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Am I eligible for CA PFL? Paying into SDI, need leave for family care/bonding

Hey everyone, I'm trying to figure out if I'm eligible for Paid Family Leave in California. I've been working here and paying into State Disability Insurance. I'm thinking about taking some time off to care for a family member or maybe for bonding with a new child. Anyone have experience with this? What should I be looking out for?

StarSeeker

Sounds like you should be eligible! As long as you've been paying into SDI, you're on the right track. What kind of leave are you thinking about taking? Caring for family or bonding time?

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Dmitry Volkov

Thanks for the quick reply! I'm leaning towards bonding time, but I'm not 100% sure yet. Do you know if there's a difference in eligibility between the two?

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StarSeeker

Not really a difference in eligibility, but there might be some variations in the paperwork and how long you can take. For bonding, you usually get up to 8 weeks. For caregiving, it depends on the situation. Either way, you're probably good to go!

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Dmitry Volkov

That's super helpful, thanks! I'll look into the specifics for bonding time then. Appreciate the info! šŸ™

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Ava Martinez

I went thru this last year. Make sure you have all your ducks in a row before applying. They can be real sticklers about documentation. Also, heads up, the wait times to talk to someone can be brutal.

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Miguel Ortiz

omg yes the wait times are insane. I spent like 3 hours on hold once šŸ˜«

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Zainab Omar

Pro tip: I found a way to skip the wait times. There's this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls for you, waits on hold, and then connects you when a real person picks up. It costs $20 but saved me hours of frustration. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM

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Connor Murphy

Wait, seriously? That sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?

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Zainab Omar

Yep, it's legit. I was skeptical at first too, but it worked like a charm. Saved me from pulling my hair out on hold music lol

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Yara Sayegh

Idk man, paying to talk to a government agency feels wrong. Shouldn't this be free?

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Zainab Omar

I get where you're coming from, but for me, time is money. I'd rather pay $20 than waste half a day on hold. To each their own tho šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø

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NebulaNova

Just a heads up, make sure you've worked enough hours in the past 5 to 18 months to qualify. I think it's like 300 times the minimum wage in your highest-earning quarter. Double check that tho, my info might be outdated.

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Keisha Williams

Congrats on the new addition to your family! (assuming that's why you're looking into bonding time) šŸŽ‰šŸ‘¶ PFL was a lifesaver for me when I had my little one. Take advantage of it!

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Dmitry Volkov

Thanks so much! Yeah, we're expecting in a few months. It's exciting but also a bit overwhelming. Glad to hear PFL worked well for you!

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Keisha Williams

It's definitely a wild ride! Pro tip: sleep now while you still can šŸ˜“ And don't stress too much about the PFL process. It seems complicated at first but it's not too bad once you get into it.

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Paolo Conti

Here's a comprehensive breakdown of PFL eligibility and benefits in California: ā€¢ Eligibility: You must have earned at least $300 in wages that were subject to SDI deductions during your base period. ā€¢ Reason for leave: Valid reasons include bonding with a new child (birth, adoption, or foster care placement) or caring for a seriously ill family member. ā€¢ Amount of leave: Up to 8 weeks within any 12-month period. ā€¢ Benefit amount: Approximately 60-70% of your highest quarterly earnings during your base period, up to a maximum weekly benefit amount. ā€¢ Application process: You can apply online through the EDD website or by mail. You'll need to provide personal information, employment details, and reason for leave. ā€¢ Waiting period: There's no waiting period for PFL benefits. ā€¢ Job protection: PFL doesn't provide job protection, but your job might be protected under other laws like FMLA or CFRA. Remember to notify your employer and apply for PFL no later than 41 days after you begin your family leave. Also, keep all your documentation organized ā€“ it'll make the process much smoother. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any specific questions.

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Dmitry Volkov

Wow, this is incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for taking the time to write all this out. I'll definitely be referring back to this as I go through the process. šŸ’Æ

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Amina Diallo

This should be pinned or something. Super useful info!

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Oliver Schulz

Quick question - does anyone know if the 60-70% is pre-tax or post-tax? Trying to budget here šŸ˜…

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Paolo Conti

Good question! The PFL benefits are considered taxable income, but taxes aren't automatically withheld. You can request to have federal taxes withheld, but not state taxes. You'll get a 1099-G form at the end of the year for tax purposes.

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Natasha Kuznetsova

ugh dont even get me started on the EDD. what a clown show šŸ¤” good luck OP, youre gonna need it

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AstroAdventurer

Cmon man, no need to be so negative. Yeah, it can be frustrating sometimes but plenty of people get through it just fine.

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Natasha Kuznetsova

just speaking from experience bro. 3 months of back and forth for a simple claim. but hey, maybe OP will have better luck šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø

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Javier Mendoza

Has anyone here applied for PFL for mental health reasons? Like caring for a family member with severe depression? Wondering if that qualifies as a "serious health condition".

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Emma Wilson

I did! It can qualify, but you need pretty solid documentation from a healthcare provider. They'll need to certify that your family member requires care.

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Javier Mendoza

That's really good to know, thanks! Did you have any issues with the application process for this specific reason?

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Emma Wilson

Not really, but make sure the healthcare provider is really clear and detailed in their certification. That's key. Good luck!

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Malik Davis

Anyone else notice that the EDD website is always "down for maintenance" when you actually need to use it? šŸ™„

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Isabella Santos

Ugh, YES. It's like they know exactly when I'm free to deal with this stuff and decide that's the perfect time for "updates" šŸ˜¤

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Ravi Gupta

Pro tip: Try accessing the site early in the morning or late at night. Less traffic usually means fewer issues.

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GalacticGuru

Just wanted to drop in and say don't let all the negativity get you down. Yeah, dealing with government bureaucracy can be a pain, but PFL is an awesome benefit that can really help families. You got this! šŸ’Ŗ

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