Paid Family Leave

PAID FAMILY LEAVE
Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits are available to employees who contribute into a disability plan.  This leave can only be used to care for the serious health condition of a family member or to bond with a child.

Contribution
Those who contribute into the Basic Disability Plan are able to apply for PFL and must initiate a claim by calling Sedgwick, USC's third-party administrator.  If you contribute into the California State Disability Insurance (CSDI) Plan, you must apply for benefits through your local Employment Development Department (EDD) office.  Please visit www.ca.gov to get more information on filing a claim for CSDI benefits.

Eligibility
Employees who contribute into the Basic Disability Plan are eligible to apply for a PFL claim to receive a total of six weeks or 42 days of benefits.  If you are planning on applying for PFL for baby bonding, you have one year from the date of a baby's birth to use the benefit.

Your claims examiner from Sedgwick will discuss the necessary paperwork required from you to process your claim.

Waiting Period
Similar to Short-Term Disability, you must fulfill a 7-day waiting period; PFL benefits are payable to you on the eighth day of your leave.  Mothers who are going out for baby bonding following their maternity leave do not have to fulfill another seven-day waiting period for PFL.

Payments
Payments are based on the employee’s State Award amount.  This is a weekly benefit amount determined by EDD. 

Filing a Claim
Call Sedgwick at (800) 495-2315 to initiate a claim.  For more information on filing a claim, refer to How to File a Claim.