Self-employed since 2020 - Do I qualify for EDD disability/PFL during pregnancy?

Unfortunately, self-employed individuals only qualify for CA SDI/PFL if they've paid into the Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) program. You need to have been enrolled for at least 6 months before your disability begins. Since you haven't opted in, you wouldn't qualify for pregnancy disability leave or baby bonding through EDD.\n\nYou might want to look into:\n1. Private disability insurance (though most won't cover existing pregnancies)\n2. Setting aside emergency savings\n3. Checking if you qualify for Paid Leave to Care for Family Members ordinance if you're in certain CA cities\n\nNot the answer you were hoping for, I know. For future reference, self-employed folks can opt in through the EDD's website by submitting a DIEC application.

Thanks for the honest answer. That's what I was afraid of... wish I had known about this years ago! So even if I enrolled right now, it wouldn't help for this pregnancy since I'm due in 4 months? Any idea what the application process is like for the future?

I WAS IN YOUR EXACT SITUATION 3 years ago!!! Self-employed hairstylist and pregnant with no benefits. It was a NIGHTMARE trying to get straight answers from EDD about this. I called for WEEKS and kept getting disconnected or put on eternal holds.\n\nFinally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual human at EDD who confirmed what the previous commenter said - if you haven't been paying into the system, you're not eligible. Their video showed exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5\n\nSaved me from endless phone frustration, even though the news wasn't what I wanted to hear. Had to take a shorter maternity leave than I wanted. Start saving NOW!

same thing happened to me!! i thought being self employed meant i didnt need to worry about that stuff until i got pregnant last yr. wish theyd make this info more public!! ended up going back to work after only 4 wks cuz i couldnt afford anymore time off

I know others have answered about the EDD part, but have you looked into Paid Family Leave through the federal government? I think there might be something there for self-employed people. My cousin is an independent contractor and I'm pretty sure she got some kind of maternity benefit, though I'm not 100% on the details.

Just to clarify - there is no federal paid family leave program in the US. Your cousin may have purchased private insurance, used short-term disability insurance, or perhaps was misclassified as an independent contractor when she should have been an employee (which would make her eligible for benefits).\n\nThe only federal protection is FMLA which provides unpaid job protection for qualifying employees, but doesn't apply to self-employed individuals and doesn't provide any income.

If you're truly self-employed (not misclassified as an independent contractor), then you need to have enrolled in the Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) program to be eligible for any SDI or PFL benefits. The current 2025 quarterly contribution rate is about 1.1% of your profits.\n\nFor future pregnancies or other needs, you can enroll by:\n1. Completing the DIEC application (DE1378DI)\n2. Meeting the $5,400 annual net profit requirement or $6,790 in gross income\n3. Being actively engaged in your business\n4. Having a California business license or documentation\n\nThe waiting period is indeed at least 6 months before you can claim benefits, so this wouldn't help with your current pregnancy, unfortunately. Start planning financially for your leave now - many self-employed people need to build their own maternity/disability fund.

Thank you for the detailed information! This is really helpful for the future. I'll definitely be enrolling after this pregnancy. Is there a specific time of year I need to apply, or can I do it anytime?

when i had my baby last year i just worked right through it lol. set up my laptop in the hospital and was answering client emails the day after my c-section. self employment is brutal that way. you might look into some of the pandemic assistance programs, i think some of them were extended?

The pandemic assistance programs for self-employed people (like PUA) have all ended. And wow, working right after a C-section sounds intense! That recovery is no joke - I couldn't even stand up straight for like 2 weeks after mine. OP definitely needs to prepare for significant downtime, especially if she has a surgical birth.

Have you checked if you qualify for State Disability Insurance? My sister is a freelance photographer and she got pregnancy benefits last year. But she said she had been paying into something for years... I'm not sure exactly how it works though.

Your sister most likely enrolled in the Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) program. That's the only way self-employed individuals can receive SDI and PFL benefits in California. She made a smart choice by opting in before she needed the benefits!

Thank you everyone for all the responses! I'm disappointed but at least now I know where I stand. I'll start putting aside as much money as possible between now and September to create my own

Good plan! Also check out if you qualify for any programs like Medi-Cal for your pregnancy and delivery costs - that could help reduce your overall financial burden during this time. Even if you don't qualify for disability benefits, there might be other assistance available to help with healthcare costs.

I'm in a similar situation as a freelance web developer - no kids yet but this thread is a real wake-up call about how unprepared I am! For your current situation, have you looked into whether your city or county has any local paid leave ordinances? Some places like San Francisco and Berkeley have their own programs that might have different eligibility requirements than state programs. Also, you might want to reach out to organizations that support pregnant women and new moms - they sometimes have emergency funds or resources for situations like yours. Wishing you the best with your pregnancy and hoping you can build up some savings over the next few months!

As someone who just joined this community and is currently pregnant with my first child while running a small consulting business, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about the DIEC program either. @Keisha Jackson, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress during what should be an exciting time. Have you considered reaching out to SCORE or your local Small Business Development Center? They sometimes have resources or know about local grants for small business owners facing hardships. Also, some professional associations for graphic designers might have emergency assistance funds - it's worth checking if you're a member of any. I'm definitely going to look into enrolling in DIEC after reading everyone's experiences here. Thank you all for sharing such valuable information!

Hi @Keisha Jackson! I just joined this community and your post really caught my attention because I'm also self-employed (freelance marketing consultant) and trying to plan for a potential pregnancy in the next year or two. Reading through all these responses has been such a reality check for me - I had no idea about the DIEC program either! While I can't help with your current situation, I wanted to mention that some areas have sliding-scale childcare assistance programs that might help you get back to work sooner than planned if needed. Also, if you have any regular clients, now might be a good time to discuss potentially working reduced hours remotely during your recovery period, even if it's just light tasks you can do from home. I'm definitely going to apply for DIEC coverage after reading this thread. Thank you for asking this question - it's helping so many of us who didn't know we needed this information! Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy and hoping you can build up a good financial cushion over the next few months. 💙