| The Paid Family Leave (PFL) program, administered by California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), provides partial wage replacement benefits to employees who take time off work to bond with a child within one year from birth or placement for foster care or adoption, or to care for a seriously ill family member. The maximum duration of California’s PFL benefits will extend from six weeks to eight weeks. This extension of benefits from six weeks to eight weeks is available only for PFL claims filed with EDD on or after July 1, 2020. For PFL claims for child bonding, the date of the child’s birth (or placement for foster care or adoption) does not affect the number of weeks of benefits. The determining factor is the date on which the PFL claim is filed. For example, a parent whose baby was born earlier in the year may choose to delay filing a claim for PFL benefits until July 1 in order to be eligible for the more generous eight weeks of benefits. No matter what date an individual applies for child bonding PFL benefits, however, the benefits are payable only for one year from the date of the child’s birth or placement for foster care or adoption. Those who file for PFL before July 1, 2020 are eligible for only a total of six weeks of benefits. This is true even if the individuals have used some or all of their six weeks of benefits by June 30, and then takes additional weeks of baby bonding time off after July 1, 2020. It is the initial claim start date that determines whether there are six or eight weeks of benefits available. Should you have any questions, please reach out to our Human Resources Department at 916-266-4370. | 
