The typical Californian that needs to get off work for a time to take care of a family member can get Paid Family Leave (PFL) to make sure there is enough family income during the time off. The state has a generous insurance plan.

Being able to take care of family and still have enough money is a choice for a home rule Californians appreciate.

The Chosen Leave Begins

Families first heard the good news in California in 2002, when the Senate passed a bill to add time off work to take care of a seriously ill family member and time off to bond with a new child to the disability compensation plan. Workers' contributions to the State Disability Insurance (SDI) fund that pays for family leave began on July 1, 2004. California's workers still contribute their payroll taxes to the leave fund. The tax rate depends on how much funding is needed for state disability and family leave.. 

Opportunity to Get Paid Leave

Workers can count on taking up to six weeks of leave during 12 months, at any time they choose. The insurance covers them the whole twelve months. Any days they chose to get paid they can get paid family leave benefits. And, the days do not have to come all at once. They can come at any time, with any number of days without paid leave in between. The main rule is that, at the end of leave, the paid leave days add up to 6 weeks or less.

The first seven days are a waiting period. No benefits are paid during this time. Employers can ask that their employee take as many as two weeks of paid vacation or other paid time off (PTO) before they start using paid family leave for income. The first week is paid for the waiting period.

Parents that take time off to bond with a new child have one year after a birth, an adoption, or a foster care placemet to take the paid family leave.

Californians that have to be the caregiver are eligible to get benefits. When a spouse, parent or child with a serious illness counts on the worker to give them care, the worker might be eligible. On any leave day, workers just have to be the only family member available to take care of them. If another family member can give the care on a day, paid leave is not insured. The insurance also guarantees that newborn children, adopted children and foster children can get care from a worker paid during their time off. On days the worker is the one needed.

Caregivers that plan on using the 12 weeks of unpaid leave guaranteed by the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) or the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) take their paid leave during those 12 weeks.

Voluntary Plans

There is no loss in paid leave opportunities when an employer uses a voluntary plan for disability insurance instead of SDI. The voluntary plans have to cover paid family leave. It is state law.

Medical Certificates

There can be no doubt a family member needs the care. A doctor or medical professional has to sign a medical certificate that states the family member's health diagnosis on their serious illness and a prognosis for how long it will last. They have to state on the certificate the family member depends on care.

The Employment Development Department

Staff at the California Employment Development Department (EDD) sign off on workers' PFL claims. The department started taking claims on July 1, 2004. Claims are handled by the staff that work in the Disability Insurance branch.

Save Some for Taxes

Tax is not avoided. Count off a percentage for the federal income tax. The Internal Revenue Service gets reports on the family leave payments. California, however, does not take any leave income away. Paid family leave is not taxed.

Secure Income

Californians are to have their day for family. Caregivers are not among the have nots.

Source:

California Employment Development Department, Paid Family Leave Fact Sheet (December 2009).