Switching from SDI to PFL after baby birth - automatic or need to file new application?

Not automatic, u need to file new PFL claim. Do it ASAP so no gap between benefits

You definitely need to file a separate application for the Paid Family Leave baby bonding portion. It doesn't automatically switch over from SDI to PFL. You'll need to complete the DE2508 form online through your SDI Online account. Make sure you have your baby's birth certificate information handy. Also, start the claim effective from the day after your SDI benefits ended to avoid any gap in your benefit payments. The process is pretty straightforward once you get into your account.

Wait I'm confused. I thought once you have the baby, everything just continues? That's what my HR person told me. I'm due in April and now I'm worried I'll mess something up...

This transition from SDI to PFL is SO FRUSTRATING!!! I had the same confusion last year and ended up with a 2-week gap in my benefits because nobody told me I had to apply separately! Called EDD like 50 times and kept getting disconnected. The whole system is designed to make us fail, I swear. Make sure you apply for PFL right away and DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!!

Just adding my experience - I had my baby in November 2024 and you definitely need to file a separate PFL claim. But here's a tip: you can actually file it before your SDI ends (I did it about a week before). That way it's already in their system and ready to go when your disability payments stop. Just make sure you select the correct "start date" for PFL that matches the day after your SDI ends. Makes the transition much smoother!

I tried calling EDD for literally 3 days straight when I was dealing with this same issue last month and kept getting the "we're experiencing high call volume" message before getting disconnected. So frustrating when you have a newborn and are trying to figure this stuff out! I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a live person who helped me with my transition from disability to PFL. They have a video demo that shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. Worth it just to get answers right away instead of stressing about it for days.

Hi there! Congrats on your baby girl! This is a super common question, so don't worry. The transition from pregnancy disability to baby bonding isn't automatic, unfortunately. You'll need to file a separate PFL claim through your SDI Online account using form DE2508. The good news is you can backdate your claim to start the day after your SDI benefits ended. One thing to note - make sure your doctor has officially closed your pregnancy disability claim before you apply for PFL. Sometimes doctors forget to submit the final paperwork which can cause delays. Also, when you apply, have your baby's birth certificate or hospital documentation ready, your last day of work info, and your employer's contact information. This will make the process go much smoother!

my sister in law just had this same issue but by the time she realized she needed to file a separate PFL claim, she'd already missed 3 weeks of potential benefits and they wouldn't backdate it for her! definitely don't wait!!

Just an update - I see you're filing today which is perfect. For 2025, the max PFL benefit period is 8 weeks for baby bonding. Make sure you understand how you want to use these weeks - you can take them all at once or split them up (but splitting requires separate claims). Most people take them continuously right after SDI ends, but it's good to know your options!

Congratulations on your baby girl! 🎉 I went through this exact same situation last year and can confirm what everyone else is saying - you definitely need to file a separate PFL application. The transition is NOT automatic, which is super confusing because it seems like it should be! I'd recommend logging into your SDI Online account right away and look for the DE2508 form. The process is actually pretty straightforward once you find it. Just make sure you have your baby's birth info ready and set your PFL start date for the day after your SDI payments ended. One thing I learned the hard way - don't wait for any paperwork in the mail or confirmations from EDD. Just file it online as soon as possible. The system moves slowly and you don't want any gaps in your benefits during those precious first weeks with your little one. Good luck mama! 💕

Just wanted to add another voice of support here! I had my baby in December and went through this exact same confusion. The EDD website really should make this clearer - it's such a stressful time already without having to decode their confusing system! One tip that helped me: when you're filling out the DE2508 form, double-check that your employer information matches exactly what you used for your original SDI claim. Any small discrepancies can cause delays in processing. Also, if you're planning to return to work part-time at any point during your PFL period, make sure to indicate that on the form - it affects how they calculate your benefits. Sounds like you're on the right track though! The hardest part is just knowing you need to file separately. Once you have that confirmation number, you should start seeing payments within 2-3 weeks. Enjoy those precious bonding weeks with your little girl! 👶💕

Just wanted to jump in as another new mom who recently navigated this same transition! I had my little one in January and was SO confused about whether I needed to file separately for PFL. Like you, I kept searching the EDD website hoping to find a clear answer but it's honestly terrible at explaining this process. What I learned: Yes, you absolutely need to file a separate DE2508 form for PFL - it doesn't automatically transition from your pregnancy disability benefits. I made the mistake of waiting a few days thinking something would happen automatically, but thankfully found this community and got the right info! One thing that really helped me was setting up email notifications in my SDI Online account so I could track the status of my PFL application. The processing took about 10 business days for me, and having those updates helped ease my anxiety about whether everything was going through correctly. Congratulations on your baby girl and don't stress too much - sounds like you're getting great advice here and you'll have those bonding benefits sorted out soon! The first few weeks are such a whirlwind but so special. 💕

Hey Dylan! Congrats on your beautiful baby girl! 🎉 I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago and can definitely confirm what everyone is saying - you absolutely need to file a separate PFL application. It's so frustrating that EDD doesn't make this clearer on their website! I was in the same boat, sitting there wondering if I was supposed to do something or just wait. Thankfully I found this community and got the right info before I missed out on benefits. The DE2508 form through your SDI Online account is what you need, and definitely start your PFL claim the day after your SDI ended to avoid any gaps. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure you have all your documents ready before you start the application. I had to stop halfway through to find my baby's birth certificate info and it was stressful trying to juggle everything with a newborn! But once you get it submitted, you should be good to go. The bonding time is so precious - glad you're getting it figured out quickly! 💕

Hey Dylan! Huge congrats on your baby girl! 🎉 I went through this exact same transition just 6 months ago and it's definitely not automatic - you absolutely need to file a separate PFL application using the DE2508 form. The good news is everyone here has given you spot-on advice! One small tip that saved me some stress: when you're filling out the DE2508, there's a section asking about your "expected return to work date." Don't overthink this part - you can always modify it later if your plans change. I spent way too much time calculating exact dates when I was sleep-deprived with my newborn! Also, once you submit your application, save that confirmation number somewhere safe (like take a screenshot). I panicked a week later thinking I'd lost mine, but thankfully it was in my email confirmations. You're doing great mama - those 8 weeks of bonding time are going to be absolutely precious. The EDD system is confusing but you've got this! 💕

Hey Dylan! Congratulations on your baby girl! 🎉 I just went through this exact same situation last month and can totally relate to the confusion. The EDD website is absolutely terrible at explaining this process clearly! You definitely need to file a separate PFL application - it's not automatic at all, which is so frustrating when you're already overwhelmed with a newborn. I made the mistake of waiting a few days thinking something would happen automatically and nearly missed out on benefits. The DE2508 form through your SDI Online account is what you need. Make sure to set your PFL start date for the day after your last SDI payment to avoid any gaps. Have your baby's birth certificate info ready before you start the application - I had to stop halfway through to find mine and it was stressful! One tip: once you submit, screenshot your confirmation number and save it somewhere safe. The processing took about 2 weeks for me, but setting up email notifications in your account helps track the progress. You're doing great navigating all this while caring for your little one! Those 8 weeks of bonding time are going to be so precious. 💕

Hey Dylan! Huge congrats on your baby girl! 🎉 I can totally understand the confusion - I went through the exact same thing when my son was born last year. Everyone here is absolutely right that you need to file a separate PFL application using form DE2508. One thing I didn't see mentioned yet is that you can actually check the status of your SDI claim in your online account to see exactly when your last payment was processed. This helped me figure out the perfect start date for my PFL claim. Also, don't panic if there's a small delay between when you apply and when payments start - it's normal and doesn't mean you did anything wrong! The bonding period is such a special time, and it's great that you're being proactive about getting this sorted out. You've got this mama! 💕

Hi Dylan! Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! 🎉 I'm currently pregnant and due in a few months, so this thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me too. I had absolutely no idea that the transition from SDI to PFL wasn't automatic - my employer's benefits coordinator never mentioned this crucial detail! Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear that EDD really needs to improve their communication about this process. It seems like such a common source of confusion for new parents who are already dealing with so much. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and will be sure to file my separate PFL application when the time comes. Thank you for asking this question - you've probably saved dozens of other expecting parents from making the same mistake! Hope your DE2508 application processes smoothly and you get to enjoy those precious 8 weeks of bonding time with your little one. 💕

Dylan, first off congratulations on your baby girl! 🎉 I'm so glad you asked this question because I was literally in the exact same boat just 3 months ago. Everyone here is absolutely right - you MUST file a separate PFL application using the DE2508 form. It's not automatic at all, which is honestly ridiculous given how overwhelming everything is with a newborn! I almost made the same mistake of just waiting for something to happen automatically. Thankfully I found some helpful folks online who steered me in the right direction. The key things: log into your SDI Online account, find the DE2508 form, and make sure your PFL start date is the day after your last SDI payment ended. Have all your baby's birth info ready before you start the application - it'll save you from having to stop mid-way through like I did! One thing that really helped me was taking a screenshot of my confirmation number immediately after submitting. Also, don't stress if there's a few days delay in processing - it's totally normal. Those 8 weeks of bonding time are absolutely precious and so worth getting this paperwork sorted out properly. You've got this mama! 💕