California PFL for fathers
California Paid Family Leave for Fathers: A Bonding Claim Checklist
Prepare a California PFL bonding claim as a father, including leave dates, proof of relationship, filing deadlines, and requesting unused benefits.
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Fathers can apply for PFL bonding benefits
California Paid Family Leave can replace part of an eligible father’s lost wages while bonding with a new child. EDD’s fathers guide describes up to eight weeks of benefits, subject to eligibility and benefits already used in the preceding 12 months. Bonding must take place within the child’s first year.
People often call this “paternity leave.” The EDD application is a PFL bonding claim. Workplace leave approval and job protection are separate matters to discuss with your employer.
Start with eligibility and your leave calendar
Check for State Disability Insurance contributions, commonly shown as CASDI on a paystub, and review the PFL eligibility guide. EDD considers your wage loss and other requirements when deciding the claim.
Before opening the application, put the child’s birth date, your last usual workday, and your planned bonding dates on one calendar. Keep employer-paid leave and EDD benefits on separate lines so you can report each accurately.
If you plan several leave blocks, use the intermittent-leave guide to prepare your work-and-leave records.
Prepare proof of relationship
New fathers generally need a proof-of-relationship document. EDD’s examples include a child’s birth certificate or hospital birth certificate. Use its preparation checklist to choose documentation for your circumstances.
- Check that the scan is readable and includes all relevant pages.
- Keep the child’s name and dates consistent with the supporting record.
- Save the application confirmation so you can match attachments to it.
- Record when and how you sent each document.
Adoption and foster-care placement have their own supporting-document examples. The documents checklist covers those situations too.
File a bonding claim and save the receipt
In myEDD, open SDI Online and choose the option to apply for PFL Bonding. Follow the filing guide for the full application and attachment steps.
EDD’s filing window starts on the first day of family leave and ends 41 days after leave begins. Submit the required relationship documentation and retain the receipt number.
DE 2501FP is the transition form for a new mother coming from pregnancy-related Disability Insurance. A father filing his bonding application should follow the ordinary bonding-claim instructions.
After filing or when taking more bonding time
Keep a small claim folder containing your application receipt, attachment confirmation, leave calendar, and EDD notices. Use it when checking status or asking about something missing.
For a later request for unused bonding benefits, read the DE 2504RE guide, including the distinction between continuing leave and restarting after full-time work.
ConnectEDD cannot file your bonding claim, submit relationship documents, or approve workplace leave.
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.