SDI pregnancy to PFL transition: What if baby comes before disability claim ends?

You absolutely need to report your baby's birth to EDD as soon as it happens! Your SDI claim will need to be converted from pregnancy disability to recovery after childbirth. Typically, you get 6-8 weeks of recovery time (depending on vaginal vs cesarean delivery) AFTER giving birth. Then once your recovery period ends, you transition to PFL for bonding time. Don't wait until August to report the birth - that would be considered fraud since your pregnancy disability claim is for complications before delivery. The claim needs to be updated with your delivery date.

congrats on the baby!! I had mine last year and yes def tell edd when u deliver. I think u get 6 wks recovery for regular birth and 8 for csection then u do the pfl bonding after

I went through this EXACT situation last year and let me tell you, the EDD system is a NIGHTMARE to navigate!! My SDI was supposed to end in July but I had my baby in May. I did call to report it but then got ZERO payments for almost 3 weeks because they were "adjusting my claim" 🙄 The EDD reps all told me different things each time I called. One said I needed a new doctor's note, another said my claim was fine. It was HELL trying to get a straight answer from anyone. Make sure you document EVERYTHING including who you talk to!

Here's the exact process you need to follow: 1. When you give birth, your doctor will need to certify the date of delivery on a DE2501 form 2. Your SDI claim automatically converts to postpartum recovery (6 weeks for vaginal delivery, 8 weeks for C-section) 3. About 1-2 weeks before your recovery period ends, you need to file for PFL bonding time using the DE2501FP form 4. There should be no gap in benefits if you time everything correctly I recommend keeping your online account updated with your current contact info and checking it regularly. The system will notify you when you need to complete the PFL application.

I jus went thru this in January! Baby came 6 weeks early while I was still on the pregnancy disability. You HAVE to call them when baby comes or you'll mess everything up. I waited 3 days to call (was busy with newborn lol) and they were fine with that. They'll adjust your claim based on delivery type. I had c-section so got 8 weeks recovery. Then my baby bonding PFL started right after. The benefits were the same amount$ for both. Just make sure ur doctor sends in the right forms saying you delivered!

Has anyone successfully reached EDD lately? I've been trying to call about my transition from disability to PFL for 3 days and can't get through! Spent 4 hours on hold yesterday before getting disconnected. This is insane when you have a newborn to care for!

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better now that I understand the process. I'll definitely report the birth right away when it happens and make sure my doctor submits the updated forms. It's such a relief to know that the transition should be smooth if I follow these steps correctly. I'm still nervous about potentially having to call EDD, but at least I have options if I can't get through. I appreciate all the advice and shared experiences!

Hi Ava! I'm in a similar situation - currently on SDI for pregnancy complications and due in July. This thread has been SO helpful! Just wanted to add that I spoke with my doctor's office about the forms, and they said they handle the DE2501 paperwork all the time, so don't stress too much about that part. One thing I learned from my sister who went through this is to save copies of EVERYTHING - your original SDI approval letter, doctor's notes, etc. She said it really helped when EDD had questions later. Also, if you're planning to take the full 8 weeks of PFL bonding time, make sure to apply early since there can sometimes be processing delays. Good luck with your delivery! It sounds like you're getting great advice here.

Hey Ava! I just went through this exact transition 4 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. My baby came 3 weeks early while I was still on SDI for pregnancy complications. Here's what I did step by step: 1. Called EDD within 24 hours of delivery (I called from the hospital!) 2. My doctor's office faxed the updated DE2501 form with delivery date within 48 hours 3. EDD automatically converted my claim to postpartum recovery - no gap in payments 4. About 5 weeks into recovery, I got a notice to apply for PFL bonding The key is calling ASAP after delivery. The EDD rep told me that as long as you report within a few days, they can backdate everything properly. My weekly benefit amount stayed exactly the same throughout the whole transition. Also, don't stress about the forms - your OB office deals with this constantly. Mine had the paperwork ready to go and knew exactly what to send to EDD. You've got this mama! 💪

I'm going through something similar right now - on SDI for pregnancy complications and my due date is in August! Reading through all these responses has been so reassuring. One thing I wanted to add that my case worker mentioned: if you're planning to have your partner take PFL time too after your bonding period ends, make sure they understand the timing. Apparently both parents can't be on PFL at the same time, so you need to coordinate who takes leave when. Also, I set up text notifications in my EDD online account so I get alerts about any claim updates or required actions. It's been helpful since I'm not great at remembering to check the portal regularly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's such a relief to know what to expect! Ava, sounds like you're getting great advice here. Wishing you a smooth delivery and transition! ✨

Hi Ava! I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this transition last year. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple checklist to keep track of everything during what can be a hectic time with a new baby: □ Call EDD within 24-48 hours of delivery □ Make sure doctor's office submits updated DE2501 form □ Save screenshots of all claim information before delivery □ Set up text notifications in EDD account □ Watch for PFL application notice (comes about 1-2 weeks before recovery ends) □ Coordinate timing with partner if they're also planning PFL I kept this list in my hospital bag so I wouldn't forget anything important while dealing with newborn exhaustion! The transition ended up being much smoother than I expected when I stayed organized about it. Also, don't hesitate to ask your doctor's office about their process for submitting the forms - mine was super helpful and even called EDD directly to make sure everything went through properly. You're going to do great! 💕

Hey Ava! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. My baby came 2 weeks early while I was still on SDI for hyperemesis gravidarum. The most important thing is to call EDD immediately after delivery - I called the next morning from my hospital room. They were actually really understanding and helpful! The rep explained that this happens all the time and they have a standard process for it. What surprised me was how seamless the transition actually was once I reported it properly. My SDI converted to 6 weeks of recovery (vaginal delivery), and then I got a notice in my online account about applying for PFL bonding about a week before my recovery ended. No gaps in payments at all! One tip that saved me stress: I had my husband handle the EDD call while I was recovering. He had all my info ready (SSN, claim number, delivery date) and they were fine working with him since we're married. Might be worth having your partner prepared to help with this if needed. You're going to do great! The transition is way less scary than it seems when you're pregnant and worrying about everything. The fact that you're planning ahead puts you in such a good position. 💙

Hi Ava! I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant and also on SDI for severe morning sickness, so I completely understand your stress about this transition. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful for me too! I wanted to add one thing that my doctor mentioned during my last appointment - she said to make sure you have your EDD claim number easily accessible when you go into labor. She's seen patients struggle to find their information when they're in pain or on medication, so having it written down and ready to go (maybe in your hospital bag with that awesome checklist Paloma shared) can save you from scrambling later. Also, my OB office told me they actually prefer when patients give them a heads up about needing the DE2501 form updated after delivery. They said it helps them prioritize getting it submitted quickly since they know it's time-sensitive for benefit payments. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! This community has been such a lifeline for navigating these confusing processes. Ava, it sounds like you're going to handle this transition like a pro with all this great advice! 🤗