Overview

The D.C. Paid Family Leave Program is a government benefits program that provides D.C. private sector workers with wage-replacement benefits while they are on leave from work to bond with a new child; take care of an ill family member; attend to a serious health condition; or receive prenatal care. D.C. employers contribute to the program fund on a quarterly basis and workers can receive up to a maximum of 90% wage replacement. Benefits became available to D.C. workers on July 1, 2020. This fact sheet outlines significant program-related changes, effective October 1, 2022. For general information about the program, click here.

Do you need help applying for DC Paid Family Benefits? We have created a step-by-step to guide you through the application process. You can find the document here.

Expanded benefits

The latest amendments to the D.C. Paid Family Leave Program, introduced a plan to incrementally increase the maximum benefits for parental, family, and medical leave to twelve weeks per year, depending on projections related to the solvency of the paid family leave benefits fund. Recent projections showed that the program could increase the maximum benefit amount.

Beginning October 1, 2022:

• Parental benefits increase from a maximum of eight weeks to twelve weeks for workers welcoming a new child to their home.

• Medical benefits increase from a maximum of six weeks to twelve weeks for workers experiencing a serious health condition.

• Family caregiving benefits increase from a maximum of six weeks to twelve weeks for workers caring for a family member experiencing a serious health condition.

Decreased payroll tax

Recent projections also showed that the payroll tax that employers or self-employed individuals pay can be decreased by over half. Beginning July 1, 2022, the payroll tax will decrease from 0.62% to 0.26%.

Read our blog post about the recent expansion here.