NR No. 24-17
Contact: Loree Levy/Aubrey Henry
916-654-9029
mediainquiries@edd.ca.gov
What You Need to Know: As we celebrate moms this Mother’s Day, the Employment Development Department wants Californians to be well aware of the valuable financial support offered by the State’s first-of-its-kind Paid Family Leave program when they need to take much-needed time off to care for loved ones. Workers are encouraged to visit our Paid Family Leave for mother’s page on the EDD website to learn more.
SACRAMENTO – This Mother’s Day, the Employment Development Department (EDD) honors mothers and maternal figures across California by highlighting the State’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) program, the first of its kind in the nation. If eligible, individuals can receive benefit payments for up to eight weeks to bond with a baby or foster/adopted child, care for an ill family member, or support a military family member, while they serve our country.
“California’s Paid Family Leave helps individuals prioritize family at crucial times in their lives,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “Mother’s Day is a perfect opportunity to show our gratitude and highlight resources like Paid Family Leave that make it financially possible to be there for those moments that matter most to families.”
EDD’s first-of-a-kind PFL program is celebrating its 20th year anniversary on July 1, 2024. Since its launch, thirteen other states, including the District of Columbia, have adopted similar PFL laws.
This monumental program has paid over $16 billion in benefits to workers to help cover the loss of wages when they take time away from work for important family matters. EDD has processed more than 4.6 million claims over the last 20 years.
PFL benefits are most-commonly used by parents when bonding with a new child with overall claims increasing by about 160% since the PFL program began. PFL claims have also grown for people caring for a seriously ill family member, and eligibility has expanded to include supporting family members during a military deployment to a foreign country.
California’s Paid Family Leave Program at a Glance:
- Workers covered by the program pay for benefits through a deduction noted as “CASDI” on their paystubs.
- PFL benefits can be used all at once or be split up over a 12-month period.
- Pregnant mothers can receive as many as four weeks of disability benefits for a normal pregnancy before their expected due date, and then transition to PFL benefits for bonding time.
- Fathers can also be eligible for bonding benefits through PFL.
- Parents welcoming a child through adoption or foster care placement can qualify as well.
- EDD offers an online calculator to help workers estimate their potential weekly benefit amount.
This Mother’s Day, EDD encourages expectant and new mothers as well as those providing care to family members, to learn more about this essential benefit program. Please visit “Paid Family Leave for mothers.”