What To Know About Paid Family and Medical Leave

Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) programs can vary depending on your location. Learn about PFML and some facts about each state program.
 

What Is Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)?

  • Paid Family and Medical Leave is a benefit that allows employees to take extended time away from work to care for a family member or for their own non-work-related serious health condition.
  • Employees who take PFML receive a portion of their wages in a paid benefit during their absence. The benefit amount will vary depending on the employee’s average wages and based on the state PFML law.

How Can PFML Be Used?

In general, employees can take PFML to:
 
  • Bond with a new child, through birth, adoption or foster placement
  • Be a caregiver for an ill or injured relative
  • Respond to certain family military-related events, depending on the state
  • Tend to their own non-work-related disability

Who Pays for PFML?

  • Eligible employees can apply for and receive these benefits through a state program, an insurance carrier, or their employer, depending on state rules and regulations, if applicable.
  • PFML programs are generally funded through payroll deductions from employees, employer contributions or a combination of both.
  • Voluntary programs may differ. Please refer to The Hartford’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Resource Center for more information.

Where Is PFML Available?

  • Depending on where an employee works, some form of PFML may be required by state law. Some states require most private employers to provide employees with Paid Family Leave, Paid Medical Leave or both

It’s All About Location – States With PFML Programs

While the benefits and reasons for Leave may be similar, states may have different titles for their programs. The length of Leave and weekly pay benefits also vary.
 
This “Fast Facts” guide provides a quick overview of current state programs.
Fast Facts
 
  • Alabama’s insurance code now includes voluntary Paid Family Leave as a new form of insurance.
  • AL PFL is not a mandatory state program. It is only a voluntary insurance product.
Find out more about Alabama Paid Family Leave.
Fast Facts
 
  • Arkansas’ insurance code now includes voluntary Paid Family Leave as a new form of insurance.
  • AR PFL is not a mandatory state program. It is only a voluntary insurance product.
Find out more about Arkansas Paid Family Leave.
Fast Facts
 
  • Paid Family Leave (PFL) – up to 8 weeks.
  • State Disability Insurance (SDI) – up to 52 weeks.
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 60% to 70% of weekly wages to a maximum of $1,620 in 2024.
  • Nearly all employees are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through the state program or their employer.
Find out more about California Paid Family Leave.
Benefits scheduled to begin January 1, 2024
 
Fast Facts
 
  • Family, Medical and Safe Leave (PFML) – Employees can take 12 to 16 weeks of leave.
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 90% of weekly wages to a maximum of $1,100/week in 2024.
  • Nearly all employees are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through the state program or their employer.
Benefits began January 1, 2022
 
Fast Facts
 
  • Paid Family Leave and Medical Leave (PFML) – 12 to 14 weeks.
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to $900/week in 2023; and $941.40 for leaves beginning in 2024.
  • Nearly all employees of private employers are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through the state program, an insurance carrier or their employer.
For additional fast facts, visit the CT PFML Fast Facts Webpage.
 
Benefits scheduled to begin January 1, 2026
 
Fast Facts:
 
  • Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) – Employees can take up to a maximum of 12 weeks for parental leave per application year.*
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 80% of the employee's average weekly wages (subject to a potential reduction beginning 2027).
    • The weekly maximum benefit beginning January 1, 2026, is $900
  • Nearly all employees are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through the state program or their employer.
 
*  Six weeks in any 24-month period for other leaves (one’s own serious health condition, care of family member or qualifying military exigency). Under the Act, a covered individual is only eligible for non-parental leave benefits once in a 24-month period.
 
Fast Facts
 
  • Paid Family Leave (PFL) – Up to 12 weeks.
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 90% of weekly wages to a maximum of $1,009/week.
  • Length of medical leave – Up to 6 (out of the 12) weeks may be for employees’ own medical condition.*
  • Nearly all employees of private employers are eligible for this benefit coverage that is provided solely through the District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services.
 
* This may extend up to two weeks for pre-natal care.
Fast Facts
 
  • Florida’s insurance code now includes voluntary Paid Family Leave as a new form of insurance.
  • FL PFL is not a mandatory state program. It is only a voluntary insurance product.
Find out more about Florida Paid Family Leave.
Fast Facts
 
  • Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) – Up to 26 weeks.
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 58% of weekly wages to a maximum of $798/week in 2024.
  • Employees who work at least 20 hours/week for 14 weeks are eligible.
  • There is no Paid Family Leave in Hawaii, but employees can take up to 4 weeks of unpaid state Family Leave.
Fast Facts
 
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) – Employees can take up to 12 weeks of combined family and medical leave in a benefit year.
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 90% of the portion of their average weekly wages that is less than or equal to 50% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW); plus 66% of the portion of their average weekly wages that exceeds 50% of the SAWW, up to a maximum of the SAWW.
  • Nearly all ME employees are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through the state program or their employer.
Benefits scheduled to begin January 1, 2026
 
Fast Facts:
 
  • Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) – Employees can take up to 12 weeks combined Family or Medical Leave*
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 90% of the employee's average weekly wages, up to 65% of the statewide average weekly wage, plus 50% of anything greater.
    • The weekly maximum benefit beginning January 1, 2026, is $1,000.
  • Nearly all employees are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through the state program or their employer.
 
* Plus 12 additional weeks for certain leaves for one’s own serious health condition and bonding in the same application year.
 
Fast Facts
 
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) – 12 to 26 weeks (when combined).
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 80% of weekly wages up to a maximum of $1,129.82 for leaves beginning in 2023; and $1,149.90 for leaves beginning in 2024.
  • Nearly all employees of private employers are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through an insurance carrier, the state program or their employer.
 
Fast Facts:
 
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) – Employees can take up to 20 weeks of combined medical and family leave in a benefit year.
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 90% of their average weekly wages.
  • Nearly all MN employees are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through the state program or their employer.
Benefits scheduled to begin January 1, 2023
 
Fast Facts
 
  • A Paid Family Leave program was established for New Hampshire state employees, but private employers and their employees may voluntarily opt in.
  • Paid Family Leave (PFL) – Employees receive up to six weeks of time off.
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 60% of weekly wages, capped at the Social Security taxable wage maximum.
Find out more about New Hampshire Paid Family Leave.
Fast Facts
 
  • Family Leave Insurance (FLI) – Up to 12 weeks.
  • Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) – Up to 26 weeks.
  • Weekly benefit for FLI and TDI – Employees can receive up to 85% of weekly wages to a maximum of $1,025/week for 2023; and $1,055/week for 2024.
  • Nearly all employees are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through a private insurance carrier, the state program or their employer.
Find out more about New Jersey Family Leave Insurance.
Fast Facts
 
  • Paid Family Leave (PFL) – up to 12 weeks.
  • Disability Leave (DBL) – up to 26 weeks (when combined with PFL).
  • Weekly benefit PFL – Employees can receive up to 67% of weekly wages with a maximum of $1,131.08/week in 2023; and $1,151.16/week in 2024.
  • Weekly benefit DBL – Employees can receive up to 50% of weekly wages, with a maximum of $170/week for DBL.
  • Nearly all employees of private employers are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through an insurance carrier, the State Insurance Fund or their employer.
Find out more about New York Paid Family Leave.
Benefits begin September 3, 2023
 
Fast Facts
 
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (PFMLI) – 12 to 14 weeks.
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 120% of average state weekly wage.
  • Nearly all employees of private employers are eligible for this benefit coverage, either through an insurance carrier, the state program, or their employer.
Find out more about Oregon Paid Family and Medical Leave.
Fast Facts
 
  • Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) – Up to 6 weeks in 2024.
  • Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) – Up to 30 weeks.*
  • Weekly benefit for TCI and TDI – Employees can receive up to a maximum of $1,043/week.
  • Nearly all employees of private employers are eligible for this benefit coverage that is provided solely through the State’s Department of Labor and Training.
 
* No more than 30 weeks combined in a 52-week period under TDI/TCI
Fast Facts
 
  • Tennessee’s insurance code now includes voluntary Paid Family Leave as a new form of insurance.
  • TN PFL is not a mandatory state program. It is only a voluntary insurance product.
Find out more about Tennessee Paid Family Leave.
Fast Facts
 
  • Texas’ insurance code now includes voluntary Paid Family Leave as a new form of insurance.
  • TX PFL is not a mandatory state program. It is only a voluntary insurance product.
Find out more about Texas Paid Family Leave.
Fast Facts
 
  • The VT FMLI program is being established to offer voluntary family and medical leave benefit coverage to Vermont employers and eligible employees. Private employers and other non-state public employers may voluntarily choose to offer these benefits to their employees. Employees can also choose to purchase benefits either from their employer, if available, or from the VT FMLI individual purchasing pool if coverage is not available through their employer. 
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) – Up to 6 weeks in a 12-month period
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 60% of weekly wages. Wages, for the purpose of calculating benefits, are capped at the Social Security Base Benefit Limit.*
  • For medical leave, there is a 7-calendar day waiting period and payments will begin on the 8th day. For family leave, claims will be paid for the first fully scheduled workday of leave.
 
The contribution and benefit base limit established annually by the federal Social Security Administration for purposes of the Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program limits pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 430.
 
Fast Facts
 
  • Virginia’s insurance code now includes voluntary Paid Family Leave as a new form of insurance. Private carriers can offer voluntary, fully insured benefits in a rider to a Short-term Disability policy, included in a Short-term Disability policy, or as a standalone policy.
  • This is not a mandatory program.
Find out more about Virginia Paid Family Leave.
Fast Facts
 
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) – 12 to 16 weeks.*
  • Weekly benefit – Employees can receive up to 90% of weekly wages to a maximum of $1,456 for claims initiated in 2024.
  • Nearly all employees are eligible for this benefit coverage either through the state program or their employer.
Find out more about Washington Paid Family Medical Leave.
 
* Up to an additional two weeks for Medical Leave if the employee experiences a serious health condition with a pregnancy that results in incapacity.
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This informational material is subject to change as The Hartford continues to receive guidance from states and municipalities. It shall not be considered legal advice. The Hartford assumes no responsibility for legal compliance with respect to an employer’s business practices, and the views and recommendations contained herein shall not constitute The Hartford’s undertaking on a company’s behalf, or for the benefit of others, to determine or warrant that an employer’s business operations are in compliance with any law, rule, or regulation. Employers seeking resolution of specific legal or business issues, questions, or concerns regarding this topic should consult their own attorney or business advisors; and employees should continue to consult their employers’ Human Resources or other employment benefits department for guidance on the application of any law, rule, or regulation.
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