California · CA PFL (SDI + PFL)
California paid family leave
California runs Paid Family Leave as a component of its long-standing State Disability Insurance program. PFL provides wage replacement only; job protection comes from separate laws such as FMLA and CFRA.
At a glance
Maximum duration
8 weeks per 12-month period
Benefit formula
70% to 90% of wages depending on earnings, following the 2025 benefit increase
Waiting period
None
Private plans
Program detail
How CA PFL (SDI + PFL) works
CA PFL (SDI + PFL)
- Program
- State Disability Insurance — Paid Family Leave (CA PFL (SDI + PFL))
- Contributions effective
- Employee contributions have been collected since 2004
- Benefits effective
- July 1, 2004
- Covered employers
- Nearly all private employers with California employees covered by State Disability Insurance
- Employee eligibility
- Earned at least $300 in wages subject to SDI withholding during the base period
- Covered reasons
- Own serious health condition
- Bond with a new child following birth, adoption, or foster placement
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition
- Qualifying military exigency
- Maximum duration
- 8 weeks per 12-month period
- Waiting period
- None
- Contribution rate
- Employee funded; no employer contribution required
- Employee share
- 100% employee funded
- Benefit formula
- 70% to 90% of wages depending on earnings, following the 2025 benefit increase
- Maximum weekly benefit
- Set annually by the state; see the EDD for the current year
- Private plans allowed
- YesSelf-funded
- Approval and election
- A self-insured Voluntary Plan must be at least equal to the state plan and better in at least one respect. A majority of eligible California employees must consent through an election. If 85% or more consent, new hires are enrolled automatically; below 85%, new hires must actively elect.
- State resource
- edd.ca.gov/en/disability/paid-family-leave/
- Information as of
- January 1, 2026
What this means for you
Employer and employee view
If you are the employer
California permits a private plan, so you can meet the mandate with a Limemint plan instead of the state fund. It must be at least as generous as CA PFL (SDI + PFL), and employee contributions cannot exceed the state rate.
California is an upcoming state for us. We write private plans in New York today, with New Jersey and Massachusetts launching soon, and we can tell you where California sits on the roadmap.
A self-insured Voluntary Plan must be at least equal to the state plan and better in at least one respect. A majority of eligible California employees must consent through an election. If 85% or more consent, new hires are enrolled automatically; below 85%, new hires must actively elect.
Employer detailIf you are an employee
You qualify based on earned at least $300 in wages subject to sdi withholding during the base period. Benefits run for 8 weeks per 12-month period, and there is no waiting period before your first payable week.
How to file a claimEstimate
What CA PFL (SDI + PFL) might pay
A rough figure based on the published formula and weekly maximum. Nothing is submitted.
Estimate your weekly benefit
Two inputs, a rough number. Nothing is submitted or saved.
Enter your average weekly pay to see an estimate for CA PFL (SDI + PFL).
This is an estimate only. Your actual weekly benefit depends on your base-period wages, the state formula in effect when your leave begins, and any other income you receive during leave. It is not a determination of eligibility or a promise of payment.
Other jurisdictions
Compare nearby programs
New York is available now. New Jersey and Massachusetts are launching soon. The rest are upcoming states.
Talk to a specialist
Discuss a California plan
Talk to a specialist
Tell us where your employees work and how you handle leave today. We will walk through the statutory programs that apply, your private plan options, and what implementation looks like.
Helpful to have ready
- Which states mandate paid family leave for your workforce
- Where a private plan is permitted and what the election process involves
- How the coverage and leave management platform work as one system
Best for
Employers, insurance brokers, and benefit administrators with multi-state obligations or an upcoming effective date.