Pregnant and confused - Can I get PFL after being laid off then rehired at old job?

First, congratulations on your pregnancy! The good news is PFL eligibility depends on your earnings during the base period, not the hours worked at a specific employer. The "Eligibility Questionnaire" is likely related to your previous UI claims - EDD sometimes sends these to verify continued eligibility or to check on employment status changes. For your maternity leave, you'll need to understand how the benefits work in CA: 1. First comes Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) through State Disability Insurance (SDI) 2. After delivery, you transition to Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding You qualify if you earned at least $300 during your base period (typically 5-17 months before your claim). Your work history at both employers combined should count. Check your wage history through your EDD online account to confirm you meet the minimum.

The eligibility questionnaire is 100% about your UI claim. EDD is probably checking if you're still eligible since you mentioned getting part-time work and now full-time work. You need to fill it out ASAP or they might consider it fraud and make you pay back benefits!!!

congrats on baby! i went thru something similar last year. the 1200 hours thing is for FMLA job protection not for getting benefits. for benefits you just need to have paid into SDI which happens automatically with any w2 job in california. what matters is if you earned enough during your base period which is like 5-18 months before your claim start date. i bet you did if you were working full time before getting laid off. first you'll go on disability for pregnancy (4 weeks before due date usually) then after birth you'll switch to PFL for bonding. make sure your doctor submits the right paperwork!!

Wait I'm confused about something... when you say you were laid off in February but collecting UI from July to the beginning of this month - those dates don't make sense? Did you mean you were laid off in July? That timing might impact your base period calculation for benefits.

The EDD system is a NIGHTMARE to navigate while pregnant!! I had a completely different issue but spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone. I finally discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual EDD agent within 15 minutes instead of the typical 3+ hour wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 Seriously saved my sanity when I was dealing with my maternity leave claim issues. Definitely worth checking out if you can't get answers through the online system.

To clarify some confusion in this thread: 1. For SDI/PFL eligibility: You need to have earned at least $300 during your base period AND paid into SDI via payroll deductions. 2. Your base period is the 12-month period that is divided into four quarters, and it starts 5-17 months before your claim begins. For an April 2025 disability claim, your base period would be January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024. 3. The 1,200 hours requirement is completely unrelated to benefit payments - that's for FMLA/CFRA job protection (different programs). 4. The eligibility questionnaire is almost certainly related to your UI claim and the fact that you stopped claiming benefits. Complete it ASAP to avoid potential overpayment issues. 5. The fact that you're back with your original employer doesn't affect your SDI/PFL eligibility, but it might help with job protection rights depending on your total service time. I recommend calling EDD directly to confirm your specific situation. Their SDI division (which handles PFL) is separate from the UI division, so make sure you're talking to the right department.

one more thing!!! make sure you also check if your employer has their own leave policies too. some companies offer additional paid leave on top of state benefits and that's super helpful. my company gave me an extra 4 weeks paid which was amazing with all the baby expenses.

when i had my baby last yr i got so confused becoz there's like 5 different types of leave all with different eligibility??? the CA system is better than most states but still super complicated. glad ur getting answers!

Just following up - were you able to complete the eligibility questionnaire? That should be your first priority to avoid UI complications. Then I'd recommend taking these steps: 1. Create an account on SDI Online if you don't already have one (separate from UI Online) 2. Ask your OB/GYN when they typically certify patients for pregnancy disability (some do 4 weeks before due date, others do 2-4 depending on your health) 3. Mark your calendar for when to file your claim (typically within 49 days of disability start) 4. Calculate your weekly benefit amount using the EDD calculator 5. Verify your employer's leave policies Based on your work history, you should have sufficient earnings in your base period. Remember that SDI/PFL benefits are approximately 60-70% of your wages up to the maximum weekly benefit amount.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I went through a similar situation with employment gaps and was worried about PFL eligibility too. The good news is that California's system is designed to help working parents, and your situation sounds like it should qualify. Since you worked from January-July 2024 at your original job, then had part-time work through December, you should definitely have enough earnings in your base period (which would be all of 2024 for an April 2025 claim). The fact that you're back with the same employer might actually work in your favor for job protection rights too. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - start gathering your documentation now! Keep all your pay stubs, employment letters, and any correspondence with your employer about your rehiring. Having everything organized will make the claims process much smoother when you're dealing with a newborn. Also, don't stress too much about the complex system - it seems overwhelming at first, but EDD has gotten better at processing maternity claims in recent years. You've got this!

Hey Aisha! Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I just went through the PFL process myself last year and wanted to share a few things that might help ease your mind: Your work situation actually sounds pretty solid for PFL eligibility. Since you worked full-time from January-July 2024, plus had part-time earnings through December, you should easily meet the $300 minimum earnings requirement for your base period. The system looks at ALL your covered employment, not just one specific job. A couple practical tips from my experience: - Download the SDI mobile app once you create your account - it's way easier to check claim status than the website - When your doctor certifies you for disability, ask for a copy of the form they submit. Sometimes there are delays and having your own copy helps if you need to follow up - Start tracking your expected due date and count backwards 4 weeks - that's typically when you can start your pregnancy disability claim The rehiring situation is actually great news for job protection! Since it's the same employer, your previous service time might count toward FMLA/CFRA eligibility thresholds. You've got this! The system can be confusing but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions. Feel free to ask if you have any other concerns!