Disability Insurance – Pregnancy FAQs
Learn about Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) for pregnant workers. Get answers to your questions about eligibility, how and when to file, and what to expect.
Disability Insurance
You should file your claim when your licensed health professional certifies that you are unable to work due to your:
- Pregnancy.
- Pregnancy-related disability.
- Recovery from delivery.
Learn more on how to apply for disability and set up and manage your benefits through your SDI Online account.
Paid Family Leave
You should file your claim when:
- You recover from your pregnancy-related disability.
- Your licensed health professional says you can go back to work.
Learn more about how to apply for PFL.
No. Your claim begins when you:
- Lose wages.
- Your licensed health professional confirms you can’t do your regular work.
There may be some situations when you may be eligible for benefits sooner. Your licensed health professional can certify limited work hours or duties if harmful to your pregnancy.
Yes. You can file earlier if a pregnancy-related condition requires you to stop working more than four weeks before your estimated due date.
You may be eligible for benefits if your licensed health professional certifies you must:
- Limit your work hours.
- Change your job duties.
Yes, your health professional can certify for longer pre-partum or post-partum periods if needed.
In some cases, your licensed health professional may approve a longer time for benefits if:
- You have medical complications.
- You can't do your regular work.
Legal precedent has determined that certain seasonal workers may be eligible for Disability Insurance benefits if their disability starts in the off-season and they have not left the labor market. If you think you are eligible for disability benefits, file a claim and EDD will determine your eligibility for benefits.
Yes. Healthcare providers may certify a patient as disabled for State Disability Insurance benefits if the patient’s job requirements pose a danger to the health of a pregnant patient or the fetus. If your licensed health professional finds that it is not medically safe for you to perform your normal or usual work due to exposure to pesticides, you can apply for disability.
Yes. If your licensed health professional finds that it is not medically safe for you to perform your normal or usual work, you can apply for disability.
You may be eligible for benefits based on your:
- Age.
- Occupation.
- Job limitations.
- Prior pregnancy history.
- Current medical condition.
- Licensed health professional's certification that you are unable to do your normal or usual work.
Yes, you may be eligible for DI benefits. A licensed health professional can certify you as disabled if your job poses a health risk to you or your baby.
Health risks may include:
- Lifting
- Continuous standing
- Regular chemical exposure
You may be eligible for benefits based on your:
- Age.
- Occupation.
- Job limitations.
- Prior pregnancy history.
- Current medical condition.
Pregnancy disability benefits are usually between 10 to 12 weeks. It depends on your pregnancy and delivery.
- Without medical complications, you can receive benefits up to:
- Four weeks before your estimated delivery date.
- Up to six weeks after your delivery.
- By cesarean section, you can receive benefits up to:
- Four weeks before your estimated delivery date.
- Up to eight weeks after your delivery.
In some cases, your licensed health professional may certify for longer periods if:
- There are medical complications.
- You can’t do your regular work.
No. After your baby is born, your benefits only cover you if you can’t do your regular work. Your licensed health professional can certify for a longer recovery if you are still under medical care and unable to return to work.
After your last DI payment and your licensed health professional has cleared you, then we will send you one of the following:
- A link to your SDI Online inbox for the Claim for Paid Family Leave (PFL) Benefits - New Mother (DE 2501FP).
- A paper Claim for Paid Family Leave (PFL) Benefits - New Mother (DE 2501FP).
You can protect yourself with the Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) program.
You cannot receive Unemployment Insurance and DI or PFL benefits at the same time. Follow these steps:
Disability Insurance
- Stop certifying for unemployment benefits.
- Notify Unemployment Insurance that you are no longer able and available for work. They will schedule a phone interview with you to suspend your claim.
- Apply for DI. Complete a one-time registration with myEDD, then file your DI claim using SDI Online. You can also complete and submit your Claim for Disability Insurance (DI) Benefits(DE 2501) by mail.
Paid Family Leave
File your PFL claim after:
- You recover from your pregnancy-related disability.
- Your licensed health professional says you can go back to work.
After your last DI payment, we will send either:
- A link to your SDI Online inbox for the Claim for Paid Family Leave (PFL) Benefits - New Mother(DE 2501FP).
- A paper Claim for Paid Family Leave (PFL) Benefits - New Mother(DE 2501FP).
Helpful Links:
Partner Resources:
First 5 California provides resources, support, programs, and information for children ages 0 to 5 and their families.