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FMLA runs concurrently with SDI. FMLA is unpaid, job protected leave... and SDI provides you 55% of your income while you're on leave. You're right in that you can't apply for SDI until you actually go on leave. It's so annoying and they make it really confusing! I wrote a blog post about CA maternity leave... I tried to make it as simple and clear as possible so hopefully you can find some info there!

@deerylou: Mrs. High heel's post sums it up really nicely. You don't actually fill out any forms for FMLA or CFRA. You first apply for SDI. You will get 4 weeks prior to due date and 6-8 weeks after your baby is born depending on whether vaginal or c-sec delivery. The state will send you the PFL form automatically while you are on maternity leave once SDI runs out. You then get an additional 6 weeks of partial pay for baby bonding time.

Are you a teacher? B/c I thought teachers don't pay into state disability. Anyways, I believe you have to wait until you're off work to submit the paperwork. Not completely sure on that though. Maybe ask your HR dept or your doctor.

@deerylou: yep 16 weeks total of partial pay. Less if you have the baby before your EDD and more if you have your baby late.

@deerylou: mrskc pretty much answered it all! you submit your SDI form first, then once that runs out, the state will automatically send you the PFL form. FMLA and CFRA require no forms and should automatically kick in.

@deerylou: SDI covers the first 6-8 weeks post delivery, then once that runs out... PFL kicks in and you get an ADDITIONAL 6 weeks of partial pay. So you would get a total of 12-14 weeks of partial pay.

You can get partial pay starting 4 weeks PRIOR to your due date too, but if you don't use it all before you deliver, then you lose it. If you take off work only 3 weeks 2 days before your due date (instead of 4 weeks), you essentially lose about a week's worth of pay from short term disability which you would've been entitled for.

@deerylou: I'm glad I could help! I believe CA is the best state for maternity leave in the U.S. - still not good enough though. I really wish we had Canada's leave policies!

Isn't it confusing? I would recommend making sure your partner understands all the leave stuff and let them take care of it. The last thing I wanted to do when I had LO was paperwork. Just reading seemed impossible. My husband felt pretty useless in the early days so handling leave paperwork was a great task for him. He was able to 'provide' for us which made him feel good. I certainly appreciated not having to deal with it.