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May 8, 2022 - SACRAMENTO - On Mother’s Day, the Employment Development Department (EDD) is celebrating California’s Paid Family Leave program, which since its inception has delivered more than $12 billion in benefits on almost 4 million claims so Californians can take time off work to bond with a new child, care for an ill family member, or to help during a family member’s military deployment to a foreign country.
“California’s Paid Family Leave program is strengthening families and communities across California and improving lives,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “Paid Family Leave is there for mothers and many other Californians during the moments that matter most—bonding with a new child, caring for an ill family member, or carrying forward during a family member’s military deployment.”
While the most common use of Paid Family Leave has been bonding with a new child (85%), caring for a seriously ill family member and supporting families members during a military deployment to a foreign country have continued to grow.
In 2021 alone, bonding claims filed increased by 18%, and care claims filed rose 23% for females. But one of the biggest barriers to Californians using the PFL program to support their families is simply not knowing it’s there and that covered workers actually pay for these benefits through deductions noted as CASDI on their paystubs.
It’s estimated that only 56% of the state’s population is aware of the benefits this valuable program provides and that their deductions support. This Mother’s Day, the EDD encourages expectant and new mothers, as well as those providing care to family members, to learn more about this essential benefit program by visiting edd.ca.gov/Mothers.
California was the first state to implement a PFL program in 2004. It was expanded in early 2021 to provide financial assistance to military families who can now file for a Military Assist PFL claim. A military assist claim provides wage replacement benefits to eligible Californians who need time off work as a result of a family member’s (spouse, registered domestic partner, parent, or child) active military deployment to a foreign country.
A qualifying event for PFL benefits can include taking time off to attend an event or manage an essential need such as making childcare or parental care arrangements, attending military sponsored events, or making legal or financial arrangements.
If eligible, Californians can receive payment for up to eight weeks in the course of their claim. PFL benefit payments provide approximately 60 to 70 percent of the weekly wages earned in the 5 to 18 month period before the start date of their claim.
Source: CA. EDD
