Do dads qualify for EDD PFL baby bonding? NOT FMLA? Confused about application!

Yes! Dads absolutely qualify for California Paid Family Leave (PFL) for baby bonding. This is completely different from FMLA. FMLA is federal and provides job protection but no pay. California PFL provides partial wage replacement (about 60-70% of your salary) for up to 8 weeks when bonding with a new child. The application process for dads is basically the same as for moms who are taking baby bonding leave. You'll file a claim through EDD using a DE2508 form. You can do this online through the EDD website or by mail. The key difference is that moms often transition from pregnancy disability leave to baby bonding, while dads just apply directly for baby bonding. You'll need proof of your relationship to the child and the birth date. The claim can be filed after the baby is born, and you typically have 12 months from the birth to use your PFL benefits. They don't have to be taken all at once either - you can split them up if needed.

my buddy just went thru this last year. he said its a huge pain trying to reach edd when youve got questions. took him like 5 tries to even talk to someone. but ya dads get the same 8 wks as moms for bonding. just dont mix up bonding with the pregnancy disability part cuz thats only for the person giving birth obvs

YES dads qualify!!! My husband took 6 weeks when our daughter was born last year and it was amazing having him home. I took my disability leave first for recovery (that's only for moms) and then we both took PFL baby bonding at different times so baby had a parent home longer. FYI your employer might act weird but they CANNOT legally deny you this time. It's your RIGHT as a California worker who pays into SDI. Don't let them bully you! The only complicated part was making sure we had all the right documentation. Make sure you have: - Baby's birth certificate - Your ID - Proof of your relationship to the baby's mother And file the claim ASAP after the birth. The EDD site is honestly terrible to navigate but once approved the payments came through regularly.

Congrats on the baby! Don't confused PFL and FMLA they're totally different things. I think you need to use BOTH actually. FMLA protects your job while PFL pays you. I'm pretty sure you can file for PFL online through EDD and you should do FMLA paperwork through your HR department.

I just went through this exact process in January with my son! Here's what you need to know: 1. Yes, dads 100% qualify for PFL baby bonding in California 2. It's completely separate from FMLA (which is unpaid) 3. You get 60-70% of your salary up to a max amount 4. The process is: wait until baby is born → file claim with EDD using form DE2508 → provide birth certificate → receive benefits The biggest hassle was reaching EDD when I had questions. I kept getting disconnected or waiting forever. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 10 minutes after days of trying on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM?si=6N1iCQ3a8Cdb2Ay5 The EDD agent explained everything and helped fix an issue with my claim. Totally worth it because I was losing my mind trying to reach someone while taking care of a newborn!

One important thing to note - if you want job protection AND paid benefits, you need to coordinate both FMLA/CFRA (for job protection) and PFL (for payment). Your timing is important too. With a March 2025 due date, you should: 1. Notify your employer in writing at least 30 days before your leave (if possible) 2. Submit FMLA/CFRA paperwork through your HR department 3. After the baby is born, apply for PFL through EDD using form DE2508 4. You can take your 8 weeks all at once, or split them up over the first 12 months Also, your employer CANNOT deny you this leave if you're eligible, regardless of project timelines. That's why these protections exist.

MY BOSS WAS THE SAME WAY!!! I swear they act like taking leave for your CHILD is some kind of personal insult! When I took PFL for my baby the manager kept saying stuff like "must be nice to have a paid vacation" and I'm like IT'S NOT A VACATION I'M CARING FOR AN INFANT. Your boss is required by LAW to give you this time. Document EVERYTHING if they give you trouble.

i tried using Claimyr like the other person mentioned and it actually worked... got through to EDD in like 15 minutes after trying for days on my own. the agent fixed something on my PFL claim that was causing it to be delayed. just sharing since im normally skeptical of stuff like this

To answer your follow-up question - yes, notifying your employer by February 15th for a March 15th due date would be perfect timing for the FMLA/CFRA paperwork. For PFL, you can't submit the actual claim until after birth, but you can prepare by: 1. Creating an account on the EDD website now 2. Familiarizing yourself with the DE2508 form requirements 3. Gathering your personal information (SSN, ID, employment history) 4. Understanding your company's paid leave policies (some supplement PFL) Also, while PFL provides 8 weeks, FMLA/CFRA provides 12 weeks of job protection. Some fathers choose to use the additional 4 weeks unpaid for more bonding time, or save it for later in the year if needed.

@OP regarding payment timing - Yes, there's usually a gap between starting leave and getting your first payment. In my experience, it took about 2-3 weeks after my claim was approved before I received the first payment. After that, they came every two weeks pretty reliably. I'd recommend having some savings to cover that initial gap. Some employers also allow you to use some paid vacation/PTO during this waiting period, which can help bridge the gap. Also, EDD pays about 60-70% of your wages up to a maximum (around $1,620/week in 2025), so budget for the reduced income during your leave period.

Just wanted to add my experience as a dad who took PFL in 2024 - the whole process was actually pretty straightforward once I understood the difference between FMLA and PFL. One thing that helped me was setting up my EDD account ahead of time like @StarStrider mentioned. When the baby came, I was able to file the DE2508 form online within a few days of getting the birth certificate. The hardest part was honestly dealing with my employer's attitude about it. They kept asking if I "really needed" the full 8 weeks and suggesting I could "work from home" during bonding leave. I had to remind them multiple times that this isn't vacation time - it's legally protected family leave that I'm entitled to as a California worker. Pro tip: Keep copies of ALL your paperwork (birth certificate, claim forms, correspondence with EDD) because you might need to reference them later. And don't let your boss guilt you about using your legal rights - you pay into SDI for exactly this reason! The bonding time with my daughter was absolutely priceless and worth navigating all the bureaucracy. Good luck with your little one!