Guide to California EDD State Benefits (SDI & PFL)
If you live and work in California, you may be eligible for state-paid benefits through the California Employment Development Department (EDD) while on leave.
Depending on your situation, you may receive:
- State Disability Insurance (SDI/CASDI) for your own medical condition, pregnancy, or recovery from childbirth
- Paid Family Leave (PFL) to bond with a new child or care for a qualifying family member
Your Matrix Case Manager will guide you through the process, but it is ultimately your responsibility to file and manage your California state benefit claims.
Important: California PFL and SDI provide income replacement, not job protection. Job protection may be provided through other leave laws depending on your situation.
Before You Start Leave
Create Your EDD Account
We recommend creating your EDD account as soon as possible, even if you are not yet ready to file a claim.
- Visit: myEDD.edd.ca.gov
- Create a myEDD account and confirm account via email
- Log in to your myEDD account; set up security questions and login verification
- Click SDI Online as a claimant. You will be directed to your SDI Online Registration Options. Follow the instructions given.
- Complete the identity verification process through ID.me to finish setting up a new SDI Online account
- Fill out the requested information to complete your SDI Online account registration.
- You will be assigned an EDD Customer Account Number once you complete the registration process
California State Disability Insurance (SDI/CASDI)
Apply for SDI if you are taking leave because of:
- Your own serious health condition
- Pregnancy & recovery from childbirth
Important: File on your first day out of work or as soon as possible after your leave begins. Filing too early may result in your claim being rejected.
How to Apply for State Disability Insurance
Step 1: File Your Disability Claim
Login to your myEDD and select SDI Online:
- Select New Claim; choose Disability Insurance
- Complete and submit Part A of the application
- Save your form receipt number. You must provide this number to your doctor
Step 2: Talk to Your Doctor
Request medical certification from your provider.
- Provide your from receipt number to your doctor to complete the medical certification online
- Your doctor will find your claim in SDI Online using your form receipt number
- It is your responsibility to ensure your doctor completes this medical certification step within 49 days
For pregnancy leaves, this is often completed:
- Approximately 4 weeks before your due date
- Earlier if your provider places you on disability before that
Step 3: Monitor Your Claim
EDD will generally make a determination within approximately 14 days after receiving all required documentation. You can monitor your claim at myEDD or call 1-800-480-3287 if you don't get any updates after 14 days.
California Paid Family Leave (PFL)
Apply for PFL if you are taking leave to:
- Bond with a new child (birth, adoption, or foster placement)
- Care for a seriously ill family member
Important: File on your first day out of work or as soon as possible after your leave begins. Filing too early may result in your claim being rejected.
How to Apply for Bonding Leave for Birthing Parent
After your pregnancy disability period ends:
- Your SDI claim will end
- EDD will transition you to the bonding leave process
- EDD will send a Paid Family Leave claim form
If you filed online: The form will appear in your SDI Online account
If you filed by mail: The form will be mailed to your home
If you do not receive the form within 7–10 days of your disability claim ending log in to myEDD or contact EDD directly 1-877-238-4373
Your disability claim is based on the recovery period certified by your doctor. If your recovery timeline changes, work with your provider to update your certification with EDD as soon as possible. Failure to update your certification may delay benefit payments.
How to Apply for Bonding Leave for Non-Birthing Parent
- Login to your myEDD and select SDI Online:
- Select New Claim & Choose Paid Family Leave Bonding
- Complete the application
- Upload supporting documentation:
- Birth certificate, or
- Adoption/foster placement paperwork
How to Apply for Family Care Leave
You may be eligible for PFL payments if you need time away from work to care for a seriously ill family member.
Eligible Family Members Include
Child | Grandchild | Spouse |
Parent | Grandparent | Registered Domestic Partner |
Parent-in-law | Sibling |
How to Apply
- Login to your myEDD and select SDI Online:
- Select New Claim and Choose Paid Family Leave Care
- Indicate that you are caring for a family member
- Complete the application
- Have the family member's healthcare provider complete the required medical certification
Your claim cannot be approved until all required documentation and medical certification are received by EDD. Be sure to coordinate with the healthcare provider and monitor your SDI Online account for requests or updates.
Filing Timeline
Task | Timeline |
First day to file | Disability: wait 9 days after leave begins to file Family Care/Bonding: first day of leave |
Last day to file | Up to 41 days after leave begins |
EDD decision window | Approximately 14 days after all documentation is received |
Bonding leave eligibility window | Within 12 months of child's arrival |
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 through Thursdays are usually less busy than Mondays or Fridays.
- Avoid calling right at lunch hours (12–1 PM), as this is a popular call time.
- 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 myEDD account:
- File claims
- Upload documents
- Check claim status
- Send secure messages (you can request a callback this way too)
Additional 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