This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm an IHSS provider for my disabled brother and also work part-time at a veterinary clinic. My wife and I are planning to start trying for a baby in the next few months, and I honestly had no idea how any of this worked until I found this discussion. What's really reassuring is seeing how many people have successfully navigated this exact situation. The consistent advice about early communication with your IHSS social worker, complete transparency with both agencies, and proper documentation seems to be the key to avoiding problems. I'm definitely going to schedule a meeting with our social worker next month to discuss this scenario proactively. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm also going to ask about our county's specific written policies and start organizing all our current IHSS documentation. That Claimyr service recommendation has been mentioned by so many people - I'm absolutely saving that info for when we actually need to contact EDD. The horror stories about their phone system are terrifying! Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences. This thread has completely changed my understanding of what's possible and given me confidence that we can actually make this work with proper planning. You've all been so generous with your advice and it's going to help so many families in similar situations!

This thread has been absolutely incredible! I'm an IHSS provider for my disabled father and also work part-time at a local library. My partner and I are hoping to start our family soon, and I was completely lost about how these benefits would work together until I found this discussion. What really strikes me is how consistent the success stories are - everyone who had a smooth experience emphasizes the same key points: early communication with your social worker, complete transparency with both agencies, and understanding that SDI/PFL only covers your regular W-2 job while IHSS continues as a separate program. I'm definitely going to reach out to our IHSS social worker next week to start this conversation, even though we're still in the planning stages. Based on all the advice here, I want to get everything documented and understand our county's specific policies before we actually need the benefits. The Claimyr service recommendation keeps coming up too - I'm bookmarking that for sure! The idea of actually being able to reach a human at EDD sounds almost too good to be true after hearing all the phone system horror stories. Thank you so much to everyone who shared their real experiences, especially the detailed step-by-step guidance. This thread has transformed what felt like an impossible situation into something that's actually manageable with proper preparation. You've given so many of us hope that we can balance caring for our disabled family members while also growing our own families!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed my FMLA request in late January for my mom's dialysis treatments and it's been over 3 weeks with no response. What's really getting to me is that the dialysis center needs to know my schedule to coordinate her treatment times, but I can't give them any concrete answers while my FMLA is stuck in limbo. I've tried calling multiple times but always get stuck in the automated system - it's like they designed it to discourage people from actually reaching them! Reading everyone's experiences here has been both validating and eye-opening. I had no idea the system was this broken when I first applied. Definitely going to try that 8 AM calling strategy and start keeping a detailed log of everything like others have suggested. It's crazy that we have to become amateur case managers just to access what should be a straightforward worker protection. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories - knowing we're all in this together makes it feel a little less overwhelming! 🙏

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed my FMLA paperwork in early February and it's been radio silence for weeks. What really bothers me is that there's no transparency about where your application actually stands in the process - just that generic "under review" status that tells you absolutely nothing. I'm trying to coordinate care for my elderly father who needs assistance after a stroke, and the uncertainty is making everything so much harder. You can't book medical appointments, arrange transportation, or even talk to his doctors about care plans when you don't know if you'll actually be approved for leave. I've been lurking in this community for a while as a newcomer and honestly, reading everyone's experiences has been both helpful and terrifying. It's clear this isn't just bad luck - the whole system seems fundamentally broken. I'm definitely going to try some of the strategies people have shared here, especially the early morning calling approach. Thanks to everyone for being so open about their struggles - it helps to know we're not alone in dealing with this bureaucratic mess!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I went through a very similar situation just 6 months ago! I was laid off at 7 months pregnant and managed to navigate the UI → SDI → PFL transition successfully, though it definitely had some bumps along the way. First, you absolutely can collect unemployment now since you were laid off through no fault of your own. With your 12 years of work history, you'll easily meet all the base period requirements for UI, SDI, and PFL - that continuous employment is actually a huge advantage! A few things I learned that might help: - When you do get rehired (fingers crossed!), you MUST report it to EDD immediately to stop UI benefits - There's typically a 1-week waiting period when transitioning from UI to SDI that nobody warns you about - plan for that gap - Keep meticulous records of everything because EDD's systems don't always communicate well with each other - If you get the new job before your due date, you can still file for SDI at 36 weeks and then PFL after birth The most nerve-wracking part for me was having "the conversation" with my new employer about needing maternity leave so soon after starting. I decided to be upfront during the hiring process and it actually went much better than expected - most employers appreciate the honesty rather than being surprised later. Your situation is definitely manageable! The paperwork is the hardest part, but the safety net will be there. Feel free to reach out if you have questions as you navigate this - we're all here to help each other! 💪

Welcome to the community! I'm new here but have been following this discussion closely since I'm currently navigating a similar situation - just started a new job at 5 months pregnant after a brief unemployment period. One thing that's been really helpful for me is setting up alerts in my phone calendar for all the key dates and deadlines. Based on what everyone has shared, I have reminders set for when to file SDI (around 36 weeks), when to expect potential waiting periods between benefits, and even when to start gathering the different forms my doctor will need to complete. I also wanted to mention that when I was job searching while pregnant, I found it helpful to research potential employers' employee handbooks online (sometimes available through their careers page) to get a sense of their family leave policies before even applying. Some companies go above and beyond the state requirements, while others do the bare minimum. Your 12 years of work history definitely puts you in a strong position for all the benefits - that's actually better than most people have when they go through this process! The timing with the job change is tricky, but based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds completely manageable with proper planning and documentation. Wishing you the best as you navigate this process, and thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences - this thread has been incredibly educational! 🤗

Going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my baby bonding PFL claim about 8 days ago and have been obsessively checking the mail for that Notice of Computation. The financial stress is so real when you're on unpaid leave - I literally made a spreadsheet tracking all our expenses and how long our savings will last! 😅 This thread has been incredibly helpful though. Based on everyone's timelines, it sounds like I should get my notice within the next few days, and then hopefully payment about a week after that. It's so frustrating that EDD doesn't provide clearer timelines, especially when new parents are already dealing with so much. @GalaxyGazer congrats on your payment processing! That gives me so much hope. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's exactly what so many of us are wondering but were too stressed to ask about!

I'm right there with you on the financial stress! Filed my baby bonding PFL claim about 3 weeks ago and just got my first payment yesterday - took exactly 9 business days after receiving my Notice of Computation. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're on unpaid leave and bills keep coming. One thing that helped ease my anxiety was setting up text alerts with my bank so I'd get notified the second any deposit hit my account (instead of obsessively checking the app 20 times a day!). Also, if you're really in a pinch while waiting, some utility companies and daycare centers will work with you on payment plans if you explain you're waiting for state benefits - doesn't hurt to ask. The financial uncertainty during what should be precious bonding time is so unfair, but hang in there - based on your timeline, you should see that money very soon! 💙

I'm about 7 months pregnant and this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea there were so many nuances to the SDI to PFL transition process. Reading everyone's real experiences has taught me more than any official EDD documentation I've found online. A few things I'm taking away from this discussion: - Apply for PFL 5-9 days BEFORE disability ends (not after!) to avoid payment gaps - Keep all documentation and take screenshots of account statuses - Extensions beyond standard recovery periods are totally normal with proper medical justification - The PFL application will generate a completely separate claim number One question for the group - has anyone had experience with this process if you're planning to take the full 12 weeks of bonding leave? I'm wondering if there are any additional considerations for longer PFL claims or if the application process is the same regardless of how many weeks you're requesting. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly! As a first-time mom, this community has made navigating the benefits system feel so much more manageable. It's clear that being proactive and organized (like the original poster) makes all the difference in having a smooth transition.

I'm currently 6 months pregnant and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Reading through everyone's real experiences has given me such a clear roadmap for what to expect with the SDI to PFL transition. I'm taking notes on all the key points: apply for PFL 5-9 days before disability ends, keep screenshots of everything, have birth certificate/hospital papers ready to upload, and write down that new PFL claim number immediately. The specific timeline suggestions (like May 5th for a May 12th disability end date) are so helpful for actual planning. One thing I'm curious about - for those who had extensions due to C-section complications, did you need to provide any additional documentation beyond what your doctor submitted? I'm planning for a C-section and want to be prepared in case recovery doesn't go as smoothly as hoped. Also, has anyone dealt with the situation where you're not sure exactly when your baby will arrive? I'm due in early June but babies obviously don't follow schedules! I'm wondering how that uncertainty affects the disability start date and subsequent PFL planning. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - this community is amazing for first-time moms trying to navigate this complex benefits system!