California PFL for caregivers
California Paid Family Leave to Care for a Parent or Family Member
Prepare a PFL care claim with Parts A, C, and D, coordinate medical certification, and check how to submit each part of the application.
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PFL can support time away to care for family
California PFL care benefits may replace lost wages when you take leave to care for a qualifying family member with a serious health condition. A complete care claim includes your application, the care recipient’s statement, and medical certification.
This guide focuses on organizing those parts. Start with the eligibility guide for the general work and wage requirements.
Which family members are covered?
EDD lists children, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouses, and registered domestic partners. The medical certification must establish the serious health condition and need for care.
The family member can live outside California or outside the United States. EDD requires a valid medical license for an out-of-state or foreign certifying practitioner and verifies it with the appropriate licensing board.
More than one person can help provide care, but EDD says benefits cover the time when you are the primary caregiver. Keep a calendar that distinguishes your own time away from work from another caregiver’s schedule.
Who completes Parts A, C, and D?
- Part A: the claimant
- You provide the claimant’s information and leave details. Save the receipt number from an online application.
- Part C: the care recipient
- The family member receiving care, or an authorized representative, signs the care-recipient statement.
- Part D: the medical provider
- The care recipient’s physician or practitioner completes and signs the medical certification.
Give the application receipt number to the medical office when it needs to match an online certification. Ask which staff member handles PFL paperwork, how they submit it, and when you should follow up.
Confirm the submission method for each part
EDD’s detailed SDI Online filing instructions currently say to mail Part C. Part D can be mailed or submitted by the physician/practitioner through SDI Online. Those instructions warn that uploading Parts C or D as ordinary claimant attachments can delay processing.
Follow the current care-claim filing instructions and the directions on your claim. Do not assume a general attachment menu is the correct destination for every section.
Create a three-line submission record: your application, Part C, and Part D. For each, record who sends it, the method, the date, and any confirmation. A submitted application alone does not prove the other two parts reached EDD.
EDD says the medical certification must be completed, signed, and submitted within 41 days from the start of family leave. Coordinate with the medical office early and keep the deadline visible in your records.
If care continues or the claim is delayed
If you need more time caring for your family member, the DE 2525XFA guide explains the continued-care paperwork. For a delay, compare your three-part submission record with the latest notice and use the payment-delay checklist.
ConnectEDD cannot obtain medical certifications, receive medical records, or determine whether a family member’s condition qualifies.
Help with repeated calling
Want ConnectEDD to handle the redialing?
ConnectEDD handles repeated calling and requests a California PFL callback to your authorized phone number when the option is available. Callback availability and timing can vary.
You may call EDD yourself for free. ConnectEDD is a paid convenience for the repeated-calling portion and does not represent you or access your claim.