Out-of-state baby bonding PFL after moving from CA - which state handles my claim?

You should absolutely file through California! Your PFL eligibility is based on where you worked and paid into the system, not where you currently live. Since you paid SDI taxes in California while working there, that's where your benefits come from. You have up to 12 months after your child's birth to claim your 8 weeks of PFL baby bonding, so you're still well within the timeframe. Just make sure to file the DE2508 form and indicate that you've completed your pregnancy disability period.

Phew, that's a relief! Do you know if they'll mail the checks to my new Oregon address or will that cause problems?

congrats on the new baby! i moved to nevada after working in cali and got my pfl checks sent to my new address no problem. just make sure u update ur address in ur edd account before u apply for the baby bonding part

Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to know. Will update my address tonight.

Are you SURE about this?? I thought benefits stop when you leave the state! I had a friend who moved to Arizona and she said she lost all her benefits because you have to be a California resident. Now I'm worried because we might move to Washington next month and I'm in the middle of my disability leave!!

Your friend was misinformed. California PFL and SDI are based on your work history and contributions to the CA system, not your current residence. You can receive your benefit payments at an out-of-state address. The EDD just needs your current mailing address to send your benefit payments. You should update your contact information in your online account if you move.

OMG thank youuu! I was seriously freaking out about this and was going to delay our move!

When I had my baby last year I moved from San Diego to Texas right after my disability leave ended. I applied for PFL baby bonding through California no problem, but then it took FOREVER to actually talk to someone when there was a problem with my claim. Kept getting the 'due to high call volume' message and disconnected. I wasted like 3 days trying to get through.

I had the exact same issue trying to reach someone at EDD about my baby bonding claim! I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual EDD representative in about 25 minutes instead of spending days trying. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. It was seriously worth it because I had a payment issue that needed to be resolved quickly and couldn't waste more time calling repeatedly.

Wish I'd known about that! I literally had to sit with my phone on redial for hours while trying to take care of a newborn. Not fun.

Just to add some clarity to your specific situation:\n\n1. You must file for PFL through California since that's where you paid into the SDI fund\n2. There's a clear distinction between SDI (which covered your pregnancy disability) and PFL (which covers baby bonding)\n3. The timing matters - you can take baby bonding within 12 months of birth\n4. Update your address in your EDD account before applying for baby bonding\n5. Your claim should specifically indicate you're transitioning from pregnancy disability to baby bonding\n\nAnd remember, California provides 8 weeks of PFL for baby bonding, while Oregon's program might have different benefits if you work there long enough to qualify in the future.

This is incredibly helpful, thank you! One more question - do I need to submit any additional documentation showing I've moved out of state, or just update my address in the online portal?

Just updating your address in the online portal is sufficient. There's no requirement to provide proof of your new residence. The EDD just needs to know where to send your benefit payments and any correspondence. As I mentioned, your eligibility is based on your work history in California, not your current residency status.

Perfect! I'll make sure to update my account tonight and start my PFL application. Thanks again for all the help everyone.

I moved from California to Colorado in the middle of my leave last year and let me tell you it was a NIGHTMARE dealing with EDD!! They kept sending my paperwork to my old address even after I updated it online THREE TIMES!!! I ended up having to fax them a signed letter with my new address. Their system is from the stone age I swear.

This is a good point. To be extra safe, I recommend both updating your address online AND calling to confirm the change was processed correctly. Sometimes their system updates don't process properly, especially when transitioning between SDI and PFL claims. It's also helpful to check your physical mail and SDI Online inbox regularly for any communications from the EDD.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely call to confirm after I update my address online.

hey forgot 2 mention make sure ur using the right form! for baby bonding after pregnancy disability u need the de2508f form NOT the regular pfl form. it's specifically for transitioning from disability to bonding. messed this up myself and lost 2 weeks of benefits cuz i had to reapply!

Wait what?? Is this new?? I just applied for baby bonding last month after my disability and I don't remember using any special form! Now I'm freaking out that I did it wrong 😱

Don't worry - there's some confusion here. The correct form is the DE2508, which is the standard Paid Family Leave claim form. You'll select the option for bonding with a new child. If you're transitioning directly from pregnancy disability, you should indicate that on the form. The system should recognize your transition if you use the same account. There isn't a separate

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through something similar! I moved from California to Texas right after my maternity leave ended and successfully filed for PFL baby bonding through CA EDD. The key things that helped me were: 1) Update your address in the EDD online portal immediately, 2) Keep all your documentation from your pregnancy disability claim handy when applying for baby bonding, and 3) Make sure you apply within the 12-month window. The transition was actually smoother than I expected once I got the paperwork sorted. You've got this! And congrats on your little one! 🍼

I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Moved from San Jose to Arizona when my baby was 6 weeks old, right between my disability and bonding leave. California EDD handled everything perfectly - you definitely file through CA since that's where you worked and paid into the system. The only hiccup I had was that my first payment got sent to my old California address because I forgot to update it in time, so definitely prioritize getting that address change done ASAP! Also, when you apply for the baby bonding, make sure to mention in the application that you're transitioning from pregnancy disability - it helps them process it faster. The whole process took about 2 weeks from application to first payment once I got my address sorted. You'll be fine, and congrats on your little one! 🎉