Navigating Paid Leave in Washington D.C.
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If you are the birthing parent, you’ll need to file for:
Who should apply?
Tips for Applying
Prepare to file. For a checklist of required documentation and forms, visit Before You Apply.
Prepare to wait. The Office of Paid Family leave (OPFL) will review your claim within 10 business days. You can estimate your benefits amount here (located on the bottom of the webpage).
Provide confirmation of your weekly benefit rate to your employer or leave and claims administrator. If your company works with Parento, also provide a copy to your Parento Leave Administrator.
Your company may choose not to pay you paid parental leave while you’re waiting for the approval from the state for PFML. While you may be eligible for parental leave pay, you may see a delay. If you have concerns, reach out to your company.
How much time is available? Up to 8 weeks in a 52-week period. Birthing parents may be eligible for an additional 2 weeks of Prenatal Leave for medical care related to pregnancy.
Note: Prenatal Leave taken before the birth of a child does not count against the 8 weeks of PFL.
When will benefits begin? Benefits are payable following a 1-week waiting period.
How much of my pay does PFL provide? Between 50% and 90% of wages up to 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage, not to exceed $1,049 per week. To understand how your benefits are calculated, download the PFL Employee Handbook.
When am I eligible for PFL? You may file for Paid Family Leave following a parental leave qualifying event. Generally, this is after the birth or placement of child. For birthing parents, you may file for Prenatal Leave prior to the birth of a child.
What to Expect
Once you begin your leave, you will need to file a claim for Paid Family Leave. You may file online, by phone, or in person. To file by phone or for more information on filing in person, call (202) 899-3700. New claims should be submitted as soon as possible after the qualifying event but no later than 30 days following the start of leave. When submitting your claim, you will also need to provide documentation of a qualifying event with your claim.
As the birthing parent, you may be eligible for Prenatal Leave. To request Prenatal Leave, your healthcare provider must complete a Prenatal Leave Medical Certification Form. For more information about Paid Family Leave, including filing instructions, please see the How to Apply for Benefits.
If your employer has a private STD policy, you will also need to file for those benefits. STD benefits are reduced by what you receive from PFL. That means you may or may not receive benefits from STD, depending on how much you receive from PFML. For more information, refer to your employer’s STD policy.
Your company may cover the difference between what STD and/or PFL pays to the limits of the paid parental leave policy. It is important that you file for these benefits as soon as possible to avoid delays in pay.
Example: Birthing parent eligible for STD, PFL (including prenatal leave) and 14 weeks of paid parental leave (below):
If you are not the birthing mom, you have to apply for:
Who should apply?
Tips for Applying
Prepare to file. For a checklist of required documentation and forms, visit Before You Apply.
Prepare to wait. The Office of Paid Family leave (OPFL) will review your claim within 10 business days. You can estimate your benefits amount here (located on the bottom of the webpage).
Provide confirmation of your weekly benefit rate to your employer or leave and claims administrator. If your company works with Parento, also provide a copy to your Parento Leave Administrator.
Your company may choose not to pay you paid parental leave while you’re waiting for the approval from the state for PFML. While you may be eligible for parental leave pay, you may see a delay. If you have concerns, reach out to your company.
How much time is available? Up to 8 weeks in a 52-week period.
When will benefits begin? Benefits are payable following a 1-week waiting period.
How much of my pay does PFL provide? Between 50% and 90% of wages up to 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage, not to exceed $1,049 per week. To understand how your benefits are calculated, download the PFL Employee Handbook.
When am I eligible for PFL? You may file for Paid Family Leave following a parental leave qualifying event. Generally, this is after the birth or placement of child.
What to Expect
Once you begin your leave, you will need to file a claim for Paid Family Leave. You may file online, by phone, or in person. To file by phone or for more information on filing in person, call (202) 899-3700. New claims should be submitted as soon as possible after the qualifying event but no later than 30 days following the start of leave. When submitting your claim, you will also need to provide documentation of a qualifying event with your claim.
For more information about Paid Family Leave, including filing instructions, please see the How to Apply for Benefits.
If your employer has a private STD policy, you will also need to file for those benefits. STD benefits are reduced by what you receive from PFL. That means you may or may not receive benefits from STD, depending on how much you receive from PFML. For more information, refer to your employer’s STD policy.
Your company may cover the difference between what STD and/or PFL pays to the limits of the paid parental leave policy. It is important that you file for these benefits as soon as possible to avoid delays in pay.
Example: Non-birthing parent eligible for PFL and 14 weeks of paid parental leave (below):
