Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides benefit payments to people who need to take time off work to:
If eligible, you can receive benefit payments for up to eight weeks. Payments are about 60 to 70 percent of your weekly wages earned 5 to 18 months before your claim start date. For more information about what may affect your benefit payments visit:
You will choose your benefit payment option when you file your claim:
PFL provides benefit payments but not job protection. Your job may be protected by other laws, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act.
You can apply for PFL online or by mail. We recommend that you apply online.
For people who are pregnant or new mothers who recently gave birth.
For new biological fathers.
For new parents, either through adoption or foster care.
For those providing care to a seriously ill family member.
For those participating in a qualifying event due to a family member’s military deployment to a foreign country.
For physicians or practitioners looking for information about certifying claims, claim processing, and more.
For employers looking for information about PFL, Disability Insurance, voluntary plans, and more.
For self-employed individuals or independent contractors looking for information about PFL, Disability Insurance, voluntary plans, and more.
For employers and employees looking for information about voluntary plans, including security deposit requirements, online services, and eligibility requirements.
Learn more about how the nation’s first PFL program has grown in 20 years of supporting Californians being there for the moments that matter most in their families.
“I have taken Paid Family Leave three times. The resources are easy to navigate, and with each child, the program gave me time to focus on my family. ”
– Stephany Valdez
Paid Family Leave recipient
“It is difficult to explain how meaningful and important the bonding time was for me and my family. The PFL program made it so that we did not have to think about anything other than being a family, which was life changing. ”
– Kari Pfannenstein
Paid Family Leave recipient
“ Thanks to the Paid Family Leave program, whether it was mom or dad, our daughter was able to have her caretaker be a parent for the first months of her life. That gave us peace of mind, especially during the pandemic.”
– Brett McCarty
Paid Family Leave recipient
Community partners play a valuable role assisting people who need Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits. We’ve created this toolkit with information and materials about PFL to share with your members, clients, customers, and community.
Can’t find what you are looking for? View these resources for more information:
Policy makers, program administrators, and stakeholders can view the Overview of California’s Paid Family Leave Program (DE 2530) (PDF). It provides information about the program’s financing structure, eligibility requirements, demographic and program statistics, state operations, and legislative history.
