Glossary

Term · California: Leave, Money, and Paperwork

waiting period

Also: unpaid waiting period, seven-day waiting period, SDI waiting period

The unpaid days at the start of a California claim before benefits begin. State Disability Insurance has a seven-day wait, and Paid Family Leave has had none since 2018.

In plain words

A waiting period is the set number of days at the start of a claim before benefit payments begin. In California, , which covers pregnancy and recovery from birth, has a seven-day unpaid waiting period. , which covers bonding time, has had no waiting period since 2018. Laws have changed these rules over the years, and the benefit amount has changed as well. Because of the wait, the first days of a disability leave are usually unpaid, and pay can start later than a family expects. The , which runs both programs, sets out which rules apply to a claim and a birth date.

The deeper version

California's benefit structure has changed through several statutes. The benefit formula moved from about 55 percent of wages at launch to 60 or 70 percent from 2018 under Assembly Bill 908 (2017), which also removed the Paid Family Leave waiting period. Senate Bill 951 (2022) raised the to 70 or 90 percent of wages from January 2025, with the higher rate for lower earners. The State Disability Insurance waiting period of seven days applies to disability claims for pregnancy-related disability as administered by the EDD. The policy purpose is to limit short claims and program cost. Advocates argue the unpaid days fall hardest on lower-wage workers, and the debate has shaped the recent changes.

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Sources

  • California Employment Development Department — Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave program guidance, current edition
  • California Legislature — Assembly Bill 908, 2017, paid family leave benefit changes
  • California Legislature — Senate Bill 951, 2022, paid family leave benefit rate changes

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