How to check if I qualify for EDD disability/PFL for baby bonding with my work history and IHSS caregiver status?

I was in a similar situation last year! For EDD Disability (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL), you don't need "work credits" like you do for unemployment. Instead, you need to have paid into SDI through payroll deductions. Check your paystubs - there should be a line that says "SDI" or "CASDI". For IHSS work, you DO pay into SDI if you're the parent provider for your child (which sounds like your situation). For your server job, you should also be paying into SDI. So with both jobs, you should qualify! You need to have earned at least $300 in your base period (which is 5-18 months before your claim starts). With your combined work, you should definitely meet that. For baby bonding, you'd use PFL after the baby is born. If you need time off before birth due to pregnancy, you'd use SDI first. Both give you about 60-70% of your wages.

the ihss wages defintely count i was a provider for my mom and got disability when i broke my ankle last yr. its all the same system

Don't get too excited. The EDD system is BROKEN!!! I worked 3 jobs and still got denied when I applied for baby bonding. They said my income wasn't reported correctly even though I PAID SDI every paycheck for TWO YEARS!!! Had to file an appeal and wait TWELVE WEEKS to get any money. By that time I had to go back to work anyway!!! They make this system complicated ON PURPOSE to avoid paying people!!!

Let me clear up some confusion here. For Paid Family Leave (baby bonding) and State Disability Insurance, you need to have contributed to SDI via payroll deductions during your base period. Both your restaurant job and IHSS work would count toward this if you're seeing SDI deductions on your paystubs. You mentioned "work credits" - that's actually for Social Security and federal programs, not California's SDI/PFL system. For EDD, they look at your highest-earning quarter during your base period to determine your weekly benefit amount. To verify your eligibility: 1. Check your paystubs from both jobs for SDI deductions 2. Ensure you've earned at least $300 during your base period (which sounds like you have) 3. File your claim online through SDI Online when it's time For baby bonding (PFL), you can take up to 8 weeks. If you need time off before birth due to pregnancy, file for SDI first, then transition to PFL after delivery. Don't forget you'll need a doctor's certification for both types of claims.

Your base period is the 12-month period that ends right before the last completed calendar quarter prior to when you file your claim. It's divided into four quarters. For example, if you file your claim in May 2025, the last completed quarter would be January-March 2025. So your base period would be January-December 2024. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your highest-earning quarter within that base period. With two jobs, your combined wages from both should give you a higher benefit amount than if you just had one part-time job.

when i had my baby in 2023 i got my disability first then the baby bonding after. they are seperate claims but the second one was easier. make sure u do the first one right cuz they use all the same info. also get the forms from ur doctor EARLY!! mine took forever to fill them out!!

When I needed to file for disability last year, I was going CRAZY trying to reach someone at EDD to confirm my eligibility. I kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold for hours. I found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD rep in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km Totally worth it because the EDD rep was able to verify my eligibility with both of my jobs and confirm I had enough in my base period. They also explained exactly how my benefit amount would be calculated using both income sources. Much better than stressing about it for weeks.

Yes, they reviewed both jobs when I called. The EDD rep was able to see all my reported wages in their system. I mentioned both income sources right away, and they explained how they combine them for calculating my benefit amount. They also confirmed which quarters would be counted in my base period. Definitely make sure you mention both your restaurant job and IHSS work when you speak with them.

make sure u dont quit either job if u want benifits. my cousin got denied cuz she quit before filing. u gotta still be employed when u file or it gets complicated

To clarify what others have said: For SDI and PFL, your current employment status doesn't matter as much as whether you paid into SDI during your base period. However, if you're planning to return to your job after baby bonding, you should make sure you understand your job protection rights. SDI and PFL only provide wage replacement, not job protection. For job protection, you'd need to qualify for CFRA (California Family Rights Act) and/or FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), which typically require: - Working for an employer with 5+ employees (for CFRA) or 50+ employees (for FMLA) - 12 months of employment with that employer - 1,250 hours worked in the 12 months prior to leave (about 24 hours/week) Since you mentioned working part-time (25 hrs/week), you might qualify for job protection at your restaurant job depending on how long you've been there and how many employees they have.

One more thing - make sure you keep track of all your wages from both jobs for the past 18 months or so. Sometimes EDD's system doesn't capture everything correctly, especially with multiple jobs. Having your paystubs or wage statements ready can save you a lot of headaches if there are any discrepancies. When you file your claim, you'll be asked to provide employer information for all your jobs during the base period. Make sure to include both the restaurant and your IHSS work (your county/public authority should be listed as the employer for IHSS, not your son). Best of luck with your baby! The system can be confusing but once you get through the paperwork, it's so worth it to have that time with your newborn!

Hey Zainab! I was in a very similar situation when I had my daughter last year - working part-time at a retail job plus doing IHSS for my elderly mother. Just wanted to add a few things that helped me: 1. When you file your PFL claim online, there's a section where you can list multiple employers. Make sure to include both your restaurant AND list your county's public authority as your IHSS employer (not your son's name). 2. For the doctor's certification forms, ask your OB at your next appointment if they can give you the forms early so you can get familiar with them. Some doctors prefer to fill them out closer to your due date, but having them ready saves time. 3. Keep digital copies of everything! I had to resubmit some paperwork when they said they didn't receive it the first time. The good news is with two steady jobs paying into SDI, you should definitely qualify and probably get a decent benefit amount. I was getting about 65% of my combined wages from both jobs. Don't let the horror stories scare you - plenty of us get through the process just fine! Feel free to reach out if you have questions as you get closer to filing!