CA Maternity Leave

It’s my understanding that the short term disability comes from the state (you pay into it on your paycheck, it’s called SDI) so you’d have to apply through the state for that. And then you’ll get the rest from your company however you get your paychecks

My employer just basically gives you protection of my job. SDI is what we pay into with each paycheck.. it’s our $ .. I got 8 weeks for C-section. Only get 60% of my usual paychecks. Then my employer allows PFL (paid family leave) not sure if your employer helps with that 8 weeks. If you’re pregnant you can’t apply until your first day on leave. If you do everything correct, there should be no hiccups, I messed up and was paid late. 😵‍💫

Ok so you technically get paid for short term disability for 6-8 weeks then another 8 weeks for paid family leave? Both of those coming from maybe state? So I could have 16 weeks of getting paid 60% of my salary?

This was very confusing for me too when I had to do it. So let HR know when you would like to start your maternity leave and that you would like the information for short term disability. My company was using MetLife so I called them and they helped me file. My disability benefits lasted about 3 months and then I filed for cal paid family leave which gave me 4 months so I was able to have 7 paid months with my baby and it was so nice. It does take awhile though, from the time I filed the PFL to the time I received payment was over a month. You also have to let work know that you filed the PFL and when your return date is. One thing I found frustrating with Metlife was that everything they sent was in the mail, nothing online and they’re in Nebraska so if they gave me a deadline to file something, I would just barely miss the deadline by the time I received my mail 🙄

You have to apply for both because both have benefits to you for maternity leave.

Also what if I don’t plan on going back to my job after leave ends LOL does that change anything ?

I wouldn’t share that with them just yet so you can the full extension of benefits with work.Maybe tell them two weeks prior of you returning but that’s just me someone else might know more or better.

Don’t tell your employer you aren’t returning! I’m literally writing my resignation letter right now lol! My return date would have been Feb 11th, but I can’t bring myself to leave my baby for 10 hours a day. He’s 4 months on the 25th. Good luck! Take all the time you can get

No definitely not telling anyone that’s half the reason I posted incognito hahaha just incase the off chance someone from my company saw that hahaha

I can’t remember if it was my short term disability policy or work policy that said if I quit before working at least 30 days, I would have to pay back whatever benefits that work had covered

Ahh that would suck! Like health insurance benefits?

Jumping on here to ask a question related to this lol- WHEN do you apply for disability? Definitely before you go into labor right? 😂

My baby was born 2 months/30 weeks and is now a month old and I applied literally a week ago and got paid 3 days after

Also the pay rate in California increased to 70 or 90% of pay this year. Depending on your income!

Apply for both, one is via work and the other is state. They will cover the difference that’s missing. Max out the short term and once that is over let Edd know that your wages have changed and they should adjust your income. You can get up to 12 months of disability via state if you meet the requirements, if your dr keeps extending it due to ppd. Once you start mat leave depending on your disability income you may qualify for wic or other benefits too. Once your Edd disability is up, and your Dr doesn’t extend it or if it ends after the max amount Edd will send you a message online or send you a letter for you to apply for family bonding which is separate from disability. I’m not 100% sure on the specifics in detail on that one as I believe they made some changes in the new year. (I work in insurance this is the last updated information I had until I started my mat leave back in June)

What if my job is paying my 100% of my salary? Can I still apply and get state disability too?

No, they will deny it since you aren’t loosing income. If anything apply after your short term disability has ended

@Kiran so I could apply for the state disability after my 12 weeks with my job?

If your dr believes you are not ready to go back to work they should be able to assist you in filling out the disability application after your short term is up.