Can I get PFL benefits as caregiver for dad after stroke? FMLA confusion!

Yes, you can absolutely apply for California Paid Family Leave (PFL) to care for your father! PFL provides up to 8 weeks of partial wage replacement when you need to take time off work to care for a seriously ill family member. This is different from FMLA, which only protects your job but doesn't provide any payment. Here's what you need to do: 1. Get a medical certification form (DE2501F) completed by your dad's doctor 2. File a PFL claim through EDD online or by mail using the DE2501F form 3. You'll need to provide documentation of your relationship (birth certificate, etc.) PFL will pay approximately 60-70% of your wages, up to a maximum weekly benefit. The stroke definitely qualifies as a serious health condition. Just make sure to apply within 41 days of when you started caring for him.

my mom had stroke last year i got PFL for 6 weeks. your dad's doctor has to fill out the form saying he needs care. u get like 65% of ur pay i think? but took forever to get first payment

FMLA and PFL are two completely different programs that work together. Let me clarify: - FMLA is federal law that protects your job for up to 12 weeks but provides NO payment - California PFL provides partial wage replacement for up to 8 weeks - You can use both simultaneously - FMLA for job protection and PFL for payment You'll need a DE2501F form completed by your father's physician detailing his condition and need for care. File your claim with EDD as soon as possible, and include documentation proving your relationship (birth certificate, etc.). The benefit amount will be 60-70% of your regular wages based on your previous earnings, up to a maximum weekly benefit of $1,620 in 2025. Make sure your dad's doctor specifies that he needs daily care with activities of daily living - this is important for approval.

The California EDD website is USELESS! I tried to call them a hundred times about my PFL claim for my sick mom and couldn't get through. Total garbage system. Good luck getting ANY answers from them directly.

I went thru this exact situation when my father had his stroke in January. Here's what you need to know: 1. Apply for PFL online right away - don't wait! The EDD website has the application. 2. Your dad's RESIDENCE doesn't matter for PFL. You can care for him at his house, your house, or even the hospital. What matters is that you're providing care. 3. Having FMLA already approved is perfect - you're covered for job protection. 4. Get the medical certification completed ASAP - this is often where delays happen. 5. PFL has a 7-day waiting period where benefits don't accumulate. One thing nobody told me: you need to provide care for at least 8 hours per week to qualify. Document everything - when you take him to appointments, assistance with bathing/feeding/medication, etc. Keep a daily log just in case EDD questions the claim.

Wait I thought FMLA gives you money??? My HR person said something about paid family leave when I filled out FMLA paperwork last year. Now I'm confused.

they took like 3 weeks to pay me when i did PFL for my mom!! had to borrow $ from my sister. make sure u do the online application its faster than paper

To answer your question about the medical certification - I had trouble getting my dad's doctor to complete it too. Here's what worked: I brought the form directly to the doctor's office and explained it was for Paid Family Leave. I asked to speak to the office manager and explained this was time-sensitive for financial reasons. They had the doctor complete it during lunch break that same day. I also requested a printed clinical summary of my dad's condition and treatment plan from the hospital discharge coordinator, which helped support the application. The doctor just had to fill out his portion confirming the need for care. One more tip: when you apply online, enter the date you actually began providing care as your "first day of family leave" even if that was a few days ago. Your claim starts from that date.

Just want to clarify one thing for everyone here - there is NO 7-day waiting period for PFL caregiving claims anymore. That was eliminated in 2018. Benefits begin from the first day of your eligible family leave. Also, regarding residence - you're right that it doesn't matter where you provide care. You can be at your dad's home, your home, the hospital, or even traveling to medical appointments. The important thing is documenting that you're providing care. One final tip: When submitting your PFL claim, include a brief care plan detailing what assistance your father needs (medication management, mobility assistance, transportation to medical appointments, meal preparation, etc.). While not required, this can help expedite your claim approval.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I just submitted my PFL application online and have the medical certification form ready for my dad's doctor tomorrow. I'm going to follow the advice about speaking with the office manager to get it completed quickly. I'm still a bit nervous about how long it will take to get paid, but at least I know I'm on the right track now. I really appreciate all of your help and experience with this process - it's made a stressful situation a little more manageable.

I'm going through something similar with my grandmother who needs care after a fall. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned - make sure you check if your employer offers any additional paid family leave benefits beyond what California PFL provides. Some companies have policies that supplement the 60-70% wage replacement or provide full pay for a certain number of days. Also, since you're dealing with a stroke specifically, you might want to connect with your local Area Agency on Aging or stroke support groups. They often have resources about navigating care benefits and can sometimes help with paperwork or provide advocacy if you run into issues with EDD. The stroke recovery timeline can be unpredictable, so having all your documentation organized from the start will help if you need to extend your leave beyond the initial period. Good luck with everything!

I went through this exact situation with my mom after her stroke two years ago. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple daily care log from day one - just noting what assistance I provided each day (helping with medications, physical therapy exercises, meal prep, transportation to appointments, etc.). The EDD never asked for it, but having that detailed record gave me peace of mind and could have been useful if they questioned my claim. I also took photos of any adaptive equipment I helped set up in her home (grab bars, shower chair, etc.) as additional documentation of the care environment. Another tip - if your dad will need ongoing therapy appointments (PT, OT, speech), those transportation and assistance hours count toward your care time too. I didn't realize this initially and was only tracking direct personal care. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for my first payment, but it was such a relief when it finally came through. Hang in there - you're doing everything right by getting this sorted out early!