Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave has been kicking around for what seems like forever. But the actual leave taking began 1/1/21 for most leaves, with all benefits available 7/1/21.
The most common PFML question is from employers with pregnant employees: how does both the medical and family leave work in this situation?
Eligibility/Application: Employees who are expecting to give birth can sign up for both medical leave to recover after child birth, and family leave for child bonding purposes. Information on what is needed for an application is found here: https://www.mass.gov/guides/what-to-expect-when-you-apply-for-paid-family-and-medical-leave-benefits. In many cases a mother will need medical leave certified by their health provider and can apply up to 30 days in advance of need for medical leave.
Family Leave Transition: As a parent or legal guardian, an employee can apply for family leave to bond with a child before the child is born, using the child’s expected due date. After the child’s birth, the employee will need to provide the Department of Family and Medical Leave with documentation of the child’s actual date of birth in order to start receiving payments. If the mother chose to take medical leave and then transition into family leave, the employee will need to call the DFML to make a transition.
Maximum Leave Benefits: The employee will be eligible for the maximum of the following:
- Up to 20 weeks of medical leave for a serious health condition. This can include recovery after childbirth. Generally, health care providers approve between four and eight weeks of recovery, depending on the manner of birth.
- 12 weeks of family leave for child bonding purposes.
- an employee can take up to 26 weeks of combined medical and family leave total (maximum) under the PFML leave per year.
BONUS: Leave pay: The state has a fun in- a- tortuous- way calculation they undertake with a maximum benefit of $850 a week.
Done and dusted! Questions? We can help.