Massachusetts · MA PFML
Massachusetts paid family leave
Massachusetts PFML offers longer medical leave durations than most states and allows employers to apply for an exemption using an approved private plan.
At a glance
Maximum duration
12 weeks family leave, 20 weeks medical leave, 26 weeks to care for a service member, 26 weeks combined maximum
Benefit formula
80% of wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage, then 50% of wages above that
Waiting period
7 calendar days
Private plans
Program detail
How MA PFML works
MA PFML
- Program
- Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (MA PFML)
- Contributions effective
- October 1, 2019
- Benefits effective
- January 1, 2021
- Covered employers
- All Massachusetts employers. Employers with fewer than 25 covered individuals are not required to pay the employer share.
- Employee eligibility
- Meet the same earnings threshold used for unemployment insurance during the base period
- Covered reasons
- Own serious health condition
- Bond with a new child
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition
- Care for a covered service member
- Qualifying military exigency
- Maximum duration
- 12 weeks family leave, 20 weeks medical leave, 26 weeks to care for a service member, 26 weeks combined maximum
- Waiting period
- 7 calendar days
- Contribution rate
- Combined family and medical leave contribution set annually
- Employee share
- Employees pay up to 40% of the medical leave contribution and 100% of the family leave contribution
- Benefit formula
- 80% of wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage, then 50% of wages above that
- Maximum weekly benefit
- Indexed annually to the state average weekly wage
- Private plans allowed
- YesFully insuredSelf-funded
- Approval and election
- Employers apply for an exemption from the Department of Family and Medical Leave. Under an insured private plan the cost may be higher or lower than the state plan, and the employer contribution is not waived regardless of employer size.
- State resource
- www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-family-and-medical-leave
- Information as of
- January 1, 2026
What this means for you
Employer and employee view
If you are the employer
Massachusetts 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 MA PFML, and employee contributions cannot exceed the state rate.
Massachusetts is launching soon. We write private plans in New York today, and we can tell you where Massachusetts sits on the roadmap.
Employers apply for an exemption from the Department of Family and Medical Leave. Under an insured private plan the cost may be higher or lower than the state plan, and the employer contribution is not waived regardless of employer size.
Employer detailIf you are an employee
You qualify based on meet the same earnings threshold used for unemployment insurance during the base period. Benefits run for 12 weeks family leave, 20 weeks medical leave, 26 weeks to care for a service member, 26 weeks combined maximum, and a waiting period applies: 7 calendar days.
How to file a claimEstimate
What MA 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 MA 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 Massachusetts 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.