Switching from PFL back to disability after baby bonding - need to file new claim?

U need to file a new disability claim. They're completely separate systms. Baby bonding is PFL but what ur doctor wants is SDI (state disability insurance). Make sure ur doctor fills out the forms ASAP cuz theres usually a waiting period.

Thanks for the quick response. So frustrating that they're separate systems when they're both through EDD! Do you know if there's a waiting period even if I'm going directly from PFL to disability? Or is that just for new claims?

Yes, you'll need to file a new disability claim with your doctor's certification. PFL and SDI are handled by the same department (EDD) but they're separate benefits with separate claim processes. Your doctor will need to complete the medical portion of the DE2501 form certifying your need for disability due to your postpartum condition. \n\nYou can file online through SDI Online or have your doctor submit the paperwork. Since you're transitioning from one benefit to another, make sure your doctor indicates the exact start date for your disability (the day after your PFL ends) to avoid any gap in payments.

This happened to my wife last year. I want to add that her doctor initially put the wrong start date on the form and it caused a 2-week gap in payments. Make SUPER sure the date is correct!!!

I went through EXACTLY this last year!! It was a NIGHTMARE trying to get through to someone at EDD to confirm I was doing everything right. I spent TWO WEEKS calling every day, sometimes 5-6 times, and either got disconnected or was told the wait time was over 3 hours!!! The system is BROKEN!

Ugh, this is what I'm dreading. Did you eventually get through? Or did you just submit the paperwork and hope for the best?

I eventually got through after using this service called Claimyr that connects you to an EDD agent. Saved me literally HOURS of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. You still have to talk to EDD yourself, they just get you connected to an actual human being without the endless wait. Was SO worth it for my sanity.

I transitioned from baby bonding back to disability due to postpartum depression in 2025. Here's what I learned:\n\n1. Yes, file a new claim using Form DE2501 (disability claim) \n2. Have your doctor clearly indicate it's for postpartum medical issues\n3. The start date should be the day after your PFL ended\n4. You can submit online through SDI Online (faster processing)\n5. No waiting period if you're transitioning directly from PFL\n6. Keep certifying for continued benefits every two weeks\n\nIf your doctor has an SDI Online account, they can submit their portion electronically which speeds things up considerably. My claim took about 10 days to process, and they backdated the payments to when my PFL ended.

Thank you SO much for this detailed info! It's incredibly helpful. My doctor does have an SDI Online account, so that should help. Did you have to do anything special when certifying to indicate it was a continuation after PFL rather than a brand new disability period?

You're welcome! There wasn't anything special I needed to do when certifying - the system just asks your usual questions about whether you worked, received other income, etc. But one tip: in the comments section of your initial application, it doesn't hurt to note that this is a continuation from PFL for postpartum issues. That might help the claims examiner understand your situation better.

just went thru this last mnth. my baby is 4 mnths now. had to file new claim but my docter screwed up n put wrong dates so had 3 week gap with no $$$. make sure ur doc knows exactly what dates to put!!

Off topic but how did you find a doctor who supported extending disability after baby bonding? My OB just keeps saying

my OB was same way!! had to go to my primary dr who actually listened to me. bring someone with u to appointment who can help explain how bad its been if ur doc isnt listening

Make sure when you file the new claim that you answer all the questions about pregnancy correctly. My wife's claim got delayed because when asked \

That's good to know! I definitely would have answered that the same way and not realized it would cause issues. I'll be super careful with every question.

I forgot to mention in my first reply - there's a section on the DE2501 form where your doctor needs to indicate whether this is a continuation of a previous disability. Make sure they complete this section correctly, indicating it's related to your pregnancy/childbirth but is a new claim following PFL. This helps EDD understand your situation.

btw my sister works for a dr office and she says lots of patients have this issue where they need to go from bonding back to disability. ur definitely not alone!

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I've spoken with my doctor today and we're filing the DE2501 form with the correct dates. I made sure he marked it as pregnancy-related and as a continuation after PFL. If I run into any trouble getting through to EDD, I'll definitely check out that Claimyr service. I really appreciate all the advice and personal experiences you all shared!

Good luck! Hope your recovery goes smoothly. Don't forget to certify for benefits every two weeks once your claim is approved - EDD won't automatically send the payments without certification.

Just wanted to add another tip - if you're submitting everything online through SDI Online, take screenshots of every page showing your submission was successful. I had an issue where EDD claimed they never received my doctor's portion even though it showed as submitted on my end. Having those screenshots helped resolve it quickly when I finally got through to someone. Also, check your EDD account daily for any requests for additional information - they don't always send email notifications and missing their requests can delay your claim processing.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My PFL ended last week and I'm dealing with postpartum anxiety that my doctor says needs treatment before I can return to work. Reading all these responses has been SO helpful - I had no idea about the separate systems or that I needed to file a completely new claim. One question though - has anyone had experience with mental health conditions vs physical postpartum issues? I'm worried EDD might be more skeptical of anxiety/depression claims compared to physical recovery issues. My doctor is supportive but I want to make sure we're filling out the forms in the strongest way possible.