Delaware · DE PFML
Delaware paid family leave
Delaware phased in contributions during 2025 ahead of benefits becoming payable in 2026. Different parts of the program apply based on employer size.
At a glance
Maximum duration
12 weeks per application year for parental leave; 6 weeks per 24 months for medical, family caregiving, or exigency; 12 weeks combined maximum
Benefit formula
80% of average weekly wage
Waiting period
None
Private plans
Program detail
How DE PFML works
DE PFML
- Program
- Healthy Delaware Families Act (DE PFML)
- Contributions effective
- January 1, 2025
- Benefits effective
- January 1, 2026
- Covered employers
- Employers with 10 or more Delaware employees are subject to at least part of the program; employers with 25 or more are subject to all components
- Employee eligibility
- At least 1,250 hours worked in Delaware for the employer during the previous 12 months, and at least 12 months of service
- Covered reasons
- Own serious health condition
- Bond with a new child
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition
- Qualifying military exigency
- Maximum duration
- 12 weeks per application year for parental leave; 6 weeks per 24 months for medical, family caregiving, or exigency; 12 weeks combined maximum
- Waiting period
- None
- Contribution rate
- 0.8% of wages in total: 0.32% parental, 0.08% family caregiving, 0.4% medical
- Employee share
- Employers may require employees to pay up to 50%
- Benefit formula
- 80% of average weekly wage
- Maximum weekly benefit
- $900 per week in 2026
- Private plans allowed
- YesFully insuredSelf-funded
- Approval and election
- Private plans must be approved by the Delaware Department of Labor and provide benefits at least equal to the state plan. Employee contributions may not exceed the state rate.
- State resource
- labor.delaware.gov/divisions/paid-leave/
- Information as of
- January 1, 2026
What this means for you
Employer and employee view
If you are the employer
Delaware permits a private plan, so you can meet the mandate with a Limemint plan instead of the state fund. It must be at least as generous as DE PFML, and employee contributions cannot exceed the state rate.
Delaware is an upcoming state for us. We write private plans in New York today, with New Jersey and Massachusetts launching soon, and we can tell you where Delaware sits on the roadmap.
Private plans must be approved by the Delaware Department of Labor and provide benefits at least equal to the state plan. Employee contributions may not exceed the state rate.
Employer detailIf you are an employee
You qualify based on at least 1,250 hours worked in delaware for the employer during the previous 12 months, and at least 12 months of service. Benefits run for 12 weeks per application year for parental leave; 6 weeks per 24 months for medical, family caregiving, or exigency; 12 weeks combined maximum, and there is no waiting period before your first payable week.
How to file a claimEstimate
What DE PFML might pay
A rough figure based on the published formula and weekly maximum. Nothing is submitted.
Estimate your weekly benefit
Two inputs, a rough number. Nothing is submitted or saved.
Enter your average weekly pay to see an estimate for DE PFML.
This is an estimate only. Your actual weekly benefit depends on your base-period wages, the state formula in effect when your leave begins, and any other income you receive during leave. It is not a determination of eligibility or a promise of payment.
Other jurisdictions
Compare nearby programs
New York is available now. New Jersey and Massachusetts are launching soon. The rest are upcoming states.
Talk to a specialist
Discuss a Delaware plan
Talk to a specialist
Tell us where your employees work and how you handle leave today. We will walk through the statutory programs that apply, your private plan options, and what implementation looks like.
Helpful to have ready
- Which states mandate paid family leave for your workforce
- Where a private plan is permitted and what the election process involves
- How the coverage and leave management platform work as one system
Best for
Employers, insurance brokers, and benefit administrators with multi-state obligations or an upcoming effective date.