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Voice of the Fields California Febuary 2015

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Volume 25, Number 2

California’s Paid Family Leave Program

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he California Paid Family Leave (PFL) Act is an extension of the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. It allows individuals to miss work to care for their families without losing wages. The Paid Family Leave Program provides compensation for parents or spouses when they need to miss work due to: Q Care of a seriously ill child, sibling, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law or registered domestic partner.

Q Bonding with a new child or the new child of a spouse.

Paid Family Leave is not the same as Disability Insurance. They are two different programs, and both need to be applied to separately to qualify. In this section you can find answers to frequently asked questions about the California Paid Family Leave programs: What do I need to do to apply?

Paid Family leave is a part of the Disability Insurance (DI) program and those covered by DI are also covered by PFL. You must first register for DI, and then you may file a claim for PFL. You will need a medical certificate from your relative’s doctor or a birth certificate if applying for PFL to care for a child.

Is my job protected while I’m taking PFL? PFL provides income replacement while you are on leave, like disability insurance it does not guarantee job protection during your leave. However, you may be eligible for job-protected leave through the services of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the California Family Rights

Act (CFRA) or the California Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) law.

I’m pregnant and wonder if I can file a claim for State Disability Insurance benefits?

How much money will I receive?

Yes. A women can claim disability insurance weeks leading up to the birth and during recovery.

It will depend on your earnings, but it will be approximately 55% of your earned wages, and weekly benefits range from $50 to a maximum of $1,011. No more than six weeks of PFL benefits may be paid within any 12-month period.

Can I care for a family member who lives outside of the U.S.?

Yes. If you have a family member living outside of the United States who needs to be cared for, this qualifies under the Paid Family Leave Program. You must provide official medical certificates.

Can I apply even if I don’t have a legal right to work in the U.S. or a social security number?

Yes. Even if you are an undocumented immigrant, you are eligible for PFL. As long as you have been working in California and have had State Disability Wages (SDI) withheld from your paycheck, you can collect benefits.

Please visit: www.edd.ca.gov for more information on eligibility and the application form. Bilingual services are available Monday through Friday at 1-877- 238-4373.

Disability Insurance: Do You Qualify?

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isability benefits help protect your paycheck and your standard of living if you become disabled. These benefits supplement income to help pay for food, housing, or any of your usual expenses otherwise provided by a stable paycheck.

The State Disability Insurance (SDI) program provides partial wage replacement to eligible workers who are unable to work because of a disability, illness or pregnancy. The program is run by the state of California, and is funded through employee payroll deductions.

Workers who seek coverage due to a disability, illness or pregnancy are protected by two programs: Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL). The Employment Development Department (EDD) administers both of these programs. The following are the Employment Development Department’s most frequently asked questions on Disability Insurance:

What is the process to apply for Disability Insurance or Paid Family Leave?

To file a claim, you can call the EDD Disability Insurance service line and request a form, (Form 2501). You can also apply online, or walk into any local EDD office to get an application.

How much money will I receive from my Disability Insurance claim?

The amount of money collected will be approximately 55% of your total earnings.

Normal weekly benefits range from $50 to a maximum of $1,011.You may receive up to 52 weeks, or one year, of payments.

When should I file my claim?

You should file no earlier than the 9th and no later than the 49th day after the

date your claim states your disability began. If you are beyond the 49th day, include a letter explaining why you couldn’t file your claim in time.

Can a doctor outside of the U.S. certify my disability claim?

Yes, a licensed doctor from another country is able to sign your disability form so you can collect your benefits.

Can I apply even if I do not have a legal right to work in the U.S. or a social security number?

Yes, anyone working in California who pays into the California State Disability Insurance is potentially eligible for benefits. Your legal status does not affect your potential eligibility for benefits.

If I need to take time off for a disability, will the EDD protect my job?

No. DI provides you income replacement while on leave – it does not guarantee job protection during your leave. It is important that you arrange the time off with your employer before applying for Disability Insurance.

For help filing your claim, contact representatives at the Employment Development Department (EDD) of California at 1-800-480-3287 (English) or 1-866658-8846 (Spanish). To find an office, visit: www.edd.ca.gov/disability.

Voice of the Fields California Circulatiosn: 45,000 copies www.LaCooperativa.org Published monthly by: La Cooperativa Campesina de California 1107 9th Street, Suite 420, Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.388.2220 Fax 916.388.2425 This product was funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

The opinions expressed in this product are exclusive of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor.

This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.

What Are Measles?

A Brief Review

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easles have made an appearance back on the West Coast, leaving many with questions about the highly infectious disease. It is important to protect against measles, because it is the most easily transmitted of all childhood fever and rash illnesses.

However, Measles can be prevented with a combined vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Children should be given the first MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age. The second dose can be given as early as four weeks after the first dose, but is typically given before the start of kindergarten (age 4-6).

Below is information about the disease: What causes measles?

Measles is caused by a virus and spread from person to person through the air by infectious droplets from sneezing or coughing.

What should be done if someone is exposed to measles?

If the person has not been vaccinated, the measles vaccine may prevent disease if given within 72 hours of exposure.

How long after exposure do symptoms show?

What options for treatment are available?

The first symptom, usually a fever, appears an average 10-12 days after exposure. The measles rash doesn’t usually appear until approximately 14 days after exposure, 2-3 days after the fever begins and lasts 5-6 days.

A vaccine that combines both the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines, known as MMRV are available.

Is there a cure for measles?

There is no specific cure for measles other than the MMR vaccine as a preventative measure. People with measles need bed rest, fluids, and control of fever. Patients with complications may need treatment specific to their problem.

Who should get this vaccine?

All children, adolescents, and adults born in 1957 or later without a valid contraindication should have documentation of vaccination or other evidence of immunity. Additionally, some healthcare personnel who were born before 1957 may also need proof of vaccination or other evidence of immunity.

Adapted from Immunize.org

How is this vaccine given?

The vaccine is a shot given in two doses.

The first dose of MMR should be given on or after the child’s first birthday; the recommended age range is from 12-15 months. The second dose is usually given when the child is 4-6 years old, or before he or she enters kindergarten or first grade. However, the second dose can be given earlier as long as there has been a separation of at least 28 days since the first dose.

Visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ vpd-vac/measles/default.htm for comprehensive information on measles vaccinations.

Start Filing Your Taxes Now

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t’s never too early to start planning for your tax filing. The Federal tax deadline is Wednesday April 15, 2015. Beware, as the penalty for filing taxes late is severe. You can be penalized for 5% of the additional taxes owed for every month your return is late, up to a maximum of 25%. So, no matter what the situation is, file your taxes by the deadline. Should you also owe money to the IRS, it is also very important to pay on time to avoid expensive fees and interest on the money you owe. Going in prepared is crucial and there are plenty of resources available for assistance.

Seek advice from trusted organizations, like the Internal Revenue Service or their volunteer programs available in both English and Spanish: The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) The VITA Program provides free tax

help to people who make $52,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. The VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, churches, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations. To find a site near you, call: 1-800-906-9887.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) The TCE Program offers free tax help for all, with priority assistance to people who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions and issues that are unique to seniors. For a TCE center near you, call 1-888-227-7669.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Low to moderate-income filers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

This credit can reduce the amount you owe in taxes, and it may also give you a larger refund. For more information about filing your 2014 tax return visit www. irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040, Monday through Friday from 7am to7pm.

Agricultural Jobs available to U.S. workers under H-2A contract You may apply for these jobs by phone or in person at your nearest Employment Development Department (EDD) field office Active

CalJobs Number

Job Title

Pay Rates

Contract Dates

Positions

City of Job

Employer’s County (for ECMS)

EDD Workforce Service Site Office

1

14272372

Farmworker Onion

$11.33

04/15/15 05/15/15

24

Holtville

Imperial

El Centro WS (760)339-2722

2

14277230

Farmworker Lettuce

$11.33

04/11/15 11/06/15

180

Salinas

Monterey

Salinas WS (831) 796-3600

3

14279976

Farmworker Apples/Wine Grapes

$11.33

04/08/15 10/24/15

58

Forestville

Sonoma

Santa Rosa WS (707)5655550

4

14275928

Farmworker Apples/Wine Grapes

$11.33

4/4/2015 11/7/2015

80

Santa Maria

Santa Barbara

Santa Maria WS (805)614-1550

5

13898523

Farmworkers Sheepherder

$1600.34 Mo.

on-going

206

California and Western States

California and Western States

Selected EDD

The H-2A temporary agricultural program allows agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. The H-2A employers must demonstrate that qualified U.S. workers are not available for the job and the employment of temporary foreign workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers similarly employed. Preference in hiring will be given to qualified U.S. workers before employers are allowed to bring in foreign workers under the program.