Can my husband apply for EDD PFL to care for me after my surgery?
I just had emergency gallbladder surgery yesterday and my doctor has ordered complete bed rest for the next 4-6 weeks. We have 4 kids (ages 2, 5, 7, and 10) and I'm the primary caregiver - I do everything from getting them ready for school to cooking meals and driving them to activities. My husband works full-time but there's no way he can keep working AND handle everything I normally do while I'm recovering. Can he apply for California Paid Family Leave to take time off work to help me? His HR department told him he could only get 3 days of sick leave for my surgery, but we're going to need way more help than that. Does anyone know if caring for a spouse after surgery qualifies for PFL benefits? And how quickly could he get approved if he applied today? We're kind of in crisis mode here trying to figure this out.
18 comments
Join the conversation
Ella Cofer
Yes, your husband absolutely CAN apply for Paid Family Leave to care for you! California PFL covers caring for a seriously ill family member, including spouses. He would need to submit a DE2501F form, and your doctor will need to certify that you require care. He can get up to 8 weeks of benefits. Have him apply online through SDI Online as soon as possible. He'll need: - Your medical information and doctor contact details - His employment history - His ID and SSN The processing time varies, but it usually takes 10-14 days if everything is submitted correctly.
0 coins
Taylor To
•Thank you so much! This is exactly what we needed to know. Do you happen to know if the benefits start immediately or is there a waiting period? And does he need to take all 8 weeks at once or can he split it up if I end up recovering faster than expected?
0 coins
Kevin Bell
When my wife broke her leg last year I took PFL to help her. YES ur husband can get it but make sure his employer knows he's doing this cuz some companies have policies about it. Also the form is actually called a DE2501FP now i think?? And get the doctor to be SUPER detailed about why u need help. My claim got delayed cuz the doctor just wrote "patient needs assistance" and EDD wanted more specific info.
0 coins
Taylor To
•Thanks for the tip about the doctor's note! I'll make sure they include all the details about my movement restrictions and childcare needs. Did you get the full benefit amount based on your salary? My husband makes pretty good money and we're worried about how much of a pay cut this might be.
0 coins
Kevin Bell
•you get like 60 or 70% of ur pay up to some maximum i forget exactly. was definitely a pay cut for me but better than nothing and we couldnt figure out any other options. just warning u tho it took almost 3 weeks for my first payment to arrive so have some savings ready
0 coins
Savannah Glover
I had a similar situation after my c-section got infected and my husband needed to take care of me AND our newborn. The PFL process was a nightmare!!! He applied online and then nothing happened for WEEKS. We called EDD literally 50+ times and couldn't get through. Absolute worst system ever when you're already dealing with a medical crisis!!
0 coins
Felix Grigori
•I totally understand the frustration with reaching EDD when you're in crisis. I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that can help connect you with an EDD agent quickly instead of dealing with the constant busy signals and disconnections. It worked great for resolving my PFL transition issue. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 showing how it works. Their website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Much better than spending hours redialing EDD yourself.
0 coins
Taylor To
•Oh no, that sounds terrible! Did your husband eventually get approved? We're really worried about the timing since this is all so sudden and we don't have family nearby who can help.
0 coins
Felicity Bud
You need to fill out the FMLA paperwork too!!! PFL is the state benefit but FMLA is federal and protects his job. Some companies will fire you if you don't file both!!!!!
0 coins
Ella Cofer
•This is an important point, but there's a small clarification needed. FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) and CFRA (California Family Rights Act) protect jobs but are unpaid. PFL provides the wage replacement. Your husband should coordinate with HR to make sure both are filed correctly. Also note that FMLA/CFRA only apply if his employer has 5+ employees and he's worked there at least 1 year with 1250+ hours.
0 coins
Max Reyes
When I was on baby bonding leave last year my husband had to take care of me cause I had terrible postpartum depression and could barely get out of bed. At first EDD denied his claim saying he couldn't get PFL for me since I was already on leave for the baby. We had to appeal and it was super confusing because the EDD representatives kept giving us different information every time we called. The whole system is designed to make people give up I swear.
0 coins
Mikayla Davison
•This is a bit different though. The original poster isn't on baby bonding - she had emergency surgery. That's a straightforward PFL caregiving claim as long as her doctor certifies she needs care. The husband would be claiming PFL for caring for a seriously ill family member, which is one of the three main reasons PFL is granted (new child bonding, caring for ill family member, participating in qualifying event for military deployment). To the original poster: Your husband should apply ASAP. While the claim is processing, he should keep detailed documentation of everything - copies of all forms, submission confirmations, doctor notes, etc. The EDD system works well for straightforward cases, but if there are any complications, that documentation will be crucial.
0 coins
Taylor To
Thank you all for the helpful advice! My husband talked to his HR department again today and they're helping him fill out both the PFL and FMLA paperwork. We have an appointment with my surgeon tomorrow to get the medical certification completed with all the details about my restrictions. I'm feeling much better knowing this option exists - we were really panicking about how to manage everything. Will update when we hear back from EDD!
0 coins
Savannah Glover
Make sure he doesn't quit his job to take care of you!! My neighbor did that and then found out you CANT get PFL if you're not employed anymore. You have to be employed but taking time OFF from your job to qualify. Just in case you guys were considering that option.
0 coins
Taylor To
•Oh we definitely weren't considering that - we need his health insurance too badly! But that's good to know, thanks for the warning.
0 coins
Kevin Bell
also tell him to keep certifying every 2 weeks once approved!! my brother in law lost benefits cuz he missed a certification deadline and it was a HUGE hassle to get it restarted
0 coins
Mikayla Davison
•This is incorrect information for PFL claims. Regular unemployment requires bi-weekly certification, but Paid Family Leave claims do NOT require ongoing certifications. Once approved, your husband will receive his benefit payments automatically according to the timeframe approved by the doctor. The only time you'd need to submit additional paperwork is if the medical situation changes (extended recovery time, return to work sooner than expected, etc.). This is one of the most common misconceptions about PFL, so I wanted to clarify.
0 coins
Edwards Hugo
I went through this exact situation when my wife had her appendix out last year! Your husband can definitely get PFL to care for you - it's specifically designed for situations like this. A few things that helped us: 1. Apply online at SDI Online immediately - don't wait 2. Make sure your doctor is very specific about why you need care (can't lift kids, can't drive, need help with daily activities, etc.) 3. The benefit is about 60-70% of his wages, capped at around $1,540/week currently 4. There's a 7-day waiting period before benefits start, but he can use sick leave or vacation for those days With 4 young kids and major surgery recovery, this is exactly what PFL is for. The whole process took about 2 weeks for us once we submitted everything. Your husband should also coordinate with his employer about job protection under FMLA/CFRA. Hope your recovery goes smoothly!
0 coins