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Pregnancy or a new baby in California: what to do first, deadlines, documents, and which benefits open

What to file during pregnancy and after a birth in California: pregnancy Medi-Cal, WIC, and State Disability Insurance or Paid Family Leave within their filing windows (49 and 41 days). Every deadline comes from the agency's own page.

What happens when you are pregnant or have a new baby

A person is pregnant or a child is born. Health coverage, food benefits for the parent and baby, paid leave, and tax credits all open, and paid leave has filing deadlines. This page lists what to file first, the deadlines the agencies state, the documents they name, and the programs the event opens. Each deadline and each rule carries the id of the official page it was read from on 2026-10-09; a rule no official page stated reads UNKNOWN.

First actions, in order
JSONFirst actions, in order
4 items
6 keys
"order"1
"action""Apply for Medi-Cal pregnancy coverage."
"program_id""B011"
"program_slug""california-medi-cal"
"deadline""Any time of year; coverage runs through pregnancy and up to 365 days after."
"source""s_dpss_preg"
6 keys
"order"2
"action""Enroll in WIC."
"program_id""B003"
"program_slug""california-wic"
"deadline""No deadline stated; WIC serves pregnant people and children under 5."
"source""s_wic"
6 keys
"order"3
"action""File State Disability Insurance for pregnancy, or Paid Family Leave to bond with the baby."
"program_id""B028"
"program_slug""california-sdi-paid-family-leave"
"deadline""Disability Insurance: within 49 days of the disability start; Paid Family Leave: no later than 41 days after leave begins."
"source""s_edd_pfl_41"
6 keys
"order"4
"action""Add the baby to CalFresh or apply for CalFresh."
"program_id""B001"
"program_slug""california-calfresh"
"deadline""Benefits are paid back to the filing date."
"source""s_fns_back"

Deadlines that cost money or coverage when missed

ProgramDeadlineDaysCounted fromSource
B028 State Disability Insurance (SDI) + Paid Family LeavePaid Family Leave: file no later than 41 days after the family leave begins.41the first day of family leaves_edd_pfl_41
B028 State Disability Insurance (SDI) + Paid Family LeaveDisability Insurance: file within 49 days of the disability start date.49the disability start dates_edd_di_49
B028 State Disability Insurance (SDI) + Paid Family LeaveDisability Insurance: wait nine days after the disability starts to file.9the disability start dates_edd_di_9
B012 Covered California premium tax credits (APTC)Covered California: a birth opens enrollment, usually for 60 days from the event.60the date of births_coveredca_60
B001 CalFresh (SNAP)CalFresh pays benefits back to the date the application was submitted.the application dates_fns_back

Documents to gather

  • Information about household income and tax filing (B011; s_dpss_preg_income)
  • Medical certification from a licensed health professional for Disability Insurance or Paid Family Leave (B028; s_edd_pfl_cert)

Programs this event opens

References (8)
procedure· 1,139 words
State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (California partial wage replacement for illness, pregnancy and family care): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
State Disability Insurance pays California workers part of their wages while they cannot work because of a non-work illness, injury or pregnancy (up to 52 weeks), and Paid Family Leave pays while they care for a seriously ill family member or bond with a new child (up to 8 weeks). Benefits run $50 to $1,765 a week. Apply to EDD through SDI Online or by mail.
program id
B028
fiscal year
Claims beginning in 2026
apply at
https://myedd.edd.ca.gov
related program ids
["B027","B072","B003","B011","B001","B060","B025","B023"]
procedure· 1,181 words
Medi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage, with dental and vision care, for people whose income is under the limit for their group. This page carries the current income limits, the asset and immigration rules, the dated changes coming in 2027 with their official sources, and the application and renewal steps. Apply at BenefitsCal, through Covered California, or at the county office.
program id
B011
fiscal year
Calendar year 2026 (Medi-Cal income limits)
apply at
https://benefitscal.com
related program ids
["B001","B012","B065","B070","B080","B073","B016","B013","B015","B018","B019","B021","B023"]
procedure· 1,218 words
WIC (Women, Infants & Children) (California food, nutrition and breastfeeding support for pregnancy and children under 5): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
WIC gives pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum people and children under 5 in California monthly foods and a fruit and vegetable benefit on the California WIC Card, with nutrition education and breastfeeding support. Household income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines, or the person must receive Medi-Cal, CalFresh or CalWORKs. You apply by appointment at a local WIC office.
program id
B003
fiscal year
WIC income year 2026-27
apply at
https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/Home/HowCanIGetWIC
related program ids
["B001","B011","B021","B071","B002"]

Official addresses

References (13)
Related pages
Beside
CalFresh (California food benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextWIC (Women, Infants & Children) (California food, nutrition and breastfeeding support for pregnancy and children under 5): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextMedi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextState Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (California partial wage replacement for illness, pregnancy and family care): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextYoung Child Tax Credit (CA) (cash back on the California return for families with a child under 6): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextChild Tax Credit + Additional CTC (the federal tax credit for children under 17): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextHead Start and Early Head Start (free federal early education for children under five from low-income families): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSubsidized child care in California (CalWORKs Stages One, Two and Three and Alternative Payment vouchers): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (16)
  1. Pregnant Persons — Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services“Medi-Cal may provide you with free or low-cost health care coverage during your pregnancy and up to 365 days post-partum.”
  2. California WIC — California Department of Public Health, WIC Division“If you are pregnant or have a child under 5, WIC can help”
  3. How to file a Paid Family Leave claim in SDI Online — California Employment Development Department“File your claim no later than 41 days after your family leave begins to avoid disqualification.”
  4. SNAP Eligibility: benefits from the filing date — USDA Food and Nutrition Service“you will receive benefits back to the date you submitted your application.”
  5. How to file a Disability Insurance claim in SDI Online — California Employment Development Department“File your claim within 49 days of your disability start date to avoid disqualification.”
  6. How to file a Disability Insurance claim in SDI Online: the wait — California Employment Development Department“Wait nine days after your disability starts to file your claim.”
  7. Special Enrollment: When Is It and How It Works — Covered California“You usually have 60 days from the event to act”
  8. Pregnant Persons: income — Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services“You must provide information about your income and”
  9. How to file a Paid Family Leave claim: certification — California Employment Development Department“It is your responsibility to have the physician/practitioner complete and sign the form and submit it to the EDD within 41 days from the date your family leave begins or you may lose benefits.”
  10. CalFresh — Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services“The CalFresh Program (formerly known as Food Stamps) helps low-income households increase their food-buying power to meet their household”
  11. About WIC — California Department of Public Health“earning less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level.”
  12. Am I eligible for Paid Family Leave benefits — California Employment Development Department“If eligible, you can get benefit payments for up to eight weeks.”
  13. Young Child Tax Credit — California Franchise Tax Board“You also must have a qualifying child under 6 years old at the end of the tax year and qualify for CalEITC”
  14. Child Tax Credit — Internal Revenue Service“The Child Tax Credit is worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child.”
  15. Head Start programs and services: Early Head Start — U.S. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start“many also serve expectant families”
  16. CalWORKs: child care after work — Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services“may continue to receive ongoing CalFresh benefits, Medi-Cal coverage, and child care and transportation services.”