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California Paid Family Leave for caregivers: pay while you care for someone
How California Paid Family Leave works when a family member is seriously ill: up to 8 weeks of partial pay, who counts as family, the doctor’s certification, filing within 41 days, and why job protection is a separate law.
Listen to this note
When a parent or spouse is seriously ill, many Californians need time away from work to care for them. Paid Family Leave can replace part of your pay while you do. It doesn’t protect your job by itself, so this note also points to the law that can.
What it pays
Paid Family Leave provides up to 8 weeks of partially paid leave in a 12-month period, and you can take it in pieces.1 Most people receive about 60 to 70 percent of their pay.1 There’s no waiting period; benefits can start on the first day of leave.1
Who counts as family
You can care for a child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse or registered domestic partner, including one who lives outside California.1
The medical certification
The care recipient’s licensed health professional completes a certification with the diagnosis, how long care is expected to be needed, and their license number and signature.1 If HealthView is caring for your loved one, ask us which clinician can help with it.
How to file
File within 41 days of the date your leave begins.1 Filing online through SDI Online is strongly recommended because it speeds up the review; you can also file by mail.1
It doesn’t hold your job
Paid Family Leave pays benefits but doesn’t provide job protection.1 Job-protected leave comes from other laws, such as the California Family Rights Act and the federal FMLA, so talk with your employer.1
Questions families ask
How many weeks can I take?
Up to 8 weeks of partially paid leave in a 12-month period.1
How much is the pay?
About 60 to 70 percent of your pay for most people.1
Does it protect my job?
No. Job protection comes from other laws such as the California Family Rights Act.1
Sources
Sources 1 reference
- California Employment Development Department, “Paid Family Leave: Overview for Physicians and Practitioners,” August 2026. edd.ca.gov (opens in a new tab)
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