Just switched jobs before due date - can I still get EDD pregnancy disability benefits?
I'm stressing out! After 8.5 years at my previous company, I accepted a position with better parental benefits about 5 weeks ago. But now I'm realizing I might have messed up my maternity leave by switching jobs! I'm due to deliver August 18th and I'm worried about whether I'm eligible for SDI/disability benefits during my recovery period. Do the wage credits from my previous job count toward my disability claim? My previous HR said something about a "base period" for calculating benefits, but I'm completely confused. Has anyone here changed jobs close to their due date? Did you still qualify for CA disability benefits? So worried about finances right now!
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CosmicCrusader
Good news! Your SDI eligibility is based on wages paid during a specific base period, which is usually 5-18 months before your claim begins. Since you worked at your previous job for 8 years, those wages should definitely count toward your disability eligibility. The base period for an August 2025 claim would be roughly April 2024-March 2025, so your previous employment should be well-covered in that calculation. Just make sure to list both employers on your DE2501 form when you file for pregnancy disability.
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Aisha Rahman
•Omg thank you!! That's such a relief. So even though I've only been at my new job for a few weeks, I can still file using my income history from my old job? Do I need to get any special documentation from my previous employer?
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Ethan Brown
just make sure u file for disability BEFORE baby bonding PFL!!! i messed this up and had to reapply and lost $$$ because teh system is so dumb
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Yuki Yamamoto
•This is super important advice! The CA system requires disability FIRST for pregnancy/birth recovery (usually 4 weeks before due date plus 6-8 weeks after birth depending on delivery type), THEN you transition to baby bonding PFL. They're two separate claims and mixing them up can cause major delays.
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Carmen Ortiz
YOUR SCREWED!! Changed jobs right before having my first baby and EDD denied my claim saying I didn't have enough recent work history!!! Had to fight for MONTHS to get it approved and barely made rent during that time. The EDD system is GARBAGE for pregnant women!!
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Andre Rousseau
•This isn't accurate information. Changing jobs doesn't typically disqualify you if you have sufficient wages in your base period. Your situation was likely different - perhaps there was a gap in employment or another issue. @OP - As long as you have sufficient earnings in your base period (typically 5-18 months before your claim), you should qualify regardless of your recent job change.
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Zoe Papadakis
Congrats on your pregnancy! I was in almost the exact situation last year - 6 years at old job, switched when I was 7 months pregnant. Everything worked out fine with my disability claim. Just make sure your doctor fills out their portion of the DE2501 form correctly and don't forget to list BOTH employers on your claim form. Good luck!
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Aisha Rahman
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It helps to hear from someone who was in a similar situation. Did you have any issues transitioning from disability to PFL baby bonding after delivery?
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Jamal Carter
This happened to my sister last year. You need to call EDD directly to confirm eligibility before filing. But warning - trying to get through to an actual human at EDD is IMPOSSIBLE. My sister spent 3 days calling nonstop and kept getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours.
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AstroAdventurer
•I had success using Claimyr to reach EDD when I was dealing with a similar issue. It connects you with an EDD agent usually within 5-10 minutes instead of waiting for hours. Saved my sanity during my pregnancy when I needed to sort out complications with my disability claim. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 or go to claimyr.com. Honestly worth it just to get a definitive answer about your eligibility directly from EDD.
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Andre Rousseau
To give you a complete answer: 1. Eligibility: You need approximately $300 in wages in your base period to qualify for SDI 2. Benefit calculation: Your weekly benefit amount is based on highest-earning quarter in your base period 3. Base period: For an August 2025 claim, your base period would be April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025 4. Filing timeline: You can file for pregnancy disability up to 49 days before your due date 5. Documentation: Your doctor's certification (on the DE2501 form) and your recent wage history Since you worked for 8 years at your previous job, your base period earnings should easily qualify you. The fact that you changed jobs recently won't affect eligibility, though it might affect the specific calculation of benefits if your new job pays significantly differently.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•This is all correct. Just adding that the maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $1,620, so depending on your income level, you may hit the cap. Also, if your new job pays more than your old one, you might want to work there as long as safely possible before starting disability to potentially increase your benefit amount (though this depends on many factors).
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