California Paid Family Leave (PFL) Calculator

California Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides eligible workers with partial wage replacement when they take time off to bond with a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, or handle qualifying military events. The program ensures that employees receive financial support during their leave period.

1. Weekly Benefit Amount Formula

The weekly benefit amount under California PFL is approximately 60–70% of the worker’s average weekly wage, depending on income, subject to a maximum cap set by the state.

Formula:

$\text{Weekly Benefit}=min\left(\text{Average Weekly Wage}\times \text{Replacement Rate},\text{State Maximum Weekly Benefit}\right)$

2. Total Paid Leave Benefit Formula

The total benefit is calculated by multiplying the weekly benefit by the number of weeks taken under PFL (maximum 8 weeks).

Formula:

$\text{Total Paid Leave Benefit}=\text{Weekly Benefit}\times \text{Number of Weeks of Leave}$​​​​​​​

3. Wage Replacement Percentage Formula

The wage replacement percentage indicates how much of your usual income you will receive while on leave.

Formula:

$\text{Wage Replacement \%}=\left(\frac{\text{Weekly Benefit}}{\text{Average Weekly Wage}}\right)\times 100$

Example Calculation

Let’s assume the following input values:

• Average Weekly Wage = $1,000
• Replacement Rate = 70% (0.70)
• State Maximum Weekly Benefit = $1,620
• Number of Weeks of Leave = 6 weeks

Step 1: Weekly Benefit

$\text{Weekly Benefit}=min(1000\times 0.70,1620)=700$

Step 2: Total Paid Leave Benefit

$\text{Total Paid Leave Benefit}=700\times 6=4200$

Step 3: Wage Replacement %

$\text{Wage Replacement \%}=\left(\frac{700}{1000}\right)\times 100=70\%$

​​​​​​​So, the employee would receive $700 per week for 6 weeks, totaling $4,200, which covers 70% of their normal wages.