Transitioning from reduced-hours pregnancy SDI to full-time maternity SDI without reapplying?

went thru this exact thing last yr! u dont need to reapply completely. just have ur doc fill out a 'supplemental certification' form. its basically an update to ur existing claim. call edd and ask specifically for that form!!

Your HR department is incorrect. For pregnancy disability transitions like yours, you don't need to file a completely new claim. You'll need your doctor to complete a "Supplemental Medical Certification" (DE2525XX) form that indicates the change in your disability status from partial to total. This updates your existing claim rather than creating a new one. Submit this form as soon as possible through your SDI Online account under the "Upload Documents" section. Make sure your doctor clearly indicates the new date your total disability begins and that it's related to the same pregnancy condition. After your pregnancy disability ends (usually 6-8 weeks after birth), that's when you'll file a completely new claim for PFL Baby Bonding benefits.

Wait, I thought pregnancy disability and maternity leave SDI were two totally different programs?? When I had my baby in 2024, I had to file separate applications for each thing. My HR told me pregnancy disability was for medical issues before birth, then maternity leave SDI is for recovery after birth, and THEN baby bonding PFL is the last part. Am I missing something??? This system is so confusing!!

The EDD system is a NIGHTMARE to navigate when you're pregnant and stressed! I went through this same transition last year and wasted THREE WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone. When I finally connected with someone, they told me I just needed my doctor to submit updated medical info. But then my payments STOPPED for a month during the "adjustment" period and I couldn't pay my rent! If you need to actually speak to someone at EDD about your transition to confirm what's happening (which I would DEFINITELY recommend), check out Claimyr.com - it's the only reason I finally got through. They have this system that calls EDD for you and gets you past the busy signals. Saved me from having a meltdown at 38 weeks pregnant! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5

My doctor put me on full bed rest at 32 weeks and I was already on partial disability before that. ALL I had to do was have my doctor fax in the updated medical certification with the new restrictions and effective date. It was pretty simple but took about 10 days to process the change. My weekly benefit amount went up when I stopped working completely. Just make sure your doctor is very clear about the dates and that it's related to the same pregnancy condition!!!!

Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! I think I understand now - I need the supplemental certification form, not a whole new application. I'll call my doctor today to get that started. I'm still really nervous about a potential gap in payments during the transition though. We're counting on every dollar with the baby coming. If I don't see the adjustment in 10 days, I'll definitely try that Claimyr service to get through to EDD. I've already spent hours getting disconnected trying to call them directly.

oh and heads up - when u transition from pregnancy SDI to baby bonding PFL after birth thats when u WILL need a completely new application! don't get confused and think its all automatic. totally different claim for that part.

You know what's really infuriating? I called my EDD office 27 TIMES last month asking this EXACT question and got 3 completely different answers from 3 different representatives!!! One told me I needed a new claim, one told me just a doctor's note would work, and one said I needed some special form. The whole system is designed to confuse us and deny benefits. I bet half the women who get pregnant never get the full benefits they deserve because it's too complicated to figure out what to do when circumstances change!!! 😡😡😡