PFL for twins after using benefits last year - can I claim in 2025 or did I lose it?
I'm really confused about my PFL eligibility after having twins! Here's my situation: I had my first baby in January 2024 and was on pregnancy disability longer than expected (complicated delivery). So I didn't start my baby bonding PFL until July 2024. Then surprise - I had twins in February 2025 (yes, Irish twins plus an actual twin set 😳)! When I called EDD about taking PFL for my twins, the rep said I couldn't file yet because it hasn't been 12 months since my last PFL claim. Does this mean I can start a new PFL claim for the twins after July 2025 when it's been a year? Or am I completely out of luck for bonding leave with my twins because they were born too soon after my first baby? The timing is so frustrating and I'm desperate for time with ALL my babies!
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Omar Zaki
You're not out of luck! The 12-month waiting period applies to when you can START another claim, not whether you're eligible for benefits for the twins. So yes, you should be able to file for PFL baby bonding for your twins starting in July 2025 (12 months after your previous PFL claim began). The important thing is that you'll still be within the 12-month window after your twins' birth to take baby bonding leave. PFL bonding claims must be used within the first 12 months of a child's birth, so you'll have until February 2026 to use those benefits for your twins. Just make sure to note on your application that the leave is for the twins born in Feb 2025, not your older child.
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Freya Andersen
•Thank you so much!! That's SUCH a relief. I was panicking thinking I'd lost that time completely. So just to be 100% clear - even though the twins were born in February, I can still take the full 8 weeks of PFL starting in July 2025? And it doesn't matter that they'll already be 5 months old by then?
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CosmicCrusader
wait dont u still get 8 weeks per kid? so like 16 weeks for twins? i swear thats what my sister got last year when she had her twins but maybe the rules changed idk
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Omar Zaki
•That's actually not correct. California PFL provides 8 weeks total per 12-month period, regardless of how many children you have. Having twins doesn't double your benefit period. The confusion might be because your sister could have taken Pregnancy Disability Leave first (up to 4 weeks before birth and 6-8 weeks after, depending on delivery type) and then taken her 8 weeks of PFL after that, making it seem like a longer period.
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Chloe Robinson
sounds like ur in the same boat i was lol. I had my kids 13 months apart (not twins tho, ur a superhero!!!) and the EDD rules made me wait to use my second PFL. it was annoying but I DID eventually get to take it once the 12 month period passed. hang in there!!
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Freya Andersen
•Thanks for the encouragement! Three under two is... a lot 😅 Did EDD give you any trouble when you finally applied for the second PFL? I'm worried they'll try to deny it for some reason since the babies will be older when I apply.
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Diego Flores
I dealt with this EXACT situation in 2023! The EDD rep I talked to on the phone was WRONG and told me I couldn't take PFL for my second baby at all!!! I almost gave up but then I called again and got someone who actually knew the rules. The 12-month rule is about when you can START another claim, NOT about whether you get benefits for a new child. So YES you absolutely can take PFL for your twins starting in July 2025!!!
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CosmicCrusader
•typical EDD giving wrong info 🙄 happened to me too
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Anastasia Kozlov
I've helped several clients with similar situations. Here's the official rule: PFL claims must begin within 12 months of the child's birth/placement, AND you must wait 12 months between the START dates of consecutive PFL claims. So for your situation: 1. Twins born February 2025 2. Previous PFL started July 2024 3. You can start a new PFL claim in July 2025 (12 months after previous claim) 4. This is still within the 12-month window after your twins' birth You'll get the full 8 weeks of PFL benefits for bonding with your twins. When filing, be very clear on the application that this claim is for the twins born in February 2025, not your older child.
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Freya Andersen
•Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! One more question - do I need to provide additional documentation since the twins will be 5 months old when I apply? Or is the birth certificate still sufficient?
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Sean Flanagan
Have you tried calling EDD again to get a second opinion? I've found their phone reps often give conflicting information. I spent HOURS trying to get through about my maternity claim last year. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an EDD agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. It saved me from losing my mind on hold. The agent I spoke with was actually helpful and explained all the timing rules clearly.
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Diego Flores
•I used Claimyr too! So worth it after spending literally DAYS trying to get through the normal way. The agent I got was actually knowledgeable unlike the first one I spoke to.
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Zara Mirza
I think everyone's missing something IMPORTANT here!!! Since these are TWINS, you might actually qualify for ADDITIONAL TIME. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that multiple births can get extended benefits in some circumstances. Does anyone know if that's true for California specifically? Would be worth investigating before you settle for just the standard 8 weeks.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•Unfortunately, that's not correct for California PFL. The benefit is 8 weeks total per 12-month period regardless of the number of children. Some employers may offer additional leave through their own policies, but the state PFL benefit doesn't provide extra time for multiple births. What you might be thinking of is that the mother could potentially have a longer Pregnancy Disability Leave period if the twin pregnancy resulted in medical complications, but that's separate from PFL baby bonding benefits.
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Freya Andersen
Thank you all SO much for the helpful responses! I feel much better knowing I haven't lost my PFL benefits for the twins. I'll plan to file in July 2025 when my 12-month waiting period is up. And I'll make sure to be very clear on my application that it's for the twins born in Feb 2025. I think I'll try using Claimyr to talk to EDD directly too, just to have everything confirmed and noted in my account. With three babies under 2 years old, I honestly don't have hours to waste on hold! This has been such a relief - I was in tears thinking I'd lost that bonding time completely.
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Omar Zaki
•Glad we could help! One last tip - when you do apply in July 2025, keep a detailed record of all communications with EDD. Screenshot your online application confirmation and save any letters they send. The system sometimes gets confused with these less common situations, and having documentation helps if there are any issues.
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Mateo Lopez
Congratulations on your twins! 🎉 As someone who works in benefits administration, I can confirm what others have said - you absolutely haven't lost your PFL benefits for the twins. The July 2025 timeline is correct, and you'll have until February 2026 to use those 8 weeks since PFL bonding leave must be taken within 12 months of the child's birth. One thing I'd add: when you file in July, make sure your employer is aware of your plans too. Some employers offer additional paid or unpaid leave that can run concurrently with PFL, which might help bridge the gap financially. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks consecutively, give them as much notice as possible since covering someone for 2 months requires planning. You're doing great managing such a challenging situation - three under two is no joke! 💪
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Jacob Lewis
•Thank you for the encouragement and practical advice! I hadn't even thought about coordinating with my employer yet - you're absolutely right that 8 weeks needs planning on their end too. I'll definitely reach out to HR soon to give them a heads up about July. And yes, any additional employer benefits would be amazing right now! The financial juggling act with three little ones is... intense 😅 Really appreciate everyone's help in this thread!
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