Laid off while pregnant - can I still qualify for EDD PFL baby bonding with no current job?

You actually CAN qualify for both pregnancy disability (before birth) and paid family leave (for baby bonding) even if you're currently unemployed! What matters is if you paid into SDI during your base period, not whether you currently have a job. You'll need to file for Pregnancy Disability first (form DE2501) since you're so close to your due date. You can get up to 4 weeks before birth and 6-8 weeks after depending on delivery type. Then you transition to PFL for baby bonding using form DE2508. Since your last employment was in early 2025, you should still be within your base period. Your benefit amount will be calculated based on your highest quarter of earnings during your base period.

ur situation is exactly like mine was last year!! i got laid off at 20wks and couldnt find work either. i DID get both benefits!! but the amount was kinda low based on my prev wages. still way better than nothing tho!!!

The previous commenters are correct - you can qualify for both SDI (pregnancy disability) and PFL (baby bonding) without current employment. However, I need to clarify some important details: 1. Your benefit amount will be based on your base period (5-18 months before your claim starts). Since you were laid off in May 2025, your April 2025 wages should fall within this period. 2. You need to file for Pregnancy Disability FIRST using the DE2501 form. Don't wait until after birth or you'll lose those benefits. 3. After your disability claim ends, you'll need to submit a separate PFL claim for baby bonding. 4. Your weekly benefit amount will be the same for both programs - roughly 60-70% of your average weekly wage during your highest quarter in the base period. 5. Important! Make sure your doctor completes their portion of the disability claim form confirming your pregnancy and expected delivery date.

Congrats on the baby!! Im sorry youre struggling with this - the EDD system is SO CONFUSING!! When I had my baby last year I couldn't figure out ANYTHING on their website and the phone lines were impossible. Called for WEEKS and couldn't get through. This company called Claimyr got me through to an EDD rep in like 20 minutes - changed everything for me! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 Their website is claimyr.com - seriously worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at EDD directly. I had so many questions that only an actual representative could answer.

BEWARE! EDD is rejecting a lot of claims lately! When you apply make sure you have ALL your medical documentation perfect or they'll deny you. I got denied twice before getting approved and it was a NIGHTMARE. Upload extra documentation if you have it!!! The system is rigged against pregnant women!!!!!

Just wanted to add - make sure you keep track of all your claim numbers and paperwork! I was in your situation and mixed up my disability claim # with my PFL claim # and it caused a 3 week delay in my payments. Write everything down somewhere safe!

My sister just went through this. Apply for pregnancy disability now - don't wait! If your doctor puts you on bed rest for any reason, that can extend your disability period too. After birth, you'll get 6-8 weeks of disability depending on vaginal vs c-section, THEN you apply for baby bonding PFL for an additional 8 weeks. Since you paid into SDI when you were employed last year, you should qualify!

also dont forget after all this is done u can reapply for unemployment again if u still cant find work! thats what i did. the full sequence for me was: unemployment -> pregnancy disability -> paid family leave -> back to unemployment. its confusing but it worked!

I'm a new mom who went through something similar last year! Just wanted to add that you should also check if you qualify for any other benefits while you're navigating this. When I was unemployed and pregnant, I was able to get WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) benefits and some other support programs. The income limits are pretty reasonable and it really helped with groceries and formula later on. Also, don't be discouraged if the initial application process feels overwhelming - it took me a few tries to get all the forms filled out correctly, but the benefits were absolutely worth it. You're doing great by researching this now instead of waiting until after birth!

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was in almost the exact same situation! Got laid off at 32 weeks pregnant and was panicking about benefits. The good news is YES, you can absolutely still qualify for both pregnancy disability and PFL even without current employment! Here's what I wish someone had told me: Apply for the pregnancy disability (DE2501) RIGHT NOW at 36 weeks - don't wait! Your doctor will need to fill out their portion confirming your due date and that you're disabled from work. Since you had good wages in April before your layoff, you should definitely be in the qualifying base period. The weekly benefit amount will be based on your highest earning quarter during the base period (probably that April!), so it should be decent. After your disability period ends (6-8 weeks post-birth), you'll apply separately for PFL baby bonding which gives you another 8 weeks. One thing that really helped me was keeping a dedicated notebook for all the claim numbers, dates, and paperwork - trust me, you'll have multiple claim numbers to track! Also, if you need to speak with EDD directly and can't get through on the phones (which is common), there are services that can help you connect faster. You've got this mama! The system is confusing but you DO have options even without current employment.