Beginning in 2018, New York State's Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides private sector workers with job-protected, paid leave. PFL can be used to:
- Bond with a newly born, adopted or fostered child;
- Care for a close relative with a serious health condition; or
- Assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active military service.
You can continue your health insurance while on leave and are guaranteed the same or a comparable job after your leave ends. If you contribute to the cost of your health insurance, you must continue to pay your portion of the premium cost while on Paid Family Leave.
Paid Family Leave benefits phase in over four years. During 2018, you can take up to eight weeks of Paid Family Leave and receive 50% of your average weekly wage (AWW), capped at 50% of the New York State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW). Your AWW is the average of your last eight weeks of pay prior to starting Paid Family Leave. The SAWW is updated annually.
Eligibility
- Full-time employees, who work a regular schedule of 20 or more hours per week, are eligible for Paid Family Leave after 26 consecutive weeks of employment.
- Part-time employees, who work a regular schedule of less than 20 hours per week, are eligible after working 175 days, which do not need to be consecutive.
Applying
- Notify your employer. When you want to take Paid Family Leave, you must notify your employer at least 30 days before your leave will start, if it’s foreseeable. Otherwise, notify your employer as soon as possible.
- Obtain required forms. Contact your employer or employer’s insurance carrier to obtain the required forms, or download them here by selecting the link below for the type of leave you’re requesting. Link to forms.
- Complete and submit forms. Fill out the Request for Paid Family Leave (Form PFL-1), following the instructions on the cover sheet, make a copy for your records, and submit it to your employer. Your employer must fill out their section of the form and return it to you within three business days. If your employer fails to respond, you may proceed to the next step below and submit all materials directly to your employer’s Paid Family Leave insurance carrier.
- Obtain and attach supporting documentation. The specific documentation and additional forms required for each type of leave are described on the request forms.
- Submit your request forms and supporting documentation. Submit to your employer’s Paid Family Leave insurance carrier. You can submit your claim before or within 30 days after the start of your leave. The insurance carrier must pay benefits or deny your request within 18 calendar days of receiving your completed request.
For more information on Paid Family Leave, speak to your business rep. or human resources department.
