Can I apply for PFL while employed? When to start?
Hey everyone, I'm currently working a job but I'm wondering about my eligibility for paid family leave. Does anyone know if I can still apply for it while employed? And if so, when could I potentially start it? Any advice or experiences would be really helpful!
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Aiden Chen
Yes, you can definitely apply for paid family leave while employed! In fact, that's usually when people apply. The eligibility requirements typically include: • Being currently employed or recently employed • Having paid into the state disability insurance (SDI) program • Having a qualifying event (birth, adoption, caring for a seriously ill family member, etc.) • Meeting the minimum earnings requirement As for when you can start, it depends on your situation. If it's for bonding with a new child, you usually have to take it within the first year. For other reasons, you can start as soon as you're approved. Just make sure to give your employer proper notice! Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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Sophia Bennett
•Thank you so much for the detailed response! This is really helpful. Do you know how long the approval process usually takes?
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Aiden Chen
•Glad I could help! The approval process can vary, but it typically takes about 14 days from when they receive a properly completed claim. Sometimes it's faster, sometimes slower. Make sure you have all your docs ready to go!
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Zoey Bianchi
•Just to add on, make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. The EDD can be a real pain sometimes and lose stuff 🙄
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Christopher Morgan
I was in the same boat last year! Applied while working and it was fine. Just make sure you communicate clearly with your employer about your plans. Some companies have their own policies on top of state benefits, so check with HR too.
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Aurora St.Pierre
Ugh, good luck dealing with EDD. Their system is a nightmare 🤮 Took me forever to get through when I applied.
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Grace Johnson
•For real tho. I swear they make it complicated on purpose 🙄
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Jayden Reed
•Yall I found a way to get someone on the phone fast. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Check out this video: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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Nora Brooks
•Wait, seriously? Is that even legal? Sounds kinda sketchy...
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Jayden Reed
•Totally legal! It's just a service that waits on hold for you. Saved me hours of frustration, honestly worth every penny.
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Eli Wang
Make sure you have all your ducks in a row before applying. They ask for a TON of info and if you miss anything it can delay the whole process.
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Sophia Bennett
•Thanks for the heads up! Do you remember what kind of info they asked for?
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Eli Wang
•Oh man, lets see... They wanted my employment history, last day worked, reason for leave, doctor's certification (if applicable), info about the person you're caring for (if that's why you're taking leave). Basicaly, have your W-2s, paystubs, and any medical docs ready to go.
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Cassandra Moon
Anyone else feel like the whole system is designed to make us give up? 🤔 It's like they don't want us to actually use the benefits we pay for smh
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Zane Hernandez
•PREACH 👏👏👏
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Genevieve Cavalier
•Idk man, I think it's just underfunded and understaffed. But yeah, it suuuucks to deal with 😫
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Ethan Scott
Pro tip: if you're having trouble reaching someone, try calling right when they open. I got through pretty quick that way!
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Lola Perez
Hey OP, just curious - what's your reason for taking leave? Different reasons can have different rules and timeframes.
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Sophia Bennett
•I'm actually looking into it for future planning. My partner and I are thinking about starting a family soon, so I want to understand my options now.
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Lola Perez
•Oh nice! Congrats on the future plans 😊 For new parents, you typically get up to 8 weeks for pregnancy disability (if applicable) and then another 8 weeks for bonding. And your partner might be eligible for bonding time too!
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Emma Anderson
That's awesome that you're planning ahead! I did the same thing and it really helped when the time came. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that you need to have been paying into SDI for at least 5-10 months before you can claim benefits, so make sure you check your paystubs to see if SDI is being deducted. Also, if you're planning for maternity leave, look into whether your employer offers any additional benefits on top of PFL - some companies will top off your pay or let you use vacation time to make up the difference since PFL only covers about 60-70% of your wages. Good luck with your family planning journey! 🍀
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Lincoln Ramiro
•This is such great advice! I had no idea about the SDI payment requirement - definitely going to check my paystubs now. The employer benefits tip is really smart too. Did you find it easy to coordinate everything when you actually took your leave?
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Ravi Sharma
•Thanks @Emma Anderson for sharing all that detail! The SDI payment requirement is definitely something I need to look into. Quick question - do you know if there s'a way to check how long you ve'been paying into SDI online, or do you have to go through old paystubs? Also, when you coordinated with your employer, did you give them a heads up months in advance or wait until closer to when you actually needed the leave?
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