California EDD — Unemployment & Job Services
State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave
Review whether your own illness, injury, surgery, pregnancy or childbirth prevents work; EDD makes the eligibility decision.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Full DI benefits are limited to the lesser of 52 weeks or base-period wages; part-time reductions can change elapsed payment duration.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Am I Eligible for Disability Insurance Benefits? — service-di-eligibility
You may qualify for Disability Insurance (DI) if you can’t work and lose wages when you need time off for:
Saved evidence: 9df2f3e215b065f6 · Agent source review
Check the filing window and arrange medical certification. Paper filing is required in some circumstances.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Step 2: Apply — service-di-apply
The fastest way to apply for disability benefits is through myEDD.
Saved evidence: e4bc151d95c67962 · Agent source review
Use the official request and mail instructions for DE 2501. Generic EDD correspondence addresses are not claim submission addresses.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Paper filing is required for the listed ID/SSN, name, error-code and under-18 circumstances; see EDD’s exact list.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Step 2: Apply — service-di-mail
To request a paper application and for help applying by mail, visit How to File a Disability Insurance Claim by Mail.
Saved evidence: e4bc151d95c67962 · Agent source review
Read the complete application, certification, benefit and return-to-work steps. An estimate of benefits does not confirm eligibility.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
DI has a seven-calendar-day unpaid waiting period; the first payable day is day eight.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Avoid duplicate claim submissions, which EDD says delay processing.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Disability Insurance Claim Process — service-di-process
Disability Insurance (DI) provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible California workers.
Saved evidence: 5c3221a3e336e78e · Agent source review
PFL may provide wage replacement for eligible bonding, care or military-assist leave; the claim type changes the required documentation.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Am I Eligible for Paid Family Leave Benefits? — service-pfl-eligibility
You may qualify for Paid Family Leave (PFL) if you can’t work and lose wages when you need time off work for family leave. If eligible, you can get benefit payments for up to eight weeks.
Saved evidence: ed22c24785282422 · Agent source review
Use the PFL application route and file within the appropriate window. Do not use a DI application for someone else’s medical condition.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Step 2: Apply — service-pfl-apply
The fastest way to apply for Paid Family Leave benefits is through myEDD.
Saved evidence: 2f4f149a0b80c4e1 · Agent source review
Follow the official DE 2501F instructions and the address supplied with the claim materials.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Step 2: Apply — service-pfl-mail
To request a paper application and for help applying by mail, visit How to File a Paid Family Leave Claim by Mail.
Saved evidence: 2f4f149a0b80c4e1 · Agent source review
Check your claim type and required attachments. The legacy care-attachment upload instructions conflict; confirm current submission instructions with EDD.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
PFL has no waiting period; DI’s seven-day waiting period is a separate rule.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
EDD’s current contact page says SDI Online now supports PFL status, payment history and document uploads. The older FAQ still directs status questions to phone; follow current account instructions for your claim.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Paid Family Leave Claim Process — service-pfl-process
Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible California workers who need time off work for family leave.
Saved evidence: 60a3003347bff22d · Agent source review
Use the address on your determination notice. EDD’s DI/PFL appeal route is separate from unemployment appeals.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
State Disability Insurance Appeals — service-di-appeal
If you are not eligible for DI or PFL benefits, you have the right to appeal any decision electronically or in writing within 30 days of the date your notice was issued.
Saved evidence: 6b4ece9a5c36a04d · Agent source review
Use the address on your determination notice. EDD’s DI/PFL appeal route is separate from unemployment appeals.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
State Disability Insurance Appeals — service-pfl-appeal
If you are not eligible for DI or PFL benefits, you have the right to appeal any decision electronically or in writing within 30 days of the date your notice was issued.
Saved evidence: 6b4ece9a5c36a04d · Agent source review
Report work and wages promptly and return the applicable continuation or medical-extension forms.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Report work and wages immediately, even before wages are actually paid.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Step 6: Manage Benefits — service-di-manage
You must contact us right away if: You return to part-time or full-time work. You receive any wages. Report any work and wages—even if you were not paid yet.
Saved evidence: e7a8459121c40173 · Agent source review
Follow the specific end-of-claim instructions; an early return must be reported.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Recovery or return on the reported medical end date stops the claim automatically.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
An early return must be reported through Claim Update, the automated phone option or a listed continuation/recovery form.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Step 7: End Your Benefits — service-di-end
If you recover or return to work on the date your physician/practitioner provided, your claim will stop automatically. You don’t need to do anything.
Saved evidence: 5c3341d4f2b5e1ff · Agent source review
Licensed professionals must complete the relevant medical certificate and follow DI-specific filing and extension periods.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Do not duplicate an already submitted online certificate by mailing it.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Certify or Extend Claims – Basics for Physicians/Practitioners — service-di-certifier
Both DI claims and PFL care claims require a medical certification to be complete.
Saved evidence: 0c5907a5d8265416 · Agent source review
Check the DE 2503 response instructions, payroll contributions and required employee notices.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Employer Requirements — service-di-employer
Notice to Employer of Disability Insurance Claim Filed (DE 2503) – Sent to you after the employee files a DI claim.
Saved evidence: a1d7b9c2493216f5 · Agent source review
Continuation forms differ for care, bonding and military-assist claims. Report work, wages and care-recipient changes.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Immediately report work/wages, care-recipient recovery or the listed recipient’s death.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Step 6: Manage Benefits — service-pfl-manage
Updating Your Initial Claim
Saved evidence: fab7fda7c7756316 · Agent source review
Notify EDD for a return to work, recovery or other listed changes; follow the automatic-payment versus other-payment instructions.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
If an eight-week continuous claim is interrupted by a temporary return to work, stop and reopen the claim.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Step 7: End Your Benefits — service-pfl-end
Notify us to stop your benefits if:
Saved evidence: 6bbc0b53bcae5a77 · Agent source review
Care claims require the care recipient’s medical certification; the PFL filing and extension windows differ from DI.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Certify or Extend Claims – Basics for Physicians/Practitioners — service-pfl-certifier
On PFL care claims you, your patient, and their caregiver must all sign and certify the claim.
Saved evidence: 0c5907a5d8265416 · Agent source review
Return DE 2503F on paper within the stated period; the DI online employer process is different.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
The employer overview says PFL employer responses cannot currently be submitted in SDI Online; claimant document uploads are a different function.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Employees covered by an employer voluntary plan should ask their personnel/benefits office about that claim route.
Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Employer Requirements — service-pfl-employer
Notice of Paid Family Leave (PFL) Claim Filed (DE 2503F) – Sent to you after the employee has filed a PFL claim.
Saved evidence: a1d7b9c2493216f5 · Agent source review
Check the qualifying military relationship, overseas deployment event and supporting documents.
Service area: California statewide information and programme access; personal eligibility and provider availability require confirmation. Area details & sources
Source checked October 26, 2026
Paid Family Leave for Military Family — service-pfl-military
Paid Family Leave (PFL) offers partial wage replacement when you need time off work to support your military family member.
Saved evidence: 3943687f4a7c7154 · Agent source review