I'm currently pregnant with my second and went through this process 3 years ago. One thing I wish someone had told me - if you're planning to breastfeed, factor that into your timing decisions too! I ended up needing to pump at work when I returned, and having those extra weeks at home in the beginning made establishing breastfeeding so much easier. Also, don't underestimate how you'll feel physically those last few weeks - even with a healthy pregnancy, I was SO ready to stop working by 38 weeks. The sleep deprivation alone was killing me! Just something to consider when you're talking timing with your doctor.

Just wanted to add another perspective on the waiting period - I used short-term disability through my employer to cover that first unpaid week, which was a lifesaver! Not everyone has this option, but if your company offers supplemental disability insurance, it might cover the EDD waiting period. Also, regarding the transition to PFL baby bonding - I found it helpful to create a simple timeline/checklist with all the key dates and forms I'd need. Something like: Week 36 - file PDL claim, Week 6 postpartum - get doctor clearance and apply for PFL, etc. Having it all written down made the whole process feel less overwhelming during those sleep-deprived newborn days!

Ive been waiting 6 months for my claim to be aproved. Consider yourself lucky 🙃

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My payment was authorized about 10 days ago and still nothing. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and frustrating - glad to know I'm not alone but sorry we're all going through this. I think I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning like @Mei Liu suggested, and if that doesn't work maybe look into that calling service @Liam O'Donnell mentioned. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with these bureaucratic nightmares!

I had a similar mix-up with my SDI/PFL timing when my daughter was born. What saved me was being super organized when I finally got through to someone. I made a timeline of exactly when I gave birth, when I filed each claim, and what I was trying to accomplish. Having all that info ready made the conversation go much smoother. Also, don't be afraid to ask to speak to a supervisor if the first person you talk to can't help - sometimes they have more authority to make adjustments. The whole system is definitely confusing, especially when you're dealing with a newborn! Hang in there! 💪

I went through this exact same situation! The key is to call and explain that you need to "reverse the order" of your claims. When I called, the rep told me they could put my PFL claim on hold and then process a retroactive SDI claim for the period right after birth. It took about 2-3 weeks to get sorted, but they did backpay everything correctly. Make sure you have your due date/birth date ready when you call - they'll need those dates to calculate the correct benefit periods. The whole thing was stressful but totally fixable!

srsly why is edd so confusing?? i swear its designed to make us give up. i had a c-section last year and never got the extension because noone told me i could even get extra time! now i see this post and realize i was entitled to 2 more weeks??? thanks california 🙄

One more thing that helped me - I printed out a calendar and marked all my leaves on it: - Purple: PDL regular leave - Blue: PDL extension for C-section - Green: PFL baby bonding I brought this to my doctor appointment and my HR meeting so everyone was on the same page about dates. I also kept track of which forms were submitted when and who I talked to at EDD. Made a huge difference in getting everything straightened out!

I'm going through something really similar right now! I'm 28 weeks pregnant and just started a new job 2 months ago, so I've been panicking about the same things. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about PDL either! One thing I wanted to add that might help you: when I called my previous employer's payroll department, they were able to tell me exactly how much I earned during the time periods that would count toward my base period. It was way easier than trying to dig through old tax documents or paystubs. You might want to try calling any employers you had during that Oct 2024-Sept 2025 timeframe. Also, my doctor mentioned that if you're having any pregnancy complications or discomfort that affects your ability to work, you can potentially start your disability leave even earlier than 36 weeks. Don't feel like you have to push through if you're struggling - the whole point of these protections is to help you have a healthy pregnancy and recovery. Good luck with your HR meeting tomorrow! I'm definitely going to ask about PDL at my next appointment too.

I'm so glad you found all this information helpful! As someone who works in benefits administration, I wanted to add one more important point that might ease your mind even further. Since you mentioned your doctor is taking you out at 36 weeks for medical reasons, make sure to keep detailed documentation of all your medical appointments and any work restrictions your doctor gives you. This will be crucial not just for your SDI claim, but also for PDL protection. California PDL specifically covers time off for prenatal appointments and pregnancy-related medical conditions, so your job should be protected from the moment your doctor certifies you can't work. Also, don't let HR brush you off if they claim they "don't know about PDL" - it's been California law since 1978 and applies to all employers with 5+ employees. If they seem uninformed, you can direct them to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) website which has detailed employer guidance. One last tip: consider documenting your HR conversations in writing (even just a follow-up email summarizing what was discussed). It helps protect you if there are any disputes later about what benefits you're entitled to. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this. Best of luck with your leave and congratulations on your upcoming arrival!