Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance

* A family member is defined as an individual with whom the employee has a significant bond that is like a family relationship, regardless of biological or legal relationship.

Up to 12 weeks of Family Leave or Medical Leave, up to a combined total of 12 weeks in a benefit year (generally a 12-month period).

 

Weekly benefit calculation:

 

The state program generally will be funded with a 50/50 split of employer and employee contributions up to 1.0% of weekly wages, up to the social security wage max. Employers with fewer than 15 employees will not have to pay the employer’s portion of the premium, though they must still collect and remit the employee portion. Employers and employees will begin contributing on January 1, 2025, unless they have an approved private plan.

ME PFML benefits generally will be available to Maine employees earning at least six times the state average weekly wage, subject to premiums during their base period (generally, the year before their first day of leave).

Most employers with employees at a location in Maine must participate. Exceptions exist for tribal employers and the self-employed, unless they elect coverage. There are certain exceptions for public employees subject to an existing collective bargaining agreement until those agreements expire.

Yes, an employer-offered private plan that provides Family and Medical Leave benefits must be approved by the state and must confer rights, protections and benefits substantially equal to those provided to employees under the state program. Both self-insured and insured private plans are permitted.

The Hartford is currently evaluating our private plan offering for both fully insured and self-insured plans for effective dates of May 1, 2026, and later.