California parental leave, answered.
Plain-English answers to the questions parents ask most. Want the full picture? Start with a free live info session.
Join a free live info sessionHow leave works in California
How much time can I take off?
HR usually talks about 12 weeks. That is FMLA, a federal rule, and it is unpaid. In California, a birth parent can take up to 29 weeks with their job protected, and up to 25 of those weeks can be paid. A partner can take up to 12 weeks, with up to 8 paid.
Who pays me while I'm out?
The state does, not your boss. A little money comes out of every paycheck for State Disability Insurance (SDI). When you have a baby, the EDD pays you through SDI and then Paid Family Leave (PFL).
How much will I get paid?
About 70% to 90% of your pay, up to a weekly maximum ($1,765 a week in 2026). SDI pay is not taxed. PFL pay is taxed by the IRS, but not by California. The EDD sets your exact number from your past paychecks.
What are the 4 programs?
Two programs pay you: State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL). Two protect your job: Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). They have to be used in the right order.
How do I know if I qualify?
Look at your pay stub for a line that says CA SDI or CASDI. See it? You pay in, so you can get paid leave. Most W-2 workers in California have it. Have your partner check their pay stub too. Not sure? Take the 1-minute quiz.
Questions about your job and family
Does my partner get paid leave too?
Yes. Partners can take up to 12 weeks off, with up to 8 of those weeks paid by the state. It does not matter who gave birth. Partners can take their weeks during or after the birth parent's leave.
I just started my job. Do I get anything?
Yes. Job protection during pregnancy (PDL) starts on day 1. Your pay comes from the EDD, based on what you earned at any job over the past 5 to 18 months. Bonding protection (CFRA) starts after 12 months at your job. Under 12 months? You can still get paid for bonding time through PFL.
My job gives paid leave. Does that change anything?
Your job's pay and the EDD's pay have to line up. Get it wrong and the EDD can ask for money back. It is worth planning how they fit together before you go out.
Who is this not for?
If you work outside California, work for the federal government, or are self-employed with no CA SDI on your pay stub, these state programs usually do not apply to you in the same way.
Is it too late if I'm due soon?
No. You can still file after your baby comes. You have up to 49 days after your first day off to file for SDI, and up to 41 days after bonding starts to file for PFL. The sooner you plan, the more choices you have.
Questions about the course
What is the Paid Leave Blueprint?
A step-by-step course that plans your California leave for both parents. You get a calendar tool with every date, short lessons, scripts for HR, and weekly office hours for 1 year. See the Blueprint.
Why pay for this? Canβt I just Google it?
Yes, you can. You can also do your own taxes. The rules are public, but putting 4 programs in the right order for your job and due date takes time. The Blueprint is a proven shortcut that can save you up to 200 hours of research. It is your fast pass to what to do and when, built from 2 years of doing this full time with 1,100+ California families.
Does my partner need to buy it too?
No. One purchase covers both of you. There is a full section for partners.
When should I start?
As soon as you know you are pregnant. Parents typically start early in the 2nd trimester, before they talk to HR. You can still use it later.
Can I meet with you 1 on 1?
No. Every answer is in the course the minute you join. Have a question that is just yours? Bring it to office hours on Tuesday, ask under any lesson, or ask the AI assistant.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a plain guide to California's public programs, built from helping 1,100+ families. For legal advice about your own case, talk to an employment lawyer.
Ask them live.
A free 30-minute group session on the 4 California leave programs, in plain English, with time for questions. No background needed.
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