June 16, 2019 - SACRAMENTO – In recognition of Father’s Day, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) highlights California’s Paid Family Leave program, which provides financial benefits to fathers and mothers while they take time off from work to bond with their new child. Paid Family Leave benefits offer up to six weeks of a portion of income for parents of a new child either by birth, adoption or foster care placement.

The EDD encourages new fathers and mothers to learn more about this benefit program, access helpful resources and view a video featuring two fathers who adopted a new baby and used Paid Family Leave to supplement their income while taking time away from work to bond with their new little girl.

“California’s Paid Family Leave benefits can make it financially possible for fathers to bond with their newest family member,” said EDD Director Patrick W. Henning. “Paid Family Leave bonding claims for fathers dramatically increased over the past decade, and we encourage even more new and expectant fathers to use this helpful benefit.”

Fathers using California’s Paid Family Leave program:

• Fathers accounted for 38% of all Paid Family Leave bonding claims in 2018, up from 26% of bonding claims in 2010.

• The total number of men filing claims for bonding has steadily increased from 46,541 in 2010 to 93,775 in 2018.

• Since 2004, the EDD has processed more than 767,000 claims by California fathers to help them be there with their new children.

California Paid Family Leave program at a glance:

• California became the first state in the nation to create a Paid Family Leave program when the state law was enacted in 2004.

• Approximately 18.7 million workers are covered by the program in California, which is funded through employee payroll deductions.

• In addition to bonding with a child, eligible individuals may also use program benefits when caring for a seriously ill family member.

• Most employees have already paid for the program benefits through mandatory State Disability Insurance paycheck deductions noted as “CASDI” on most paystubs.

• Benefit payments range from $50 to a maximum of $1,252 per week. The EDD offers an online benefit calculator to provide workers with an estimate of their potential weekly benefits.

• Eligible employees may receive up to six weeks of partial wage replacement benefits – up to 70% of their wages, depending on income – to bond with a new child, including a newly-fostered or adopted child, during the child’s first year in the family. The Governor’s revised budget plan includes two additional weeks of paid leave beginning in July 2020.

• The leave can be used all at once, staggered or split up as needed, over a 12- month period.

• More information about California Paid Family Leave benefits, eligibility and how to apply is available at californiapaidfamilyleave.com
Source: EDD