How does NYS Paid Family Leave work?

Update: Paid Leave may be available if you need to care for yourself or your child during a COVID-19 order of quarantine or isolation. For more information about paid leave for COVID-19, go to New Paid Leave for COVID-19 . Workers can take Paid Family Leave to: Bond with a child within 12 months of birth, adoption, or foster placement. Care for a family member with a serious health condition. Assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad. If eligible, you can take up to 12 weeks of leave. Leave can be taken all at once or intermittently. Leave must be taken for full days, not half days. You can get paid up to 67% of your average weekly wage. The maximum weekly benefit for 2021 is $971.61. To see how much you can get every week, use the 2021 Wage Benefit Calculator . Paid Family Leave also provides: job protection continued health insurance protection from discrimination or retaliation Immigration status doesn’t affect your eligibility for Paid Family Leave.

Am I eligible for NYS Paid Family Leave?

NY State Paid Family Leave is available to all New York State residents who: Work for a private employer in New York State, or a public employer who has opted in. Some categories of workers aren’t eligible for PFL. Learn more about what kinds of workers are eligible . If you’re not sure if you’re covered for PFL, speak to your employer. Meet the time-worked requirements before taking Paid Family Leave: Full-time employees who regularly work 20 or more hours/week can take PFL after working 26 consecutive weeks. Part-time employees who regularly work fewer than 20 hours/week can take PFL after working 175 days. These days don’t need to be consecutive.

What do I need in order to apply to NYS Paid Family Leave?

You’ll need different documents depending on your situation. Check the links below for the documents that you’ll need. Bonding leave for: the birth of a child the adoption of a child fostering a child Family Care Military Family Support New Paid Leave for COVID-19 In general, you’ll need to prove your identity, family relationship, address, and income. You’ll also need to provide proof of a qualifying event to file a PFL claim.

How do I Apply to NYS Paid Family Leave?

Apply for PFL through your employer. Notify your employer at least 30 days before you want to take leave, if possible. Otherwise, notify them as soon as possible. Download and fill out a claim form based on your employer’s instructions. For all forms, go to the NYS Paid Family Leave Forms page . Claim forms are also available from your employer or their insurance carrier. Gather supporting documentation for your claim. Each claim form tells you what documents you’ll need. This might include birth certificates, military deployment certification, and more. Submit your claim form and documents to your employer’s insurance carrier or as directed by your employer. Ask your employer who their insurance carrier is. You can also call the Paid Family Leave Helpline at 844-337-6303 if you don’t know who their insurance carrier is. Call Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In most cases, your employer’s insurance carrier must pay or deny your claim within 18 days of receiving your completed claim.

NYS Paid Family Leave

1. How it Works

Paid Family Leave (PFL) gives eligible employees paid time off to care for family. Your job is protected when you’re on leave.

Update: Paid Leave may be available if you need to care for yourself or your child during a COVID-19 order of quarantine or isolation. For more information about paid leave for COVID-19, go to New Paid Leave for COVID-19.

Workers can take Paid Family Leave to:
- Bond with a child within 12 months of birth, adoption, or foster placement.
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition.
- Assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad.
If eligible, you can take up to 12 weeks of leave.
- Leave can be taken all at once or intermittently.
- Leave must be taken for full days, not half days.
You can get paid up to 67% of your average weekly wage.
- The maximum weekly benefit for 2021 is $971.61.
- To see how much you can get every week, use the 2021 Wage Benefit Calculator.
Paid Family Leave also provides:
- job protection
- continued health insurance
- protection from discrimination or retaliation
Immigration status doesn’t affect your eligibility for Paid Family Leave.

Next section:

2. Determine Your Eligibility

2. Determine your eligibility

NY State Paid Family Leave is available to all New York State residents who:

Work for a private employer in New York State, or a public employer who has opted in.
- Some categories of workers aren’t eligible for PFL. Learn more about what kinds of workers are eligible.
- If you’re not sure if you’re covered for PFL, speak to your employer.
Meet the time-worked requirements before taking Paid Family Leave:
- Full-time employees who regularly work 20 or more hours/week can take PFL after working 26 consecutive weeks.
- Part-time employees who regularly work fewer than 20 hours/week can take PFL after working 175 days. These days don’t need to be consecutive.

Next section:

3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

You’ll need different documents depending on your situation. Check the links below for the documents that you’ll need.

In general, you’ll need to prove your identity, family relationship, address, and income.

You’ll also need to provide proof of a qualifying event to file a PFL claim.

Next section:

4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Apply for PFL through your employer.

Notify your employer at least 30 days before you want to take leave, if possible. Otherwise, notify them as soon as possible.
Download and fill out a claim form based on your employer’s instructions.
- For all forms, go to the NYS Paid Family Leave Forms page.
- Claim forms are also available from your employer or their insurance carrier.
Gather supporting documentation for your claim.
- Each claim form tells you what documents you’ll need.
- This might include birth certificates, military deployment certification, and more.
Submit your claim form and documents to your employer’s insurance carrier or as directed by your employer.
- Ask your employer who their insurance carrier is.
- You can also call the Paid Family Leave Helpline at 844-337-6303 if you don’t know who their insurance carrier is. Call Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In most cases, your employer’s insurance carrier must pay or deny your claim within 18 days of receiving your completed claim.

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