends. Regarding what the other poster said about going to an EDD office - while that's an option, most people have success with the online system now. The problems they experienced in December might have been during a system update or just bad luck. If you're worried about your claim getting stuck, you can always call EDD to confirm they received your online application. Though getting through on the phone can be its own challenge...

When I had my baby last year I received the PFL paperwork automatically about 1 week before my disability ended. But I panicked and filed online anyway and somehow ended up with TWO claims which confused everything! It took forever to straighten out. Make sure you only file once either online OR wait for the paper forms but don't do both. Also just know that baby bonding is 8 weeks instead of 6 weeks that you get for disability. And you don't have to take it all at once - you can split it up until your baby turns 1. My sister saved 2 weeks to use when her husband went back to work.

I had the EXACT same question a few months ago! I tried for DAYS to get through to EDD on the phone to ask about transitioning from disability to baby bonding. Always disconnected or 3+ hour wait times. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes. They confirmed I could apply online and even checked my account to make sure everything was set up correctly for the transition. Totally worth it for the peace of mind. They have a video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 But yes, definitely apply online through your SDI account about a week before your disability ends. That's what the EDD rep recommended to me.

@originalPoster - After I talked to the rep, everything went pretty smoothly. I applied online exactly 7 days before my disability ended. The only minor issue was that my first PFL payment was delayed by about 3-4 days, but after that they came regularly. The rep said that's normal for the transition period. Just make sure all your information matches exactly what you used for disability - same name format, address, etc. Any tiny discrepancy can trigger a review that delays things.

I've helped many clients with this transition from SDI to PFL. Here's the correct procedure: 1. You can apply for PFL baby bonding through your SDI Online account approximately 7-10 days before your pregnancy disability claim ends 2. There is no automatic paper form sent for most claims now - the system is primarily online 3. You'll need: - Your child's birth certificate info - The last day you worked before disability - Your expected return-to-work date If you're uncomfortable with the online process, you can call EDD at 1-877-238-4373, but be prepared for long wait times. The statutory timeline for processing is 14 days, but most straightforward transitions are processed in 5-10 days if there are no issues with your application.

I just went through this in February! I filed online around 5 days before my disability ended. One thing nobody mentioned - make sure you know the exact DATE you want your baby bonding to start. It should typically be the day after your disability ends. Also be careful about your return-to-work date. If you put the wrong date and go back earlier or later, you need to notify EDD or you could end up with an overpayment situation. I accidentally put the wrong return date and had to call multiple times to fix it. And btw congrats on your baby girl! The baby bonding time is precious, try to enjoy it despite dealing with all this paperwork nonsense!

@originalPoster they approved mine in like 4 days after submitting online! super fast compared to the disability part which took like 2 weeks. no problems with transition at all

Update: I just applied online through my SDI account! It was actually pretty straightforward. There was a button that said "File a PFL Claim" right on the main page after logging in. The whole process took about 15 minutes. I made sure to set my PFL start date as the day after my disability ends. Now I'm just waiting for approval. Thanks everyone for your help! I'll update again when I hear back about approval.