Guru's Verification engine ensures consistency, confidence, and trust in the knowledge your organization shares. Learn more.

Filing for California Paid Family Leave (CA PFL)

Screenshot_2024-09-23_at_12.02.14aPM.pngFor CA based employees seeking a bonding leave or are transitioning from a pregnancy disability leave to bonding, you may be eligible for CA Paid Family Leave benefits. This serves as an overview to guide employees through the EDD filing process.

If this is for a Maternity leave, once your pregnancy disability ends, you will transition your leave to paid bonding leave. You will be required to provide the state with additional information to be transitioned over to (CA PFL) Paid Family Leave. Please review the steps below.

California Paid Family Leave (CA PFL)

IMPORTANT: If you are taking a paid parental Bonding Leave or as a birthing parent after your pregnancy disability ends, you will file for or transition to CA PFL.

How to Apply for PFL for birthing parents

  1. Ensure your medical certification is up to date and current with EDD
    • Your disability claim for CASDI/SDI is based on your medical certification's estimated recovery end date.
    • If your recovery timeline changes at any point, make sure you coordinate with your doctor to provide updated medical certification to the EDD.
      • NOTE: If you do not provide EDD with up to date accurate medical certification, you may experience delays in your leave pay.
    • Once the certified disability period ends, EDD will automatically send you the PFL bonding claim form.
      • If you used SDI Online, the form will appear in your account
      • If you filed by mail, EDD will send it to your mailing address
        • If you don’t receive it within 7–10 days of your disability claim ending, log in to SDI Online or call EDD to request it.

How to Apply for PFL for (non birthing parents)

  1. Register an EDD account
    • Visit edd.ca.gov/BPO
    • Register your email, set password/security questions, verify via email
    • Select SDI Online → register as claimant
  2. Wait until baby is born to file PFL claim
    • Login to SDI Online: Click "New Claim" → select "Paid Family Leave"
    • Complete your application and upload child's birth certificate OR adoption/foster placement papers
    • Note: New moms coming off SDI don’t need to re-submit birth proof
  3. Submit and Monitor
    • Submit and save your confirmation number
    • Check your claim status through your SDI Online dashboard

timeline

Task

Timeline

First day to file

9 days after leave begins

Last day to file

41 days after leave starts

PFL bonding window

Within 12 months of child’s arrival

EDD decision window

14 days after documents are complete

tips for contacting edd

  • Call first thing in the morning: Try calling right at 8:00 AM, as soon as the phone lines open.
  • Mid-week is best: Tuesdays - Thursdays are usually less busy than Mondays or Fridays.
  • Avoid calling right during lunch hours (12–1 PM)
  • Based on call volume, you may be offered the option to schedule a "callback". This is only offered based on call volume to EDD. If the wait is too long, this is an option for you to opt into a call back at a later time.

You can skip the phones for a lot of tasks through your EDD account:

    • File claims
    • Upload documents
    • Check claim status
    • Send secure messages (you can request a callback this way too)

image.pngAdditional Resources

  • Reliance Matrix: (877) 202-0055
    • Your absence case manger is best to start with for any questions you may have about your leave, leave pay, eligibility, etc.
  • CA Disability Insurance: 1-800-480-3287
    • Contact for any CASDI or SDI claims
  • CA Paid Family Leave: 1-877-238-4373
    • Contact for CA PFL claims

You must have Author or Collection Owner permission to create Guru Cards. Contact your team's Guru admins to use this template.