
Paid Family Leave for Caregivers
If you’ve recently become a caregiver for a family member with a serious health condition, learn more about Paid Family Leave (PFL) care benefits.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible family members are your:
- Child
- Parent
- Parent-in-law
- Grandparent
- Grandchild
- Sibling
- Spouse
- Registered domestic partner
You may qualify for PFL care benefits if you:
- Need to care for a family member with a serious health condition.
- Lose wages because you need family leave.
- Are working or looking for work when your family leave begins.
- Work in California and paid into State Disability Insurance in the past 5 to 18 months. On most paystubs, this is listed CASDI.
- Submit all required documents, including a medical certification.
If you had a PFL claim within the last 12 months, you must have leave credits remaining from your 8 weeks of PFL.
For example, you are approved for a PFL bonding claim and only use 4 weeks of the 8 weeks available for that 12-month period. You return to work, but a week later, your family member becomes ill. You would still have four weeks available to use for a care claim.
Note: More than one person can be a caregiver, but you will only get benefit payments for the time that you are the primary caregiver.
Visit Eligibility Requirements to learn more about qualifying for PFL.
Important: Citizenship and immigration status do not affect eligibility.
What Health Conditions Qualify for Care Benefits?
A serious health condition includes:
- Illness.
- Injury.
- Impairment.
- Physical condition.
- Mental condition.
These conditions could involve:
- Inpatient care at a hospital, hospice, residential medical facility, or at home.
- Being unable to work, attend school, or perform daily activities.
- Continuing treatment by a physician or practitioner connected to inpatient care.
Conditions not considered serious health conditions (unless complications arise):
- Cosmetic treatments
- Common cold, influenza, or earaches.
- Upset stomach or minor ulcers.
How do I Apply for Benefits?
To apply for benefits:
- Complete and sign Part A – Statement of Claimant.
- Submit Part C of the application, signed by the care recipient or the legal representative.
- Provide a completed, signed Part D medical certificate from the family member’s medical provider. It must establish a serious health condition and a need for care.
- Meet all other eligibility requirements.
Out-of-State or Out-of-Country Family Care
You can apply for benefits to care for a family member with a serious health condition who lives outside California or in another country.
- The care recipient’s physician/practitioner must certify a need for care.
- The out-of-state or out-of-country physician/practitioner must have a valid medical license. We will verify the license with their local medical license board.
You must still meet all other eligibility requirements to receive benefits.
Apply for PFL
If you think you’re eligible for PFL, file a claim.
Manage Your Claim
If you already filed a PFL claim, learn how to manage it.
- Stop or Continue Benefits
- Report Wages
- SDI Self-Service Options
- Automated Phone Information System
- Online Tutorials