2021 Paid Family Leave Benefit/Contribution Information Released
On Sept. 1, 2020, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) announced key elements of the Paid Family Leave (PFL) program for 2021, including the increase in covered benefits, premium amounts, and the risk adjustment for paid COVID-19 claims.
New York’s PFL program was first implemented on Jan. 1, 2018 and has been subject to a gradual phase-in of the weekly benefit percentage and the duration of the benefit. The table below compares the 2020 amounts to those now approved for 2021, at which point the program benefit percentage and duration will be fully phased in:
|
Paid Family Leave |
Calendar Year 2020 |
Calendar Year 2021 |
|
Weekly Benefit (% of avg. weekly wages) |
60% |
67% |
|
Duration of Benefit |
10 weeks |
12 weeks |
|
NYS Avg. Weekly Wage |
$1,404.17 |
$1,450.17 |
|
Maximum Weekly Benefit |
$840.70 |
$971.61 |
|
Employee Contribution Rate |
0.270% of wages/pay period |
0.511% of wages/pay period |
|
Maximum Annual Employee Contribution |
$196.72 |
$385.34 |
To determine the community rate for 2021, DFS reviewed claims, demographic, financial, and other PFL data for 2018, 2019, and the first six months of 2020, as well as data from other states with enacted PFL programs. The new employee contribution rate includes an additional 0.005 percent risk adjustment related to the payment of COVID-19 claims. These new benefit amounts and contribution rates take effect Jan. 1, 2021.
Contact: Dan Heim, dheim@leadingageny.org, 518-461-2934