Previous EDD overpayment impact on new maternity SDI/PFL claim - penalty weeks explained?

Great news - your previous unemployment overpayment won't affect your SDI or PFL! Those are completely separate programs with separate funding sources. Unemployment Insurance (UI) comes from employer taxes, while SDI/PFL comes from employee payroll deductions. Penalty weeks only apply within the same benefit program where the overpayment occurred. You should receive your full SDI benefits starting when your doctor certifies you can't work (typically 4 weeks before due date), and then you can transition to PFL for baby bonding after delivery. Just make sure your doctor submits the DE2501 form correctly and you complete all certification requirements on time.

be careful bc thats not always true...my cousin had an overpayment from UI and they took some of her maternity $$ even tho she was on a payment plan. call EDD to make sure your specific situation is ok

The previous responders are correct that UI and SDI/PFL are separate programs, but I want to add one clarification: if you ever had an SDI or PFL overpayment specifically (not UI), then yes, penalty weeks could apply to future SDI/PFL claims even after repayment. But since you mentioned your overpayment was from regular unemployment, you're in the clear for your maternity benefits! For your SDI claim, your doctor will submit the medical portion of the DE2501, but you also need to complete your portion online through SDI Online. For baby bonding PFL, you'll file a new claim using the DE2508 form after your SDI pregnancy claim ends. There's usually a gap of a few days between the two as your SDI claim ends when your doctor certifies you recovered from childbirth (typically 6-8 weeks depending on delivery type).

When I was pregnat last year i had a UI overpayment from 2022 that I hadn't finished paying and they didn't take anything from my SDI or PFL. Different buckets of money like everyone says. But the EDD website is SUPER confusing because it shows all your claims in the same account which makes people think they're connected when their not. And trying to get anyone on the phone at EDD to confirm anything is basically impossible!!

Quick tip since you mentioned being 34 weeks: Start gathering all your documents NOW. You'll need: 1. Doctor's certification (they'll submit the medical portion of DE2501) 2. Last day of work documentation (sometimes employers drag their feet) 3. Birth certificate or medical documentation of birth for the PFL portion 4. Any wage information if you've worked for multiple employers Don't wait until the last minute! And make sure your doctor uses the correct date for when you'll stop working - if they put a date that's different from your actual last day, it can cause processing delays.

Don't forget to ask your employer if they offer any supplemental paid leave beyond state benefits! I didn't realize my company had an additional 4 weeks of paid parental leave that I could use on top of the state benefits, and I almost missed out. Some companies also let you use accrued sick time or vacation to supplement SDI/PFL (which typically only cover 60-70% of your salary).

To answer your question about the birth certificate - you don't need to wait for the official birth certificate to arrive before applying for PFL. When you file your PFL claim, you can initially provide the hospital discharge papers or other documentation showing you had the baby. You can always provide the birth certificate later once it arrives. And yes, you can typically use PTO to supplement SDI and PFL to get to 100% of your normal wages, but that's entirely up to your employer's policies. Some allow it, some don't, and some require you to use PTO first before state benefits kick in. Definitely check with your HR department.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation! I had a UI overpayment from 2021 that I was still paying off when I went on maternity leave in 2023. Like everyone said, it didn't affect my SDI or PFL at all - got my full benefits on time. One thing I'd add is to screenshot/save all your documentation when you file online. The EDD system can be glitchy and sometimes forms don't save properly. I learned this the hard way when my initial SDI filing seemed to disappear and I had to resubmit everything. Also, set up direct deposit if you haven't already - it's so much faster than waiting for paper checks, especially when you're dealing with newborn chaos! You've got this mama! The hardest part is just the anxiety of not knowing, but sounds like you're being super proactive about getting everything sorted.