Splitting PFL baby bonding leave - new claim or continue previous claim number for second portion?

You don't need to file a completely new claim. You can use your same PFL claim number since you're still within the 12-month period from your child's birth. However, you DO need to file a new application (DE 2501F) for the second portion. \n\nIt's a bit confusing - same claim number, new application. You can submit this online through your EDD account - look for \

Thank you for this clear explanation! So if I'm understanding right, I basically submit another application but reference my existing claim. That makes sense. \n\nDo you know if there's any waiting period between when I return to work from my first portion and when I can start the second portion? Or can I theoretically work for just a week and then go back on leave?

no you cant use the same claim number they made me file a whole new claim last year when i did this. the rep told me split leaves need new claim numbers every time

That information isn't correct. For baby bonding PFL, you can split your leave within the 12-month period using the same claim, but you do need to file a new application (DE 2501F) for each portion. The claim number stays the same since it's still within the eligible period for the same qualifying event (the birth/adoption of your child).

I split my leave too when my son was born last year - took 2 weeks right after birth then 6 more weeks later. The EDD system is SUPER confusing about this!! When I called they told me different things each time. First time they said I needed whole new claim, second person said just new application form. \n\nI ended up having to mail in paperwork bc online system kept giving me errors. Then they lost my form TWICE and I had to resubmit!!! Total nightmare getting the second part of my leave processed. Started calling at 8am every day for a week before finally reaching someone who could help.

Ugh this is exactly what I'm afraid of happening...I really don't want to deal with paperwork headaches when I'm trying to spend time with my baby. Did they eventually get it sorted out for you?

I tried calling EDD about this exact issue last month and was on hold for TWO HOURS before getting disconnected!!! So frustrating. Has anyone actually been able to reach a human at EDD recently?

I was having the same problem with endless wait times, then I found this service called Claimyr that gets you through to an EDD agent without the wait. Totally worth it for me because I needed answers about my split PFL claim urgently. You can see how it works at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 showing the process. The agent I spoke with confirmed that for baby bonding PFL, you keep the same claim number but file a new application for each portion of your split leave.

Just wanted to add that when I did my split leave (took 4 weeks when baby was born then another 4 weeks when my wife went back to work), I had to have my employer fill out the work period information on the second application. This was important because EDD needed to verify I actually returned to work between leave periods. Make sure your employer section is completed correctly or they'll delay processing your second portion!

Thank you for that tip! I'll make sure to get my HR department to verify the work period between leaves. Did you have to get a new doctor certification for the second portion of your leave or did the original one cover both parts?

For baby bonding PFL, you don't need a doctor's certification - that's only for pregnancy disability or if you're caring for an ill family member. For baby bonding, you just need proof of relationship which you already provided with your first application.

i didnt no you could even split the leave i thot you had to take it all at once... can u really take like half now and half later????? thats so cool my supervisor told me wrong then grrrrrr

Yes! California PFL for baby bonding can be split into multiple periods as long as they're all taken within 12 months of the birth or placement of your child. You get 8 weeks total that you can split however works best for your family. Many supervisors don't know all the details of leave laws, so it's always good to check directly with EDD or a benefits specialist.

Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! I'm going to try submitting the new application online first, and if I run into problems I'll try that Claimyr service to actually speak with someone. \n\nI'll make sure to have my employer verify my return-to-work date from the first portion and my new leave dates for the second portion. Hopefully the online system works better for me than it did for some of you!

Just went through this exact situation a few months ago! I can confirm what others have said - you keep the same claim number but file a new DE 2501F application for your second portion. The key thing is making sure your employer completes their section accurately showing you returned to work between leave periods. One tip that helped me: I called EDD right before I planned to start my second portion to confirm everything was processed correctly. Even though the online system showed "approved," there was actually a small issue with my employer's form that would have delayed my payments. Getting it sorted out ahead of time saved me weeks of stress! Also, don't worry about any minimum time back at work - you can literally work one day and then go back on leave as long as it's within your 12-month window. Good luck with your split leave!

Hey everyone! As someone who just went through this exact process last month, I wanted to share my experience. I split my 8 weeks of baby bonding PFL - took 6 weeks initially then saved 2 weeks for when daycare had their holiday closure. The process was actually smoother than I expected after reading all the horror stories online! I filed my second DE 2501F application through the EDD portal about 2 weeks before I planned to start my second leave portion. The key things that helped me: 1. Made sure my employer completed their section showing I returned to work (even though it was only for 3 weeks between my leave periods) 2. Used the same claim number from my original application 3. Called EDD using the Claimyr service mentioned above - totally worth it to avoid the hold times 4. Got confirmation that everything was approved before my leave started The whole second application took about 10 days to process, and my payments started right on schedule. Don't let the confusing system scare you - it's totally doable if you stay organized and double-check everything! One thing I wish I'd known - you can actually check your remaining benefit balance in your EDD account online, which helped me plan exactly how much leave I had left to use.

Just wanted to jump in here as another parent who successfully split their PFL baby bonding leave! I'm actually going through this right now - took my first 4 weeks in January when my daughter was born, went back to work for 6 weeks, and just started my second portion last Monday. A few things that really helped me navigate this process: 1. **Timing is key** - I submitted my second DE 2501F application about 3 weeks before my planned return to leave. This gave plenty of time for processing and catching any issues. 2. **Keep detailed records** - I kept screenshots of everything from my first claim and made sure to reference my original claim number on the second application. 3. **Employer coordination** - I gave my HR department a heads up early about the split leave plan so they could prepare the necessary paperwork for the work period verification. The most stressful part was actually the waiting period after submitting the second application - you don't get much feedback about processing status. But once approved, the payments resumed seamlessly. For anyone else planning a split leave, I'd definitely recommend mapping out your entire 8-week usage plan upfront so you can communicate clearly with both your employer and EDD about the timeline. It makes everything so much smoother!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a new parent planning to split my PFL leave and was completely overwhelmed by all the conflicting information I found online. Reading everyone's real experiences has given me so much more confidence about the process. Just to summarize what I've learned from all your posts: - Keep the same claim number but file a new DE 2501F application - Submit the second application 2-3 weeks before starting the second portion - Make sure employer verifies the work period between leaves - No minimum time required back at work between portions - Can check remaining benefit balance in EDD online account One question I haven't seen addressed - if I'm planning to take my second portion around the holidays (like December), should I submit my application even earlier to account for potential processing delays during that time? I'm thinking maybe 4 weeks ahead instead of the usual 2-3 weeks? Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences. This community is such a lifesaver for navigating California's benefits system!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a first-time mom planning to split my PFL leave and was getting completely different answers every time I called EDD. Reading everyone's actual experiences has been way more helpful than any official FAQ page. One thing I'm still confused about though - do I need to notify EDD when I return to work after my first portion, or do they automatically know when my leave ends? I keep seeing conflicting info about whether there's some kind of return-to-work notification process. Also, has anyone had issues with their employer trying to discourage the split leave? My HR person seemed surprised when I mentioned it and said she'd "never heard of anyone doing that before." I want to make sure I'm communicating this correctly to avoid any pushback. Thanks for all the detailed advice everyone - this community is amazing for navigating these confusing systems!