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Thousands of families in California no longer have to choose between caring for a loved one and earning a paycheck as the result of an extension to the State Disability Insurance program. Instead, a new plan called the Paid Family Leave insurance program, also known as Family Temporary Disability Insurance program, allows individuals to take time off from work to bond with a new child or to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent or domestic partner, “You see families that are caring for children, caring for a disabled spouse and an aging parent, and trying to maintain themselves in the work force,” says Claudia Ellano, director of the Orange Caregiver Resource Center. “And they can now, with this new law, be able to get a paid family medical leave and not have to worry about, ‘What do I do economically?’” The first statewide program of its kind in the nation, which went into effect July 1, allows workers to take off up to six weeks off work each year and receive up to 55% of their wages, up to a maximum of $728 per week, in 2004. The paid leave may be taken all at once or in hourly, daily or weekly increments. In order to take advantage of the program, workers must already be paying into the State Disability Insurance system. In addition to caring for a new child (birth, adopted or foster), individuals also can take time off to care for a loved with a serious health condition. What constitutes a serious health condition? According to the California Employment Development Department, “a serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition of a patient that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility. This includes any period of incapacity (e.g., inability to work, attend school, or perform other regular daily activities) or any subsequent treatment in connection with such inpatient care, or continuing treatment by a physician or practitioner.” Some examples of conditions that do not meet the definition include the common cold, earaches and upset stomachs. “It’s significant because it puts in law this is an important part of family life,” says Ellano. For more information on California’s Paid Family Leave insurance program, visit www.edd.ca.gov or www.paidfamilyleave.org. Sandy Bennett is associate editor for OC Family Magazine. At a Glance ** Paid Family Leave is unemployment compensation disability insurance paid to workers who suffer a wage loss when they take time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. ** Workers may receive up to six weeks of benefits that may be paid over a 12-month period. ** Weekly benefit amounts will be approximately 55 percent of your earnings up to the maximum weekly benefit amount of $728. ** The Paid Family Leave insurance program is fully funded by employees’ contributions, similar to the SDI program. ** Both SDI and Paid Family Leave require a waiting period; employees must be off work at least eight calendar days to receive benefits. ** The law gives an employer the option to require an employee to take up to two weeks of earned but unused vacation leave. ** Eligibility for up to six weeks of benefits to bond with a new minor child expires at the end of the 12-month period that begins on the minor child’s date of birth, adoption, or foster care placement. ** The Paid Family Leave program does not protect anyone’s job. It simply provides partial wage replacement. ** Claims to provide care or to bond must be submitted on the Claim for Paid Family Benefits form, DE 2501F. ** To order a claim form, call 877.BE.THERE. |
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