Washington · WA PFML
Washington paid family leave
Washington PFML is administered by the Employment Security Department. Employers may run a voluntary plan, but only on a self-funded basis.
At a glance
Maximum duration
12 weeks family leave, 12 weeks medical leave, 16 weeks combined, up to 18 weeks with pregnancy complications
Benefit formula
90% of wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage, then 50% of wages above that
Waiting period
Seven calendar days, waived for birth, bonding, and qualifying exigency, and able to be waived by a voluntary plan
Private plans
Program detail
How WA PFML works
WA PFML
- Program
- Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WA PFML)
- Contributions effective
- January 1, 2019
- Benefits effective
- January 1, 2020
- Covered employers
- All Washington employers, including out-of-state employers with Washington employees. Employers with fewer than 50 employees are not required to pay the employer share.
- Employee eligibility
- Worked at least 820 hours during the qualifying period. Employees under a voluntary plan must also have worked 340 hours for that employer.
- Covered reasons
- Employee’s 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 family leave, 12 weeks medical leave, 16 weeks combined, up to 18 weeks with pregnancy complications
- Waiting period
- Seven calendar days, waived for birth, bonding, and qualifying exigency, and able to be waived by a voluntary plan
- Contribution rate
- 1.13% of gross wages in 2026
- Employee share
- Employees may be required to pay up to 71.43% of the premium
- Benefit formula
- 90% of wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage, then 50% of wages above that
- Maximum weekly benefit
- $1,647 per week in 2026
- Private plans allowed
- YesSelf-funded
- Approval and election
- Voluntary plans must be approved by the Employment Security Department. Washington does not approve fully insured plans, and coverage under a voluntary plan does not extend past termination.
- State resource
- paidleave.wa.gov/
- Information as of
- January 1, 2026
What this means for you
Employer and employee view
If you are the employer
Washington 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 WA PFML, and employee contributions cannot exceed the state rate.
Washington 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 Washington sits on the roadmap.
Voluntary plans must be approved by the Employment Security Department. Washington does not approve fully insured plans, and coverage under a voluntary plan does not extend past termination.
Employer detailIf you are an employee
You qualify based on worked at least 820 hours during the qualifying period. employees under a voluntary plan must also have worked 340 hours for that employer.. Benefits run for 12 weeks family leave, 12 weeks medical leave, 16 weeks combined, up to 18 weeks with pregnancy complications, and a waiting period applies: seven calendar days, waived for birth, bonding, and qualifying exigency, and able to be waived by a voluntary plan.
How to file a claimEstimate
What WA 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 WA 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 Washington 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.