The California Paid Family Leave Insurance Program created legislation that allows employees time off to provide care for parents, children, spouses, and domestic partners or to bond with a new child. It covers all employees who are covered by State Disability Insurance (SDI) or a voluntary plan in lieu of SDI. It offers up to 6 weeks of benefits in a 12-month period and provides benefits of approximately 55% of lost wages. The plan is administered by the Employment Development Department.

Benefits

Paid Family Leave benefits are based on past quarterly earnings and range from a minimum of $50 to a maximum of $987 per week (in 2010) for up to six weeks.

Qualifications

To qualify for Paid Family Leave compensation, you must meet the following requirements:

  Be covered by SDI (or a voluntary plan in lieu of SDI) and have earned at least $300 from which deductions were withheld;

 Complete your claim forms accurately, completely truthfully, and timely;

 Supply medical information that supports your claim that the care recipient is in need of your care;

 Provide documentation to support a claim for bonding with a new child;

 Use up to two weeks of any earned but unused vacation leave if required by your employer;

 Serve a 7-day unpaid waiting before benefits begin.

Paid Family Leave does not provide job protection or return rights. Your job may be protected if your employer is subject to the federal Family Medical Leave Act, the California Family Rights Act, or California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave law. You must notify your employer of your reason for taking leave in a manner consistent with your company’s leave policy.

You may not be eligible for benefits if:

 You receive State Disability Insurance, Unemployment Compensation Insurance, or Workers’ Compensation;

 You are not working or looking for work at the time you begin your family leave;

 You are not suffering a loss of wages;

 The need for care is not supported by the certificate of a treating physician or practitioner;

 You are in custody due to conviction of a crime.

For more information

 Web: www.edd.ca.gov

 English: 1-877-BE-THERE (238-4373)

 Español: 1-877-379-3819