California PFL bonding after pregnancy
How to Transition From Pregnancy Disability to PFL Bonding
See how EDD transitions an eligible pregnancy-related Disability Insurance claim to Paid Family Leave bonding using form DE 2501FP.
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Watch for form DE 2501FP after pregnancy-related DI ends
After you recover from the pregnancy-related disability period and EDD sends the final Disability Insurance payment, EDD sends the Claim for Paid Family Leave Benefits – New Mother form, DE 2501FP, so you can apply for bonding benefits.
The form appears as a link in the SDI Online inbox for an online DI claim. If the DI claim was filed on paper, EDD mails DE 2501FP separately.
The transition is a new application step
- Wait for EDD to finish the pregnancy-related DI period and issue the final DI payment.
- Open the DE 2501FP link in SDI Online or watch for the paper form, depending on how the DI claim was filed.
- Choose the bonding period and complete every part of the form that applies to you.
- Report any wages or employer payments you will receive during the bonding period.
- Review the form and submit it no later than 41 days from the date you want the bonding claim to begin.
- Save the confirmation or a copy of the completed paper form, then monitor SDI Online and EDD notices.
PFL payments do not begin merely because pregnancy-related DI ended. You must complete and return the bonding application, and EDD must determine eligibility.
Proof of relationship is generally not required for this transition
EDD says a mother moving directly from an EDD pregnancy-related DI claim to PFL bonding does not need additional proof-of-relationship documents. That differs from mothers without a pregnancy-related DI claim, new fathers, and foster or adoptive parents, who generally submit proof of relationship with a bonding application.
Use the DE 2501FP supplied for the pregnancy-DI transition. Do not submit duplicate claims; EDD warns that filing the same claim more than once can delay processing.
Choose dates and report employer pay carefully
Bonding benefits must be used within 12 months after the child’s birth. EDD also states that a valid claim start date and base period cannot be changed after the claim is established, so contact EDD before submitting if you need an official answer about the date to use.
If an employer continues wages, coordinates paid leave, or supplements PFL, report that pay on the DE 2501FP. EDD uses the information to determine how wages and benefits should be coordinated.
If DE 2501FP does not appear
Confirm that EDD issued the final pregnancy-related DI payment, check the SDI Online inbox and mailed notices, and make sure you are looking at the correct claim. If the form is still unavailable or your intended bonding date is approaching, contact EDD for claim-specific instructions.
Prepare your Claim ID, DI payment information, intended bonding dates, and relevant EDD notices before calling. The PFL call-preparation checklist can help organize those details.
Keep the programs and responsibilities separate
Pregnancy-related DI covers the period EDD recognizes as disability. PFL bonding is a separate wage-replacement claim for time spent bonding after that disability period. Review the broader PFL eligibility requirements and filing steps before submitting.
ConnectEDD cannot retrieve DE 2501FP, select bonding dates, submit the form, or access a DI or PFL claim. EDD remains the source for claim-specific instructions and eligibility decisions.
Help with repeated calling
Want ConnectEDD to handle the redialing?
ConnectEDD handles repeated calling and requests a California PFL callback to your authorized phone number when the option is available. Callback availability and timing can vary.
You may call EDD yourself for free. ConnectEDD is a paid convenience for the repeated-calling portion and does not represent you or access your claim.