Can my husband qualify for PFL baby bonding with only 6 months work history?
My husband started a new job last October 2023 after being unemployed for about 8 months. We're having our first baby in April 2024 and I'm trying to figure out if he'll qualify for Paid Family Leave for baby bonding. His work offers paternity leave but it's unpaid, so we really need the EDD benefit. Does anyone know if 6 months of work history is enough to qualify? His job pays well but we've been catching up on bills from his unemployment period so we NEED this to work out. Also, does he have to use all his vacation days before PFL kicks in? His HR person wasn't very helpful.
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QuantumQuester
Yes, he should qualify! PFL eligibility is based on wages earned during the base period, which is approximately 5-17 months before filing. Since he's been working since October 2023, and plans to take leave in April 2024, he has at least 2 quarters of earnings in his base period. The minimum earnings requirement is roughly $300 during the base period, which he likely meets if he's working full-time. And no, he doesn't have to use vacation days before PFL - those are separate benefits, though some employers require using them concurrently.
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Carmen Vega
•Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. Do you know when exactly he should apply? Can he do it before the baby is born or does he have to wait until after?
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Andre Moreau
My husband was in a similar spot last year! Make sure ur husband keeps pay stubs from those early months just in case EDD needs proof of his work history. They didn't ask us for any but better safe than sorry
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Carmen Vega
•That's a great tip! I'll make sure he has all his pay stubs organized. Did your husband get the full 8 weeks of benefits?
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Zoe Stavros
Just adding that the base period for an April 2024 claim would be Q4 2022 through Q3 2023. Since your husband only started working in October 2023 (Q4 2023), he might not have earnings in the standard base period. HOWEVER, EDD can use an alternate base period in this case, which would be Q1 2023 through Q4 2023. Since he worked Q4 2023, he could qualify using the alternate base period as long as he earned at least $300 during that quarter and has appropriate SDI deductions on his paystubs (look for "CASDI").
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Jamal Harris
•this is really important!!! my friend got denied because they looked at the wrong base period and she had to call like 50 times to get it fixed!!
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Mei Chen
i thought you needed at least 6 months at the same employer to qualify for FMLA?? isnt that the same as PFL?? my HR told me you need to be at a job for 12 months minimum for baby leave.
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QuantumQuester
•They're completely different programs! FMLA is federal job protection that requires 12 months at the same employer and 1,250 hours worked. California PFL is a state wage replacement program that has no minimum employment duration requirements - it only looks at if you paid into SDI through payroll deductions. You can qualify for PFL benefits even if you don't qualify for FMLA protection.
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Liam Sullivan
The EDD system is a NIGHTMARE to deal with these days. When I tried to get PFL after my baby was born in December, I couldn't reach ANYONE to answer my questions. I spent THREE WEEKS calling every day and getting nowhere. Finally I found out about this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an EDD agent in less than 15 minutes! I was shocked - seriously check out their video demo to see how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 or go to claimyr.com. The agent I spoke with was super helpful and fixed my claim right away.
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Amara Okafor
•is this legit? seems kinda sketchy to pay someone just to make a phone call for me
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Jamal Harris
this is exactly why the california system is better than other states!!! my sister lives in texas and got NOTHING when she had her baby. but here ur husband should get 8 weeks paid at like 60-70% of his salary. just make sure he mentions its for BABY BONDING not disability!! my husband accidentally said the wrong thing and they sent him the wrong forms lol
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Carmen Vega
•Yes, we're definitely grateful for California's benefits! Thanks for the tip about specifying baby bonding - will make sure he's clear about that.
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QuantumQuester
To answer your other question - your husband should submit his PFL claim AFTER the baby is born, not before. For baby bonding, he'll need to provide the child's birth certificate or other proof of birth. He can take the leave anytime within the first 12 months after birth. Also, the claim form he needs is called the DE 2508 (for baby bonding) not the DE 2501 (which is for disability/pregnancy).
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Carmen Vega
•Perfect, thanks! So we'll wait until after the birth certificate arrives. Is there any advantage to taking the leave immediately after birth versus waiting a few months? I'll be on my own maternity leave for the first 3 months.
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Zoe Stavros
•He can take it whenever works best for your family within that first year. Many fathers choose to either overlap with mom's leave for the first few weeks, or take their leave after mom goes back to work to extend the total time baby has a parent at home. Just remember that PFL can be split into multiple periods, but you need to specify your planned dates when applying.
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Andre Moreau
Congrats on the baby btw!!!! April is such a nice time for a baby, their birthday will always be in spring with nice weather for parties :
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Carmen Vega
•Thank you! We're so excited. And yes, spring birthday parties should be lovely - hopefully with lots of outdoor options!
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