Welcome to the Employment Development Department

Eligibility

Basic Eligibility

Employees covered by State Disability Insurance (SDI) are also covered by Paid Family Leave (PFL) insurance. If a Voluntary Plan Insurer provides your company's disability insurance coverage, then it must also provide Paid Family Leave insurance coverage.

An employee may submit a claim for PFL insurance benefits for the following reasons:

  • To care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, or registered domestic partner;
  • To bond with the employee's new child or the new child of the employee's spouse or registered domestic partner; or
  • To bond with a child in connection with the adoption or foster care placement of the child with the employee or the employee's spouse or registered domestic partner.

A serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition of a patient that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility. This includes any period of incapacity (e.g., inability to work, attend school, or perform other regular daily activities) or any subsequent treatment in connection with such inpatient care; or continuing treatment by a physician or practitioner Unless complications arise, cosmetic treatments, the common cold, influenza, earaches, upset stomach, minor ulcers, and headaches other than migraine, are examples of conditions that do not meet the definition of a serious health condition for purposes of Paid Family Leave. For more information, see frequently asked questions.

Ineligibility

You may not be eligible for PFL benefits if you:

  • Are claiming or receiving Unemployment Insurance or Disability Insurance benefits
  • Are receiving workers' compensation benefits at a weekly rate equal to or greater than the PFL rate
  • Fail to have an independent medical examination when requested to do so