FAQs - Paid Family Leave Eligibility

Yes. Where you live doesn’t affect eligibility. You may still be eligible if:

• Your job is based in California.
• You pay into State Disability Insurance (listed as CASDI on your paystub).
• You meet all other eligibility requirements.

Yes. You can apply for Paid Family Leave benefits while working part-time. You may be eligible for benefits if you have a wage loss and meet all other eligibility requirements whether you work reduced hours or part-time work less than your regular schedule.

To do this:

• On the Claim for Paid Family Leave Benefits (DE 2501F) form, check “Yes” for question A13.
• For new mothers, on the Claim for Paid Family Leave (PFL) Benefits – New Mother(DE 2501FP) form, check “Yes” for question 6.
• If filing online, check “Yes” to the question “Will you work at any time during your family leave?” Then complete the other questions in Section 7.

Yes. You may qualify to receive Paid Family Leave benefits if you meet eligibility requirements:

• You earned at least $300 in your base period with State Disability Insurance (SDI) deducted from your paycheck.
• You must be attached to the labor market 90 days before the start of your PFL claim.
• You must be working, looking for work, or have an active Unemployment Insurance or Disability Insurance claim before your family leave begins.
• You have a loss of wages because of your family care leave.
• You must provide a medical certification for your family member’s illness or injury. Family members may include:
  • Parent
  • Child
  • Spouse
  • Registered domestic partner
  • Sibling
  • Parent-in-law
  • Grandchild
  • Grandparent
• You submit your claim on time—no later than 41 days from your first day of family leave.

To learn more about eligibility and how to apply, visit Am I Eligible for Paid Family Benefits.

You can’t receive both benefits at the same time. If you quit your job to care for an ill family member, first apply for PFL benefits. After your final PFL payment, you can apply for unemployment benefits if you are still:

• Out of work.
• Ready and available to accept work.
• Eligible for Unemployment Insurance.

To qualify for UI after quitting to provide care for a family member, you must show a compelling reason.

Examples of compelling caregiving responsibilities could include:

• A family member is seriously ill, disabled, or in danger of death.
• You moved to care for a seriously ill or disabled family member making commuting to work impossible or impractical.
• You need to attend a funeral, make final arrangements, or manage final affairs for a deceased family member.
• A family member is elderly and unable to care for themselves.
• Your minor child requires care or supervision, and there is no reasonable alternative.
• There’s a need to preserve family unity.

Taking reasonable steps could be requesting help from your employer to manage both work and caregiving by asking for:

• Leave.
• Accommodation.
• Transfer.

If you asked for one of these options and your employer couldn’t provide it, that shows you tried to save your job before quitting.

For more information about UI claims visit Unemployment Determinations and Eligibility.

The State Disability Insurance (SDI) program and contributions are mandatory under the California Unemployment Insurance Code.

There are two exceptions:

• If your employer or most employees apply for a Voluntary Plan instead of SDI coverage. For more information visit: Voluntary Plan Information.

• If you adhere to the faith or teaching of a bona fide religious sect, denomination, or organization whose creed, tenets, or principles require dependence on prayer for healing you may request an exemption.

Complete and mail the Religious Exemption Certificate (DE 5067) to the address on the form. If you are granted this exemption, you will not be eligible to receive SDI benefits.

We try to process your Paid Family Leave payment within 14 days after we receive your complete claim.

A complete claim includes all:

• Sections filled out.
• Needed signatures.
• Required documents.

A serious health condition means:

• 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.
• Headaches, unless they are migraines.

Yes. A Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant can certify your claim for Paid Family Leave. They may certify all medical conditions within their scope of practice after:

• Performing a physical examination.
• Collaborating with a physician/practitioner.

No, as of January 1, 2025, your employer can’t require you to use sick leave or any other paid time off before you get PFL benefits.

Yes. You can care for a family member outside of California. You must still meet all other eligibility requirements to receive benefits.

The care recipient’s physician/practitioner must certify a need for care.

The out-of-state or out-of-country physicians/practitioners must have a valid medical license. We will verify the license with their local medical license board.

Yes. More than one family member can file a claim to assist for the same event. The two claims must be for different time periods and must not overlap.

More than one family member can't be eligible for benefits at the same time, for the same military member, and the same military event.

Yes. Eligible family members can file Paid Family Leave claims for different qualifying events at the same time.

For Example: The father files a claim to attend the military ceremony, and the mother files a claim to handle childcare during the same time.

Yes. You can file for benefits to assist more than one military family member in active service. This applies to any qualifying event for up to eight weeks during the same 12-month period.

You must provide new military documentation for each military family member you want to assist.

You may be eligible for Paid Family Leave benefits during a school break if:

• You are scheduled to work and can provide proof, such as summer school or tutoring records.
• You have a second job during the school break that is not with your school employer.

You are not eligible for benefits if:

• You are receiving full wages and do not have a wage loss.
• You are on a school break period and do not normally work for extra income by teaching summer school, tutoring or working another job.