Can my husband apply for EDD PFL to care for me after my surgery?

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.

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.

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!!

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!!!!!

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult situation! Having emergency surgery with 4 young kids must be incredibly stressful. The good news is that several people have already confirmed your husband can absolutely get PFL for this situation. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - since you have such young children (especially the 2-year-old), make sure your doctor specifically mentions in the medical certification that you cannot lift children or provide childcare due to your surgical restrictions. EDD needs to understand that this isn't just about your personal care needs, but about your inability to perform your usual family caregiving duties. Also, while your husband is getting the paperwork together, you might want to look into temporary childcare help for the first week since there's that waiting period before PFL kicks in. Some churches, community centers, or parent groups offer emergency childcare assistance for families dealing with medical crises. Wishing you a smooth recovery! You're smart to get this sorted out quickly rather than trying to manage everything on your own.

I just wanted to share some encouragement as someone who went through a similar situation! When I had my hysterectomy last year, my husband was able to get PFL to help care for me and our three kids. The process was much smoother than we expected once we got all the paperwork in order. A few practical tips that really helped us: - Have your husband start the application TODAY if possible - even if you don't have all the doctor paperwork yet, he can start the process - Ask your surgeon's office if they have experience with PFL forms - some offices are really familiar with them and can turn them around quickly - Take photos/copies of everything before submitting - we learned this the hard way when EDD claimed they never received our first medical form The financial benefit was a lifesaver for us during my 6-week recovery. Yes, it's less than his full salary, but it allowed him to focus completely on helping me and managing the kids without the stress of trying to work. You're going to get through this! Having a supportive partner who can take proper time off makes such a huge difference in recovery. Best wishes for your healing!

I wanted to add one more important tip that helped us tremendously when my partner had to take PFL for my emergency surgery - make sure your husband asks his HR department about "top-off" benefits! Some employers will supplement PFL payments to bring your income closer to full salary during the leave period. Not all companies offer this, but it's worth asking about since you're already dealing with the stress of reduced income. Also, regarding the timing - if your surgeon says 4-6 weeks recovery but you end up needing more time, your husband can request an extension of his PFL benefits as long as your doctor provides updated medical certification. Don't feel pressured to rush back to full activity just because the original timeframe is ending. One last thing - while he's on leave, your husband should keep a simple log of what caregiving activities he's doing each day (helping you to bathroom, preparing meals, managing kids' schedules, etc.). This documentation can be helpful if EDD has any questions about the claim, and it also helps you both track your recovery progress. You're handling this crisis really well by getting informed and taking action quickly. Your family is going to get through this!

I'm a case worker who helps families navigate PFL claims, and I want to emphasize something really important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure your husband's employer understands that PFL is NOT the same as regular sick leave or vacation time. Some HR departments mistakenly think employees need to exhaust all their sick/vacation days before applying for PFL, but that's not true for California. PFL is a state insurance program that employees pay into through payroll deductions, so your husband has every right to use it when caring for a seriously ill family member. His employer cannot require him to use up other leave first, and they cannot deny his request if he meets the eligibility requirements. Also, since you mentioned this was emergency surgery, make sure the medical certification form includes the emergency nature of the situation. EDD processes emergency/urgent care situations with higher priority, which could help speed up approval. One final tip - if your husband's employer pushes back or seems unsure about PFL, have him direct them to the EDD employer resources page or suggest they contact EDD directly for guidance. Some smaller employers aren't familiar with the program, but they're legally required to cooperate with valid PFL claims. Your husband is doing the right thing by taking time to care for you and the kids during your recovery. This is exactly what the program was designed for!

I went through this exact situation when I had my emergency appendectomy last summer! My husband was able to get PFL approved within 2 weeks, and it was honestly a lifesaver with our 3 young kids. A few things that really helped us speed up the process: - Apply online at SDI Online immediately - don't wait for all paperwork to be perfect - Ask your surgeon's office to mark the medical certification as "URGENT" since this was emergency surgery - Have your husband's employer submit their portion electronically if possible (much faster than mail) The benefit amount will be roughly 60-70% of his weekly wages, and there's a 7-day waiting period where no benefits are paid. We used his accrued sick time to cover those first 7 days. One thing I wish someone had told us - make sure the doctor's note is VERY specific about your limitations. Don't just say "needs assistance" - specify things like "cannot lift children over 10 pounds, cannot drive for 4 weeks, requires help with household tasks and childcare due to surgical restrictions." The more detailed, the better for approval. You're absolutely doing the right thing applying for this! With 4 kids and major surgery recovery, this is exactly what PFL was created for. Hang in there - the paperwork stress is temporary but having your husband home to help will make such a difference in your recovery.

I'm so glad you're getting such helpful advice here! As someone who works in benefits administration, I wanted to add a couple of quick points that might help: First, when your husband applies online at SDI Online, make sure he has his Social Security number, your personal information, and details about his employment ready. The system will ask for his employer's contact information and payroll details, so having a recent paystub handy can speed things up. Second, regarding the medical certification - your doctor can actually submit this directly to EDD electronically in many cases, which is much faster than mailing paper forms. Ask your surgeon's office if they can do electronic submission when you see them tomorrow. Also, don't worry too much about the benefit amount calculation - California PFL uses his highest quarterly earnings from the past 5-8 quarters, so it should give you a pretty accurate estimate of what to expect when he applies online. With emergency gallbladder surgery and four young kids, this is absolutely a qualifying situation. The key is getting everything submitted quickly and accurately. Sounds like you're already on the right track by getting the medical appointment scheduled for tomorrow. Best wishes for a smooth recovery and approval process!

I'm sorry to hear about your emergency surgery and the stress of managing everything with four young children! The good news is that many people here have already confirmed your husband can absolutely get PFL to care for you after surgery. I wanted to add one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - when filling out the application, make sure your husband selects "caring for a seriously ill family member" as the reason for leave, not "own serious health condition." I've seen people accidentally select the wrong category which can cause delays or denials. Also, since this involves both your recovery AND caring for your children (ages 2-10), the medical certification should emphasize that you cannot perform your normal caregiving duties. With a 2-year-old especially, your inability to lift, carry, or chase after them is a significant care need that justifies your husband's leave. The 60-70% wage replacement might feel like a big cut, but having him home to handle everything while you recover properly is so much better than trying to rush back to normal activities too soon. Emergency gallbladder surgery is serious and you really do need that full recovery time! Best of luck with the application process and hoping for a smooth recovery!

I'm a PFL specialist and wanted to jump in with some additional guidance since you're dealing with such a time-sensitive situation. Your husband absolutely qualifies for PFL to care for you - emergency gallbladder surgery with 4-6 weeks of bed rest definitely meets the "seriously ill family member" criteria. Here's what I'd recommend for fastest processing: 1. Apply TODAY online at SDI Online - don't wait for the doctor visit tomorrow 2. Use the temporary disability section to start the claim, then add the medical certification when you get it 3. Make sure your surgeon includes specific language like "patient requires assistance with activities of daily living and cannot provide childcare due to post-surgical restrictions" The 7-day waiting period starts from his first day of leave, not from application date. Benefits are typically 60-70% of his wages (max $1,540/week currently), and with emergency surgery, approval often comes in 10-14 days if everything's complete. One crucial tip - have him coordinate with HR about CFRA (California Family Rights Act) for job protection alongside the PFL application. This ensures his position is protected while he's caring for you. With 4 kids including a toddler, this is exactly what the program exists for. You're smart to act quickly rather than trying to manage alone!