Hi Henrietta! Welcome to the community! 🎉 I'm new here too but just went through this exact process 6 months ago as a county employee with my first baby. One thing that really helped me that I don't think anyone mentioned yet - when you apply for SDI tomorrow, make sure you answer the questions about whether you plan to return to work very carefully. Since you don't qualify for FMLA job protection yet, being clear about your intent to return can be important for your county's records. Also, I'd recommend calling your county's benefits office (not HR) if they have a separate one. Sometimes the benefits specialists are way more knowledgeable about SDI than regular HR staff. They might also know about any county-specific programs that could help supplement your income. Quick tip for the application: when it asks about your last day worked, make sure that matches exactly what you told your supervisor/HR. Any discrepancies can cause delays in processing. The anxiety about money is so real - I was stressed about the same things! But once you get through the initial application and get your first payment, the process becomes much more predictable. You're being so smart to get organized ahead of time rather than scrambling at the last minute like I did! Good luck tomorrow! Feel free to update us on how it goes - this community is amazing for ongoing support! 💕

Hi Henrietta! Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through this whole SDI process earlier this year as a first-time mom working for a municipal government. Everyone has given you such thorough advice already, but I wanted to add one thing that really saved me stress: when you apply tomorrow, take note of the "disability start date" you enter. This should be your first day of leave (today was your last work day, so tomorrow would be your disability start date). Getting this date right is crucial because it affects when your 7-day waiting period starts counting. Also, since you mentioned being worried about income - definitely ask your county about using accrued sick time during that unpaid waiting period. My employer let me use sick time to cover those first 7 days, which really helped bridge the gap before SDI payments started. One more tip: after you submit your application, you'll get an email confirmation. Print it out or save a PDF copy! I needed to reference mine multiple times throughout the process, especially when following up with my doctor's office about their portion of the paperwork. The whole system is honestly pretty confusing, but you're being so proactive by getting all this information ahead of time. That puts you way ahead of where I was! This community has been such a lifesaver for navigating these programs. Best of luck with your application tomorrow! 💪

I'm so sorry you're going through this financial stress - it's absolutely exhausting waiting for EDD payments when bills are piling up! I went through almost the exact same timeline last year. Filed in early January, got my DE 429D notice in late February, and then received payment 7 business days later via direct deposit. The computation notice is definitely a great sign that you're in the home stretch! While you're waiting those final days, I'd recommend calling EDD at exactly 8:00 AM when they open (much better success rate) and try the "2-1-1" method others mentioned. Also set up text alerts from your bank so you'll know immediately when the deposit hits. Since your savings are drained, definitely look into local emergency assistance programs - call 211 to find resources in your area for emergency rent/utility help while you wait. And don't forget to file your PFL claim (DE 2501FP) about 1-2 weeks before your disability ends to avoid a payment gap. Based on everyone's experiences here, you should see that lump sum payment covering all those weeks very soon - probably within the next week! The waiting is brutal but you're so close to the finish line. Hang in there! 💪

I'm going through this exact same situation right now and your post really resonates with me! I filed my maternity disability claim in early February and just got my DE 429D notice a few days ago. The financial anxiety has been overwhelming - I've been living off credit cards and help from my parents while waiting for any sign of progress. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope though! It sounds like most people are getting paid within 5-10 business days after receiving that computation notice, which means we should both see relief very soon. I've been following the advice here about setting up bank text alerts and trying to call at exactly 8:05 AM when EDD opens. The fact that there's no clear timeline information anywhere on EDD's website is so frustrating - this community thread has been more helpful than anything official I could find! Based on everyone's experiences, it really does seem like the DE 429D notice is the signal that we're finally in the home stretch. Hang in there! From what everyone is saying, that lump sum covering all those weeks should hit your account any day now. We've survived the worst part of the waiting game! 🤞

This thread is absolutely incredible - so much practical advice that you just can't find anywhere else! As someone who's 8 months pregnant and working for a company that's been "restructuring" for the past few months, I'm bookmarking this entire conversation. The timeline breakdown that @Derek shared about filing UI on the Sunday after your last PFL payment is exactly the kind of specific detail that makes the difference between a smooth transition and a bureaucratic nightmare. And @Andre's point about setting aside 20-25% for taxes on PFL benefits - that's something I never would have considered! @Miguel - you really handled this situation like a pro. The fact that you recognized the urgency and filed while still employed shows great instincts. I hope your claim gets approved quickly and you get to enjoy that bonding time with your little one without the stress of the layoff hanging over everything. For anyone else reading this thread - save it! This is basically a masterclass in navigating California's maternity/family leave benefits during employment transitions. The collective wisdom here is worth its weight in gold.

This entire thread has been so educational! I'm currently 6 weeks postpartum and back at work, but my company just announced "organizational changes" coming in Q2. Reading through everyone's experiences here has made me realize I need to start preparing now in case layoffs hit my department. The key takeaway seems to be: file for PFL baby bonding BEFORE any layoff happens, even if you suspect it's coming. I had no idea about the employment requirement for PFL eligibility - I always thought it was just about having paid into SDI. Thank you @StarSailor for clarifying that you need to be employed OR actively job searching while on PFL. @Miguel - you definitely made the smart move filing when you did. The fact that you still have several months left in your 12-month window for baby bonding gives you such a good safety net. I'm going to start gathering all my documentation (birth certificate, pay stubs showing SDI contributions, etc.) just in case I need to file quickly. One question for the group - if you're still breastfeeding, does that impact your ability to meet the "available for work" requirement during PFL baby bonding? I know it's supposed to be bonding time but the availability requirement seems like it could create complications for nursing mothers.

I went through almost the exact same thing at 29 weeks pregnant! My company gave us literally 2 hours notice before shutting down permanently. I was terrified about losing my maternity benefits, but it actually worked out fine. The most important thing I learned: being unemployed does NOT affect your SDI eligibility at all. You paid into the system for 7 years - that money is YOURS. The state disability insurance comes from your previous earnings, not your current employment status. Here's what saved me time and stress: 1. I applied for both unemployment AND SDI on the same day (unemployment for immediate income, SDI to start 4 weeks before due date) 2. I printed out my wage statements from my online portal before my company's systems went dark 3. I had my doctor's office put a rush on the medical certification One thing that surprised me - I actually got my first unemployment payment faster than I expected, which helped bridge the gap until SDI kicked in. Just remember to stop certifying for unemployment the week your disability benefits start. You're going to be okay! The timing is scary but the safety net exists for exactly this reason. Focus on your health and that baby - the paperwork stuff will sort itself out! 🤗

Oh honey, I'm so sorry this happened to you! What terrible timing, but please don't panic - you're going to be okay! I went through something similar when my employer suddenly filed for bankruptcy at 34 weeks. I was absolutely terrified, but it turns out that being laid off actually doesn't affect your SDI/PFL eligibility AT ALL. These are state programs that you've been paying into for 7 years through your paychecks - think of it as insurance you've already bought and paid for. Here's what I wish someone had told me right away: - Apply for SDI online ASAP (even before you're technically disabled) to get the paperwork started - Get your final paystub and any employment documentation before your company completely disappears - Your benefits are calculated based on your previous earnings, not current employment status - The timing actually works out okay since you weren't planning to start leave for a few more weeks anyway The hardest part for me was just not knowing what to expect, but once I understood that my job status didn't matter for disability benefits, it was such a relief. You've EARNED these benefits - they can't take them away from you! Take care of yourself and that baby. The state systems aren't perfect but they do work, and you're going to get through this! 💕

Hey Alberto! I went through this exact same situation about 2 months ago and totally understand the panic you're feeling right now. A "determination" from EDD is basically their official decision about some aspect of your claim - it could be about eligibility, your weekly benefit amount, or they might have resolved a routine issue that was flagging your account. The super frustrating thing is that their initial letters are always incredibly vague and don't give you the real details you need! Here's what I learned: definitely log into your EDD online account first and look for sections like "Determination Details," "Messages," or "Claim Summary" - there's almost always way more specific information there than what they include in those cryptic paper letters. If you're still confused after checking online (which honestly wouldn't surprise me), try calling them right at 8:00 AM when they first open - I've had way better luck getting through at that time. But honestly, try not to stress too much about it - getting a determination is actually a positive sign that they're actively processing your case rather than it just sitting in some digital pile somewhere. The whole EDD system seems designed to be as confusing as possible, so you're definitely not alone in feeling lost! Keep us updated on what you find out - this community is super helpful and we're all rooting for you! 💪

Hey Alberto! I can totally relate to your confusion - I just got my first determination letter a couple weeks ago and had the exact same reaction! 😅 From what I learned (mostly from this awesome community), a determination is basically EDD's official decision on your claim. It sounds scary but it's actually just their way of saying they've processed something - could be approval, benefit calculation, or just clearing up paperwork. The letter they send is always super vague (seriously, why can't they just write in plain English?!), but everyone here is right about checking your online account first. I found way more details there under "Claim Status" than what was in that confusing letter. If you still need more info after checking online, that 8 AM calling trick really does work - I got through on my second try! Don't stress too much though - from what I've learned here, getting a determination usually means good news, not bad. This community has been a lifesaver for navigating all the EDD craziness. Good luck and definitely keep us posted! 🤞