Paid Family Leave for Caregivers

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.