Q: Can I use Paid Family Leave to take care of my mother?
A: In California, Paid Family Leave (PFL) can be used to care for a seriously ill family member, including your mother, if you qualify. PFL provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible California workers for up to eight weeks of family leave in a 12-month period.
Most people are familiar with PFL as the benefit that is available to new parents to bond with their baby. However, it is also available when you need to care for a seriously ill family member under the Employment Development Department (EDD). This benefit can provide financial support while allowing caregivers the flexibility to attend medical appointments, hospitalizations, and ongoing care responsibilities without losing all of their income.
If eligible, you may receive benefit payments for up to eight weeks in a 12-month period. The benefit is around 60 to 70 percent of your current wages, with a minimum weekly benefit amount of $50, and a maximum amount of $1,765 per week.
You can learn more about how to use this benefit for caring for a loved one at this website: https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/paid-family-leave/caregivers/.
To qualify, the family member’s serious health condition must be certified by a licensed healthcare practitioner, and the caregiver must experience a loss of wages due to taking time away from work. Applicants must also satisfy all other eligibility requirements established by the EDD.
It is important to understand that you do not need to use the benefit consecutively.
This means you do not need to take all eight weeks off at one time. This flexibility can be especially helpful in long-term caregiving situations when taking eight weeks off work all at once may not be financially feasible or necessary.
Instead, you can apply and indicate that you plan to use the benefit intermittently. You would then report your usage as needed for appointments, hospital stays, or other situations that arise. The only requirement is that you do not exceed the eight weeks allowed within a 12-month period.
Often people are hesitant to apply because the process can feel daunting or confusing. However, the benefit will be worth the effort if you are struggling to maintain your employment and your caregiving obligations simultaneously.
All too often I see caregivers struggle with all their responsibilities. As a result, the person who usually suffers is the caregiver themselves. Their own health may decline because they are stretched too thin, and the stress becomes overwhelming.
California’s Paid Family Leave program offers important financial support for people caring for a seriously ill family member. By providing partial wage replacement and allowing intermittent use of leave, the program helps caregivers maintain employment while meeting their many necessary caregiving obligations.
Understanding and utilizing these benefits can greatly benefit caregivers. Not only can it reduce the financial strain of caregiving, but it recognizes the value of their role as a caregiver. Families deserve to know these benefits are available to support them during challenging medical and caregiving circumstances.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
