The main California PFL phone number is 1-877-238-4373 for English speakers and 1-877-379-3819 for Spanish. Representatives at the Employment Development Department answer Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time, except on state holidays.1Employment Development Department. Contact EDD For any other language, call the English line and press 3 to reach a free interpreter.
Every PFL Number and When to Use Each
The EDD runs several lines depending on your language and what you need help with. Use the one that matches your question so you don’t get transferred.
- English PFL line: 1-877-238-4373
- Spanish PFL line: 1-877-379-3819
- Other languages: 1-877-238-4373, press 3 for an interpreter
- TTY for deaf or hard of hearing callers: 1-800-445-1312
- California Relay Service: dial 711 and give the operator the PFL number
- Form 1099G tax questions: 1-866-401-2849, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Request a copy of Form 1099G: 1-866-333-4606, automated and available 24/7
- Report fraud: 1-800-229-6297
The 1099G lines matter more than you might expect. If you received PFL benefits during the year, the EDD mails your 1099G in late January. If it never arrives or the amount looks wrong, 1-866-401-2849 goes straight to the staff who handle tax reporting, instead of the general PFL agents who would transfer you anyway.
If you receive EDD mail for benefits you never claimed, or a 1099G for payments you didn’t apply for, call the fraud hotline at 1-800-229-6297 or 1-866-401-2849 before it turns into a tax problem.2Employment Development Department. Help Us Fight Fraud
Hours and the Best Times to Call
Live representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. The lines close on the EDD’s observed state holidays. In 2026 those are:
- January 1: New Year’s Day
- January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- February 16: Presidents’ Day
- March 31: Cesar Chavez Day
- May 25: Memorial Day
- July 3: Independence Day (observed)
- September 7: Labor Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
- November 26 and 27: Thanksgiving Day and the day after
- December 25: Christmas Day
The EDD stays open on several days people often assume are holidays, including Lincoln’s Birthday on February 12, Juneteenth on June 19, and Columbus Day on October 12.3Employment Development Department. Holidays
Mondays and the day after any closure stack up the queue. Tuesday through Thursday, right at 8 a.m., gives you the shortest wait. By mid-morning, hold times can stretch past an hour, and there is no automated callback option. If every agent is busy, you wait, or the system drops the call during peak volume.
What to Have Ready Before You Dial
EDD agents verify your identity before they will discuss anything on your claim. Calling without the right information usually means a transfer, another hold, or being told to call back. Gather this first:
- Your Social Security number
- Your EDD Customer Account Number, the ten-digit number printed on notices the EDD mails after you file
- Your photo ID: driver’s license, state ID, or passport number
- Your employer’s name, phone number, and mailing address exactly as shown on your W-2 or pay stub, plus the last day you worked your normal hours
For a care claim, also have the treating physician’s name and contact information, because the doctor must complete and sign a medical certification form.4Employment Development Department. Paid Family Leave – Step 1 Get Your Information in Order
Getting Through the Automated Menu
The PFL phone system opens with a language choice. On the English line, press 1 or wait after the greeting. On the Spanish line, say “Spanish” or press 2. On either line, press 3 for an interpreter in another language.5Employment Development Department. Paid Family Leave Automated Phone Service Instructions
After the language selection, you’ll hear recorded information and additional menu options that shift based on your earlier choices. When you’re ready to reach a person, say “agent” or press 0.
If You’d Rather Not Call
Most PFL business can be handled without the phone. SDI Online lets you file a claim, view payments, submit forms, and update your address at any hour.6Employment Development Department. SDI Online For questions that aren’t urgent, the Ask EDD portal at askedd.edd.ca.gov takes written inquiries and usually responds within a few business days.7Employment Development Department. Ask EDD
The EDD also runs Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave offices around the state that can help with document review, identity verification, and claim questions in person. Call the office first to confirm staff are on site that day, because not every location has representatives available every day.8Employment Development Department. Office Locator