PFML Benefits Estimator
Pick the employee’s work state, average weekly wage, leave type, and weeks requested to estimate state PFML wage replacement.
Formula: 70% of average weekly wage (standard 70% band), capped at $1,765/week
Contribution (informational): 1.3% of all wages (no wage cap); employee-paid
Employment Development Department (EDD): SDI covers the employee’s own disability (up to 52 weeks). PFL covers family care, bonding, and military exigency (up to 8 weeks). Job protection comes from CFRA (5+ employees) and FMLA, not from SDI/PFL itself. Verify with agency →
Approximation: California’s 70%/90% switch uses an approximate weekly earnings threshold derived from the research’s “70% of SAWW” band — EDD’s exact base-period test is more granular.
FMLA concurrency: When the leave also qualifies under federal FMLA, the employer must designate FMLA so the 12-week FMLA clock runs with the PFML-paid weeks (DOL Opinion Letter FMLA2025-01-A).
Frequently asked questions
Which states have paid family and medical leave in 2026?
Thirteen jurisdictions are paying PFML benefits in 2026: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Maryland and Virginia have enacted programs that are not yet paying (Maryland benefits no later than January 3, 2028; Virginia December 1, 2028). There is no federal paid family or medical leave — FMLA guarantees only unpaid job-protected leave.
How is the weekly PFML benefit calculated?
Each state sets its own wage-replacement formula and weekly maximum. Some use a flat percentage of average weekly wage (New York 67%, New Jersey 85%, Delaware 80%). Others use progressive bands tied to the state average weekly wage — for example Washington and Colorado pay 90% of wages up to 50% of SAWW and 50% above that, subject to a weekly max. California pays 70–90% depending on earnings level. This estimator applies the research-stated 2026 bands and caps; exact agency math can still differ on base-period details.
Source: California EDD — Contribution Rates and Benefit Amounts · Washington Paid Leave updates
Does PFML run at the same time as FMLA?
Yes when both apply. DOL Opinion Letter FMLA2025-01-A (January 14, 2025) confirms that employers must designate FMLA leave for events that also qualify under state PFML, so the 12-week FMLA clock runs concurrently with PFML-paid weeks. Skipping the FMLA designation can leave unused FMLA entitlement that the employee can still take as unpaid leave later.
Which state’s PFML program covers a remote employee?
Usually the state where the employee performs the work, not the employer’s headquarters. Washington (RCW 50A.10.025) and Oregon (ORS 657B.020) apply the unemployment-insurance localization test by statute; other PFML states generally follow the same work-location rule in practice. A Texas-headquartered company with a remote Washington employee may need to remit Washington PFML contributions for that worker.
Source: RCW 50A.10.025 — localization
Why does New York block “own medical” leave in this calculator?
New York Paid Family Leave covers bonding, care of a family member with a serious health condition, and military exigency — not the employee’s own disability. Own medical wage replacement in New York is a separate Disability Benefits Law (DBL) program with different rates and caps. Choose family bonding or family care for NY PFL estimates; do not treat this tool as a NY DBL calculator.
Is this the same as the official state agency calculator?
No. This is an educational estimate for planning and multi-state comparison. Official benefit determinations use each agency’s base-period earnings test, exact SAWW constants, intermittent leave rules, and eligibility screens. Always verify with the state agency (EDD, ESD, DFML, WCB, and peers) before relying on a figure for a claim or payroll decision. The result is not legal advice.
What are the 2026 weekly benefit maximums?
Across the 13 paying jurisdictions, 2026 weekly maxima range from about $900 (Delaware) to $1,765 (California). Examples: New York $1,228.53, Washington $1,647, Massachusetts $1,230.39, New Jersey $1,119, Oregon $1,636.56, Minnesota $1,423. Amounts update when each agency republishes SAWW-linked rates — re-check after year-end.
Source: California EDD benefit amounts
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About Clockspot
Clockspot helps small businesses track employee time and keep payroll-ready records. Used in all 50 states since 2007, we focus on getting time and pay right — including the wage-and-hour rules that shape both.
Clockspot helps multi-state teams keep hours, leave requests, and work-location records together when PFML claims and FMLA designation need the same source of truth. See how Clockspot tracks leave and hours.