One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
More family leave pay in California starting in January
Starting in the new year, workers who go on paid family leave will get higher payments from the state to replace their wages.
(
Didier Pallages
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
Starting in the new year, California will increase family leave payments for workers caring for a new child or sick family member.
The backstory: If you look at your paystub, you might notice that about 1% is withheld for the state’s disability fund. (It’s often labeled “CASDI” or “CA Disability Employee.”) Right now, most workers can get 60% of their income from that fund when they take time off for disability or paid family leave.
What’s new: Workers who make about $60,000 or less will now get paid 90% of their income starting January, and other workers will get 70%.
How it’s funded: Previously, there was a cap each year on the amount higher earners paid into the fund. Those workers only paid a percentage of their income (up to $153,164 in 2023). Now, that cap is gone, and all workers pay the same percentage for all of their income — which is 1.2% for 2025.
Read more: California is increasing paid family leave benefits starting in January. Here's what to know
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
