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Any California moms know a little about the early maternity leave/SDI?

kshahan88kshahan88 member
in July 2017 Moms

I am currently 33 weeks. In CA you can take 4 weeks before due date and then 6 weeks after birth as part of the State Disability Insurance we all pay into. Only thing that I know is that you need to be put on the 4 week early maternity leave by your doctor, not by personal choice. I work a very demanding job, and my work has been suffering due to my pregnancy recently, and a co-worker of mine told me that my supervisor asked her my due date and mentioned if she knew how to get the early maternity leave. They can’t ask me legally I’m assuming to take maternity leave early, but I agree, I’m having serious issues with working full time as it is. In order for me to go on maternity leave early, should I ask my boss for a letter to my OB stating they would like me to be on maternity leave at 36 weeks, due to complications at work? Or will my 36 week visit, my OB ask if I want to go on maternity leave? I have no idea! All I know is that my work wants to get a temp in my position ASAP to avoid the issues I’ve been having! I’m definitely caught in the middle!  Thanks!

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Re: Any California moms know a little about the early maternity leave/SDI?

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    mslynn2012mslynn2012 member
    When I was pregnant with my first, my OB brought up starting leave at week 36, but army 32 or 34 week appointment. I told him I'd think about it. 

    When I showed up to my 36 week appointment I was basically begging him to take me out. He printed off a standard letter and I took it into HR the next day.

    I was teaching at the time, so I didn't go back as it was the end of the school year. 
    married 7.18.12   DS1 4.29.13   EDD 11.23.14

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    mamadcbmamadcb member
    I'm not sure how it works in all cases, but for me well before I went out (like around now) my OB and I talked about when I would stop working. We agreed on the timing and she wrote me a letter that I submitted to my employer and that was that. My employer did not have to get involved with it at all except to receive it. Good luck! 
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    Poppyseed72017Poppyseed72017 member
    +1 to what PP say. You have to get the early realease okayed from your OB. I believe they fill out a portion of your SDI forms and sign. Then you just turn them in. Is this state disability or from the company you work from? Just curious because you may need the forms to take to your OB to fill out. 
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    satsumasandlemonssatsumasandlemons member
    Ditto - my ob/gyn asked me if I needed a letter. 
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    LovestruckAJLovestruckAJ member
    edited May 2017
    ::coming out of lurkdom because I know Ca leave laws can be confusing::

    Your OB shouldn't need a letter from your work. Going on leave 4 weeks before your due date is pretty standard, so I can't see your OB having an issue with it. In the case of a demanding job, your OB can even write you out now & this will not affect the 6 weeks SDI, or the 6 weeks of PFL you receive post baby. (I'm a nurse in a busy ER. My OB & I planned me going out at 32 weeks, however I ended up going out way sooner due to complications).

    You can make your SDI claim online & your OB can fill out their portion online as well to speed the process up.

    Good luck!!

    https://www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/FAQ_DI_Pregnancy.htm






    TTC#1 Oct 2010
    DS born May 2013
    TFAS Feb 2016
    EDD 07/29/2017
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    JmUDuuuukes 07JmUDuuuukes 07 member
    So I'm not in CA but curious- does the 4 weeks cut into your 12 weeks of FMLA?
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    LovestruckAJLovestruckAJ member
    JmUDuuuukes 07 said:
    So I'm not in CA but curious- does the 4 weeks cut into your 12 weeks of FMLA?
    I want to say that yes it does, since FMLA usually runs concurrent with any "disability" (including PDL), But luckily we also have something called CFRA (Ca Family Rights Act) which is a 12 week leave similar to FMLA, but can ONLY be used for the purpose of bonding. So even if you use some, or all of your FMLA before birth, CFRA will still be there to cover bonding time.
    TTC#1 Oct 2010
    DS born May 2013
    TFAS Feb 2016
    EDD 07/29/2017
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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    Knottie62028946Knottie62028946 member
    Just to add on to what lovestruckAJ said, CFRA can start after your disability ends or you can save it and break it up throughout the year. You have 12 months from when you have your baby to use it. You get a total of 12 weeks, 6 are paid at 55% of you pay and the other 6 are unpaid. So technically, you could have 6 weeks of disability plus 12 weeks of CFRA.  FMLA runs concurrent with all of it. Any disability you can get before you have your baby is a bonus. Also, Dad is eligible for CFRA, a lot of people don't know that. My husband took all 12 weeks when we had our DD and it was great. 
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    satsumasandlemonssatsumasandlemons member
    Knottie62028946 said:
    Just to add on to what lovestruckAJ said, CFRA can start after your disability ends or you can save it and break it up throughout the year. You have 12 months from when you have your baby to use it. You get a total of 12 weeks, 6 are paid at 55% of you pay and the other 6 are unpaid. So technically, you could have 6 weeks of disability plus 12 weeks of CFRA.  FMLA runs concurrent with all of it. Any disability you can get before you have your baby is a bonus. Also, Dad is eligible for CFRA, a lot of people don't know that. My husband took all 12 weeks when we had our DD and it was great. 
    See this is where it gets so confusing for me! 
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    shanana_3shanana_3 member
    Yeah CA doesn't make it easy, only because I deal with it at work all the time I've got pretty good at it. Best thing you can do is use the EDD website or talk to your leave specialist at work (start with HR) they are require by law to give you all this info if you are eligible. 

    My screen name is all jacked up, it should be shanana1234567 not knottie620 bla bla bla. 
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    cielaw89cielaw89 member
    I've been so confused about CA SDI and leave. I work as a substitute teacher in 2 separate school districts. I talked to one district who said I have no paperwork to fill out as I am not Full Time, so FMLA is not what I would get. I would just put in the substitute system that I took maternity leave for however many weeks I wanted and that was it. No pay or anything. 

    Now I looked on the EDD website and it had said that to qualify for disability you would have to not be able to work for 8 consecutive days. The problem I have with this is since schools are out over the summer I have no work, I will technically be unemployed for the summer, but I'm still employed with the districts for the upcoming school year. Both districts will resume the school year mid August.

    I'm so lost in what I should do. 
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    BabyMama4LifeBabyMama4Life member
    edited May 2017
    I know that FMLA is what protects your job when you're off work. But FMLA does not mean you get paid. That's why California is great tho. Califirnia SDI is a fund that will pay a portion of your wages while you're out. (as long as you qualify)

    Note: Many employers require you to use your sick and vacation time while you're out. They coordinate amounts with the SDI Dept. That's why it's important to get details from your employer about their specific policy.  (I used to work in a benefits/payroll call center. So sad to hear of moms thinking things work one way when it's actually another. Broke my heart to be the one to tell her. )

    I'm not familiar with CFRA. Is it a job protection thing like FMLA? Or a payment thing like SDI?

    Edit:. Just found this useful chart online. 

    https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/resources/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faqs/pregnancy-disability-leave-faqs/pdl-cfra-fmla-guide/
    Babysizer Cravings Pregnancy Tracker
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