Key takeaways
- Paid Family Leave pays up to 8 weeks of benefits in a 12-month period, at about 70% to 90% of your wages ($50 to $1,765 a week in 2026).
- It covers bonding with a new child, caring for a seriously ill family member, and Military Assist.
- PFL pays benefits but doesn't protect your job. Job protection comes from laws like CFRA or FMLA.
Paid Family Leave (PFL) is part of California's State Disability Insurance program. It replaces part of your wages while you take time off to care for or bond with family. It's funded through the SDI deduction on workers' paychecks.
What PFL covers
You can claim PFL to:
- bond with a new child, whether by birth, adoption or foster placement, within the first year;
- care for a seriously ill family member; or
- Military Assist: handle certain needs when a family member is being deployed to a foreign country.
Who counts as family for a care claim
EDD lists these family members for caregiving claims:
- child, parent or parent-in-law;
- grandparent or grandchild;
- sibling; and
- spouse or registered domestic partner.
More than one person can care for the same relative, but EDD says you're only paid for the time you're the primary caregiver.
Basic eligibility
You must have earned at least $300 in wages with State Disability Insurance deducted during your base period, about 5 to 18 months before your claim starts. SDI deductions usually show as "CASDI" on your pay stub. You can apply while working part-time if you've lost wages and meet the other requirements.
How much and how long
| Paid Family Leave | 2026 claims |
|---|---|
| Benefit | About 70% to 90% of your wages, depending on income |
| Weekly range | $50 to $1,765 |
| Maximum length | Up to 8 weeks in a 12-month period |
| Waiting period | None. It was removed in 2018 |
Lower earners receive the higher percentage, under changes that took effect for claims starting in 2025.
How to apply
- Apply through SDI Online at edd.ca.gov, or with a paper claim form.
- Apply no earlier than the first day of your leave and no later than 41 days after your leave begins.
- Depending on the type of claim, you'll need supporting documents: a birth certificate or adoption or foster placement records for bonding, or a medical certification from the care recipient's health provider for caregiving.
You can take PFL all at once or in separate blocks (for example, a day a week), as long as the total stays within your 8 weeks.
PFL pays you; it doesn't protect your job
EDD is clear that PFL provides benefit payments but not job protection. Whether your employer must hold your job depends on other laws:
- the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) covers employers with five or more employees and offers up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 12-month period. To be eligible, you generally need more than 12 months of service with the employer and at least 1,250 hours worked for them in the 12 months before your leave;
- the federal FMLA covers larger employers; and
- separate pregnancy disability leave rules apply during pregnancy recovery.
Talk to your employer or HR early, and check whether you're covered by one of these laws before you take leave.
PFL after a pregnancy
Birth parents often claim disability benefits first, for pregnancy and recovery (see SDI), then move to PFL for bonding. EDD can transition your claim, and the bonding weeks count toward your 8 weeks.
Checklist: before you start your leave
- Tell your employer early. Under CFRA, an employer may require 30 days' advance notice when the need for leave is foreseeable. If it isn't, give notice as soon as you can.
- Check your job protection. Find out whether CFRA, FMLA or pregnancy disability leave covers you.
- Gather your documents: a birth certificate or adoption or foster placement records for bonding, or the care recipient's medical certification for caregiving.
- Plan your weeks. Decide whether to take all 8 weeks at once or in blocks.
- Mark your deadline. Apply no earlier than your first day of leave and no later than 41 days after it begins.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paid Family Leave paid at 100% in California?
No. PFL pays about 70% to 90% of your wages, depending on your income, with a weekly range of $50 to $1,765 for 2026 claims. Lower earners get the higher percentage.
How many weeks of Paid Family Leave can I get in California?
Up to 8 weeks in a 12-month period. You can take them all at once or in separate blocks, such as a day a week.
Does Paid Family Leave protect my job?
No, not by itself. PFL pays benefits, but job protection comes from other laws such as CFRA, which covers employers with five or more employees, or the federal FMLA.
When should I apply for Paid Family Leave?
Apply no earlier than the first day of your leave and no later than 41 days after it begins. For bonding, you must take PFL within the first year after the child's birth, adoption or foster placement.
Can I get Paid Family Leave and unemployment at the same time?
No. EDD says you can't receive both at the same time. If you quit to care for a family member, apply for PFL first. After your final PFL payment, you can apply for unemployment if you meet the requirements.
Is there a waiting period for Paid Family Leave?
No. The PFL waiting period was removed in 2018. State Disability Insurance still has a seven-day unpaid waiting period.
Who pays for Paid Family Leave?
Workers do, through the SDI deduction on their paychecks. In 2026 the rate is 1.3%, with no wage cap. Our payroll tax guide explains the withholding.
Sources
We use primary sources: statutes, court rules, official forms and government pages. Read our editorial standards.