This Mother’s Day, EDD Highlights the Great Benefits of California’s Paid Family Leave Program

NR No. 25-19
Contact: Loree Levy/Greg Lawson
916-654-9029
mediainquiries@edd.ca.gov

What You Need to Know: As we celebrate moms this Mother’s Day, the Employment Development Department reminds Californians of the valuable financial assistance available through the State’s first-in-the-nation Paid Family Leave program. We encourage workers to visit Paid Family Leave for Mothers to learn more, including a video of one mother’s story of her daughter’s support when she needed it most.

SACRAMENTO — Mothers make memories that last forever. This Mother’s Day, the Employment Development Department (EDD) is honoring moms and maternal figures throughout California by highlighting the benefits of California’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) program. Over 20 years ago, California introduced this innovative program allowing eligible workers to receive benefit payments for up to eight weeks for bonding with a new baby or foster/adopted child, caring for an ill family member, or supporting a military family member while they serve our country abroad.

“Paid Family Leave helps California workers to prioritize their families and be there for those moments that matter most,” says EDD Director Nancy Farias.

Since California launched the first-in-the-nation PFL program in 2004, EDD has paid over $17 billion in benefits to workers to cover loss of wages when they need time away to support their families. EDD has processed millions of claims as the PFL program has expanded more than 566 percent since the program’s inception.

PFL benefits are most-commonly used by parents when bonding with a new child— overall bonding claims have more than tripled since the PFL program began. PFL claims have also increased for individuals caring for seriously ill family members, and eligibility has expanded to support family members during a military deployment abroad.

For new claims in 2025, California boosted Paid Family Leave and Disability Insurance benefits up to 90 percent of regular pay for many workers — a landmark increase that makes it much easier for Californians to take time off to care for loved ones.

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 up to four weeks of disability benefits for a normal pregnancy before their expected due date and then transition to PFL for bonding time.
• Fathers can also be eligible for PFL benefits.
• Parents welcoming children through adoption or foster care may qualify as well.
• EDD offers an online calculator to help workers estimate their potential benefit amount.