Taking time off work for family or medical reasons has become more feasible thanks to the Paid Family Leave (PFL) program in California. The program, which is also known as Family Temporary Disability Insurance, offers wage replacement benefits to eligible workers who need to take time off to care for a seriously ill family member or newly born child.

PFL is managed by the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. You should know how to contact SDI to understand how the benefits work, and what eligibility requirements exist. PFL benefits generally last up to six weeks within a 12-month period. The start date of the 12-month period is the first day you receive PFL benefits.

In order to be eligible for PFL, you must be an employee who has contributed to the SDI program in the past. It’s important to remember that PFL does not provide job protection or return rights. Job protection is only provided under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA).

The process of applying for PFL includes completing a claim form and submitting it to the Employment Development Department (EDD) within the first 49 days of the date you start your leave. The department also generally requires documentation from a medical doctor or practitioner certifying the need for leave, except in the case of bonding with a new child.

If you have questions regarding your PFL application or benefits, you may find it difficult to reach a live person at EDD or SDI. Consider visiting eddcaller.com to find useful tips and guides on how to contact SDI, how to speak to a live person EDD in California, or how to navigate the phone system to get a hold of PFL.