You may be eligible for paid leave during your pregnancy and following birth. We get asked about this often, and you may be wondering as well.
One of the common questions we ask our working clients is whether or not they have any concerns about their current job and their potential pregnancy. We ask this question because we know that potential parents are often wondering how a pregnancy will impact their lives financially and vocationally. We want our clients to know that there are resources that can help them navigate through this new season in their lives. One resource to consider is the State of California Employment Development Department’s Paid Family Leave.
Did you know that as a pregnant or new mom, the State of California Employment Development Department states that you can receive up to four weeks of Disability Insurance (DI) benefits for a normal pregnancy before your expected due date? In addition, you can also receive up to six weeks or eight weeks of DI benefits after your delivery to recover from childbirth.
To be eligible for California Paid Family Leave benefits, you must:
×Have welcomed a new child into the family in the past 12 months either through a partner’s pregnancy, adoption, or foster care.
×Have paid into State Disability Insurance (noted as “CASDI” on paystubs) in the past 5 to 18 months.
×Not have taken the maximum six weeks of PFL in the past 12 months.
Fun fact: You can break up your six weeks of leave. You don’t have to take it all at once!
Click here to learn more about eligibility requirements for California Paid Family Leave benefits.
The next step after checking your eligibility is to file a claim. You can file a claim online (the fastest option) or by mail.
For more information about California Paid Family Leave, please visit the State of California Employment Development Department website here.
As always, we are here to help you learn about the resources that are provided to you during this unique time in your life. Please feel free to ask us any questions the next time you come in for your appointment or give us a call at 818-626-9400.