Miguel, congratulations on your upcoming addition! I just went through this process when my son was born in February. Here's what I learned that might help: You absolutely cannot apply before birth - the system requires proof of the child's birth as part of the application. BUT here's what you CAN do now to make the process smoother later: 1. Set up your EDD SDI Online account today - seriously, do it now while you have mental bandwidth 2. Gather all your employment/wage info and save it somewhere easily accessible 3. Talk to your hospital about their birth certificate turnaround time - mine took 5 business days which felt like forever when you're eager to get benefits rolling When baby arrives, apply within the first week if possible. The 12-month deadline is real, but EDD processing times are unpredictable right now. Mine took 2.5 weeks to approve, which wasn't too bad compared to some horror stories I've heard. One thing I wish I'd known: you can actually start your leave before your claim is approved. You just won't get paid until it processes. So if you need to be home with baby immediately, don't feel like you have to wait for EDD's wheels to turn. Also bookmark the EDD customer service phone number now, just in case. The earlier in the day you call, the better your chances of getting through. Good luck!

Hey Miguel! Congrats on the upcoming baby! Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I went through this process - make sure you understand the difference between "intermittent" and "continuous" leave when you apply. You can take your 8 weeks of baby bonding leave all at once (continuous) OR you can break it up into smaller chunks (intermittent) over that 12-month period. For example, you could take 4 weeks right after birth, then save the other 4 weeks for later - maybe when your wife goes back to work, or around holidays, etc. The intermittent option is really flexible but you have to specify this when you apply. If you apply for continuous leave initially, it's harder to change it later. Just something to think about now while you're planning! Also echoing what others said about screenshots - I literally took photos with my phone of every screen during the application process. EDD's system crashed on me twice and having that documentation saved me hours of re-entering information. You've got this! The prep work you're doing now will definitely pay off later.

This is such a relief to read! I'm 8 months pregnant and my partner has been stressing about the PFL application process after hearing horror stories. Bookmarking this thread - the Trusted Referee number and paper form backup plan are game changers. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions! It's crazy that we have to crowdsource these workarounds when the system should just work properly in the first place.

Wow, what a journey! I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved. As a new parent myself (my daughter is 6 months old now), I know how stressful it is to deal with bureaucratic nightmares when you're already sleep-deprived and financially stretched. The fact that we have to jump through so many hoops and rely on community knowledge-sharing just to access basic benefits is absolutely maddening. For anyone else dealing with ID.me issues, I'd also recommend documenting EVERYTHING - screenshots, call logs, reference numbers, etc. I learned this the hard way when dealing with my own PFL claim. Having that paper trail saved me when there were discrepancies later in the process. Also, don't forget that the PFL clock starts ticking from when you first become eligible, not when you finally get through the system. So even if there are delays in processing, you should still receive retroactive payments for the full period you're entitled to. Congratulations on your new daughter, Ravi! Hope you get to enjoy some quality bonding time with her once all this administrative chaos is behind you.

As someone who's been self-employed for 8 years and had two babies during that time, I wanted to share some additional resources that might help! Since you're in LA, check out these local options: - LA Freelancers Union (they have monthly meetups and a Slack channel) - Working Moms of LA Facebook group - tons of freelancers in there - Creative Mornings LA often has networking events with other independent creatives For the financial planning piece, I'd also suggest: - Look into whether your clients would be willing to pay invoices early or set up a retainer system before your due date - Consider raising your rates now if you haven't in a while - easier to do before you're juggling a newborn - Some freelancers I know have had success with "maternity packages" where they pre-sell a bundle of work at a discount to create cash flow And definitely get that EDD account set up ASAP! When I had my second baby, the website was super glitchy and it took me three tries to get my claim submitted properly. Having everything ready in advance was a game-changer. One more thing - if your part-time job qualifies you for benefits, make sure to coordinate the timing carefully. You want to maximize your coverage without any gaps. The EDD can be particular about when you start and stop claims. Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy and planning! 🌟

Hey Kristin! I just went through this exact situation last year as a freelance marketing consultant with a tiny part-time retail job. Here's what saved me: First, definitely check if SDI is being withheld from your boutique paychecks - look for "CASDI" on your pay stub. At $90/week you'd easily meet the $300 quarterly requirement. But here's the reality check: my benefit was only $67/week based on my part-time earnings, which barely covered groceries. So start saving NOW and consider these strategies: **Before baby arrives:** - Set up payment plans with all your regular bills (utilities, phone, etc.) - Stock up on non-perishables and baby essentials while you have income - Ask clients for 50% deposits on future projects to create a cash cushion - Look into local food banks and WIC programs you might qualify for temporarily **During leave:** - Many freelancers do light work during bonding leave (emails, quick edits) since PFL allows some part-time work - Consider subcontracting easier tasks to other designers while keeping client relationships **For next time:** - Definitely sign up for DIEC, but also look into private disability insurance through organizations like Freelancers Union The mental load is tough, but you'll figure it out! Start that EDD account setup this week while you have energy. Good luck! 🍀

Just to give you some peace of mind about the timeline: even with the delay, you should still receive your maternity disability benefits before your due date. EDD typically processes ID verification within 7-10 business days once received. After that, if everything else in your application is complete, you should start receiving payments within another 1-2 weeks. So roughly 3 weeks total from when you send in your documents, which still gives you plenty of time before your baby arrives in 8 weeks.

I went through this exact same panic when I was pregnant with my daughter! Missing that deadline felt like the end of the world, but honestly EDD is pretty understanding about late submissions, especially for pregnancy-related claims. I sent mine in 5 days late and included a brief note about pregnancy symptoms affecting my ability to keep up with mail - they processed it without any issues. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given: when you call EDD to notify them about the late submission, ask them to put a note in your file about the pregnancy-related delay. This can help if there are any questions later. Also, keep copies of everything you send and get a tracking number so you have proof of delivery. You've got this mama - take a deep breath and get those documents sent tomorrow! 💙

I'm so glad you got confirmation from EDD! Just wanted to add that I went through something similar (medical complications after birth) and the bonding leave was absolutely worth fighting for. Those 8 weeks were so precious for recovery and connecting with my baby after everything we'd been through. Make sure to take care of yourself during this time - you've been through a lot! And don't hesitate to reach out if you run into any snags with the paperwork process. This community has been super helpful for navigating all the EDD chaos.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! My baby is 9 months old and I'm finally transitioning off disability next month after complications from a C-section that got infected. Reading through all these responses has been so reassuring - I was really worried I'd miss out on bonding leave entirely. It's crazy how the EDD website doesn't make this clearer! For anyone else in this boat, I found it helpful to call my case worker directly (the number is on your disability paperwork) rather than the main EDD line. She was able to walk me through the transition process and confirmed the 12-month rule too. Hang in there mama - we've got this! 💪