Published: May 11, 2026
This Mother’s Day, the Employment Development Department (EDD) is recognizing the strength of mothers and maternal figures across the state — and the growing role Paid Family Leave plays in supporting them.
In 2025, California reached a major milestone by receiving more than 482,000 Paid Family Leave applications, the highest in program history.
Of those, over 199,000 claims came from women specifically for bonding with a new child. Many were like Asma, transitioning from a pregnancy-related disability claim into bonding with their newborns using Paid Family Leave.
These numbers reflect something simple but powerful: more Californians are turning to Paid Family Leave when their families need them the most.
More Than a Program, A Support System
For Asma, the impact of Paid Family Leave went beyond numbers or forms.
It showed up in everyday moments: feeding her baby without watching the clock, resting when she needed it, and learning how to be a parent (again, baby #2!) without the added pressure of rushing back to work.
“I didn’t realize how much I needed that time until I had it,” she said. “It changed everything about how I experienced those first weeks.”
Stories like hers are why the program exists, and why it continues to grow.
Meet Asma, a California mom who received disability and Paid Family benefits last year when she welcomed her second daughter.
Support for Life’s Most Important Moments
The Paid Family Leave program is the first of its kind in the nation. It provides up to eight weeks of partial pay for eligible workers who need time off to:
- Bond with a new child (birth, foster, or adoption)
- Care for a seriously ill family member
- Support a military family member deployed abroad
For families, that time makes a real difference.
It means parents (including foster and adoptive) can be present when their family gets a little bigger. It means families can support loved ones during serious illness without losing their entire paycheck.
Since the program launched in 2004, EDD has paid more than $19 billion in benefits, supporting millions of Californians during some of life’s most important moments. Nearly 4.9 million claims have been processed, and about 88% received program support to bond with their new child.
Making It Easier to Access Support
Behind every claim is a real person trying to balance work, family, and financial stability. That’s why we have focused on making Paid Family Leave easier to apply for and manage online.
In 2025, a major improvement brought Paid Family Leave into the same online system used for disability benefits. Now, customers can use myEDD to:
- Check claim status anytime
- View payment history
- Manage certifications
- Track benefit details in one place
Before this change, customers often had to rely on phone calls or mailed updates. Now, information is available anytime, anywhere, on a phone, tablet, or computer.
We have also expanded support tools, including:
- An enhanced virtual assistant (chatbot) supporting customers 24/7 in California’s top eight spoken languages.
- A major upgrade to our disability and Paid Family Leave contact centers. We replaced our technology with Amazon Connect, a modern, cloud-based platform designed to transform the way we serve our customers by phone.
These updates are part of a broader effort to make the program experience simpler, faster, and more accessible for all Californians.
How the Program Works
Paid Family Leave is funded through a payroll deduction (shown as “CASDI” on paychecks). It is designed to support eligible Californians when they need to take time off from work temporarily. Here are a few key things to know:
- Benefits can be used all at once or spread out over 12 months.
- Pregnant workers may receive up to 4 weeks of disability benefits before their due date, then transition into Paid Family Leave.
- Fathers, partners, adoptive parents, and foster parents may also qualify for bonding benefits.
- Benefits can equal up to 90% of regular pay depending on income.
Supporting California Families When They Need It
As more Californians learn about and use Paid Family Leave, we continue working to improve access, simplify processes, and meet families where they are.
This Mother’s Day, we honor Asma and the countless other moms and maternal figures across California who are navigating new beginnings, caring for loved ones, and being there for the moments that matter most.
Because when we support mothers, we help make room for the magic that builds stronger families and communities.
