Disability/Paid Family Leave confusion

Hi, Has anyone else had this issue? I have seeked answers from EDD, but I am still confused about my question. I gave birth to my son back in March. I was on disability for 6 weeks and then started Paid Family Leave (planned to use my full 12 weeks) and was scheduled to return back to work in July. I reached out to my doctor about 3 weeks ago since I have been dealing with postpartum depression and received an 8 week extension (scheduled to return back to work in August). I went to the EDD office to get an extension form and was told that I should have never been on Paid Family Leave and should have been on disability. I asked since I was already on Paid Family Leave what would happen. She said that Paid Family Leave would request for overpayment but that disability would usually pay this off for the time I got paid, and I just wouldn't get paid, which technically mean I still would have my 12 weeks left if baby bonding time after the additional 8 weeks of disability. However, I am super confused on the gap between when my 6 weeks of disability ended and when I got my extension, what would time time frame be considered since I technically should have been on disability but wasn't and was told by my doctors assistance I wouldn't be approved from when my 6 weeks ended but rather when I was approved for an extension and this time would qualify for Paid Family Leave? Help?

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I’m trying to fully understand this. But I do know that once you end your disability and take your PFL, you would then have to file a separate disability claim. Your SDI from the baby is concluded, and once you end it you cannot go back on it. I was extended 4 months after having my baby due to physical complications, and multiple times I was warned to not take my PFL, otherwise it would end my disability and I wouldn’t be able to receive an extension.

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How do you guys learn about all this stuff?

Your doctor should have filled out a form saying that you needed to be on disability and longer after having your baby due to postpartum depression because I know since my daughter was premature I got an additional I believe two weeks

I was told by the EDD office that it would be considered a new claim, so I did submit a new claim. However, I am still confused about the gap between the end of my original disability claim and the new claim just submitted. I was on Paid Family Leave during that time, but I shouldn't have technically been on it, so I'll have to pay back what I received. I'm just wondering what the gap in my timeframe means and what I can tell my employer since my disability got extended to August, and I'll technically still have my full 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave.

@Amanda I asked the doctors assistance about the gap, but she said they couldn't go backwards on my extension and would start the day I saw my doctor and was approved for an extension not the day after my initial disability ended. So I'm lost.

@Stephanie honestly I learned as I went. I battled with EDD for monthssss on three separate occasions. 1st time during the pandemic, 2nd was an emergency surgery and, 3rd time was my baby. I usually went into the office because I couldn’t get through on the phones. I learned a lot from talking to the office people!

@Jasmin I’m not sure if they’re giving you correct info. If you’re submitting a different claim for a new reason it shouldn’t affect your PFL. For all they know you didn’t have PPD at the start of your PFL, and it got significantly worse during your PFL. I would talk to your doctors office staff! They might have some better answers for you!

@Jasmin I'm lost for you as well because they are supposed to fill out a form online

@Samantha this is pretty much my timeline: 6 weeks disability 7 weeks paid family leave (which means I would still have 5 more weeks of baby bonding time) (but being told I need to pay back the 7 weeks I was on it) 8 weeks of new disability claim

I already went to the office once and have tried calling a punch of times but no luck. I just sent in the form from my doctors so I'm going to see what happens within the next week before I go again.

Your situation sounds similar to mine and I was just as confused when it went on with me. I took 6 weeks of disability and had PPD. My doctor (and eventually primary care doctor) extended my disability, and THEN I filed for Paid family leave. I don't think you're able to go back on disability after PFL ends. I recommend stopping by a local disability office near you and get it settled. Over the phone is always unhelpful, and that's if you can even get ahold of someone.

@Jasmin PFL for baby bonding is only 8 paid weeks not 12. The 4 additional weeks protected are just to protect you from your job giving retaliation. You should treat this PPD as a new claim. You will not have to repay anything if it’s a new claim. It’s only a repayment if it’s an extension. It’s all in technicalities. The PPD is a new health disability. Treat it as separate from the birth SDI.

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