When to apply for EDD PFL after pregnancy disability/maternity leave ends?

You need to apply for PFL before your pregnancy disability ends! Don't wait for EDD to notify you - they won't. Ideally submit your PFL claim about 1-2 weeks before your disability claim ends. If you're using SDI Online, go to the 'New Claim' section and choose 'Paid Family Leave.' Make sure you have your baby's birth certificate info handy, as you'll need to upload documentation.

Omg thank you so much! I had no idea I needed to be proactive about this. I thought it would just transition automatically. Do you know if there's a specific form I need to fill out? Is it the DE2508?

same thing happened 2 me last year!! nobody tells u nuthin and then ur scrambling to get benefits. typical california bureaucracy lol

Yes, you'll need to file for PFL before your disability claim ends. For online applications, you'll use your SDI Online account to file a PFL claim (form DE2508). For optimal timing, submit your PFL claim 1-2 weeks before your disability ends.\n\nI recommend gathering these documents before starting:\n- Child's birth certificate\n- Your ID\n- Employment information\n\nIf you're doing a paper application instead of online, request the DE2508 form ASAP as mail processing adds time.

Thank you for the detailed info! This is really helpful. I'll get those documents together this weekend. I've been trying to reach EDD to confirm all this but it's been impossible to get through.

I went through this transition last month and learned the hard way that there's no automatic notification! You definitely need to apply for PFL on your own. When I called about my benefits suddenly stopping, the EDD rep told me I should have applied for PFL at least a week before my disability ended.\n\nIf you're having trouble reaching someone at EDD, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a representative in about 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5. It saved me hours of frustration and the rep was able to help me file my PFL claim even though I was a few days late.

Is that service legit? Seems weird to pay someone just to call EDD for you...

It's definitely legit! They don't call for you - they get you through the phone system so you can talk to EDD yourself. After being hung up on 5 times trying to do it myself, it was worth it to actually speak to someone about my claim.

When I had my baby in 2024, my doctor actually told me about needing to file for PFL separately! She mentioned it during my 4-week postpartum checkup. I think it depends on your doctor - some are super knowledgeable about the leave process and some aren't.

My doctor hasn't mentioned anything about the EDD claim process, just focused on the medical stuff. I wish they'd included this info in the hospital discharge paperwork or something!

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU FAIL!!! I missed 2 weeks of benefits because nobody told me I had to apply separately for PFL after my disability ended. When I finally got through to EDD after TWENTY calls, they said

While I agree the system could be more intuitive, they actually can backdate PFL claims in some circumstances. Did you speak to a supervisor? Sometimes the first-line reps don't know all the exceptions.

To confirm what others have said, here's the exact process:\n\n1. While still on pregnancy disability, apply for PFL through SDI Online\n2. Use form DE2508 (Paid Family Leave Claim)\n3. Apply 1-2 weeks before disability ends\n4. Transition should be smooth with no gap if timed correctly\n\nFor your specific situation, I'd apply immediately since you're almost at 6 weeks postpartum. The typical PFL baby bonding period is 8 weeks, and you can take it anytime within the first year of your child's birth.

Thank you! I'm going to apply tomorrow morning. Do you happen to know if I need my employer to fill out any forms for the PFL portion? They had to complete something for my initial disability claim.

For PFL baby bonding, your employer doesn't need to complete any forms - that's only required for the initial disability claim. You'll just need to provide proof of relationship (birth certificate or hospital documentation). The system should still have your employer information from your disability claim.

wait are PFL and maternity leave diff things??? i thought they were the same

They're different! In CA, \

Update: I applied for PFL through SDI Online yesterday and it went through! The system already had most of my info from my disability claim. I uploaded a copy of my baby's hospital bracelet since we're still waiting for the official birth certificate. Thank you all for your help - I would have definitely missed out on benefits without your advice!

Great news! Glad you got it submitted. You should receive confirmation within 7-10 days. Make sure to certify for benefits every two weeks once they start processing your claim.

Will do! Do I certify the same way I did for disability? And will I get the same weekly benefit amount?

Yes, you certify the same way through SDI Online. And your weekly benefit amount will be exactly the same as your disability payments - it's calculated using the same formula (approximately 60-70% of your wages).

This is such helpful info! I'm 32 weeks pregnant with my first and already stressing about navigating all these claims. Bookmarking this thread for when I need it. Question - if I'm planning to take the full 8 weeks of PFL bonding time, do I need to specify that upfront in my application or can I decide later how much time to take?