FAQs:
Family Leave
Who Qualifies for Family Leave?
You can receive Family Leave benefits if you will be providing care or companionship to a family member with a serious health condition. Eligible family members are:
- Your child
- Your parent
- Your spouse
- Your grandparent
- Your sibling
This includes biological, foster, step-relative, and some in-law family members from the list above.
How Much Can I Receive in Family Leave Benefits?
DC Paid Family Leave provides wage replacement of 90% of wages up to 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage and 50% of wages above 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage. To determine your benefit, DC Paid Family Leave uses wages reported by your employer and reported to DOES.
To calculate your potential benefit amount, visit dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov/benefits-calculator/
How Do I Apply?
Start by telling your employer that you will be applying for Paid Family Leave benefits. Although you should notify your employer prior to the event of your intent to apply for benefits, you must wait until after the event has occurred to apply for benefits.
When you apply for Paid Family Leave benefits, DOES will request a medical certification from your family member’s medical provider confirming your family member’s condition and that care or companionship is required.
When you are ready to apply, you can do so online or over the phone. Go to dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov or call the contact center at 202-899-3700.
After you apply, you can expect to hear back from the Office of Paid Family Leave within 10 business days.
Q: Can I apply for Family Leave benefits multiple times throughout the year?
A: Yes, you may receive DC Paid Family Leave benefits multiple times throughout the year. You can receive a maximum of six (6) weeks of Family Leave benefits, as part of the overall maximum of twelve (12) weeks total of DC Paid Family Leave benefits (for other events, such as Parental Leave or Medical Leave) per year. The date on which you first received benefits is when the year starts; it is not a calendar year. You will be eligible to receive benefits again one year after that date.
Q: Is my job protected when I take DC Paid Family Leave?
A: DC Paid Family Leave does not provide job protection. Other laws, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), provide job protection when a person takes Paid Family Leave. It is important for you to notify your employer before applying for leave and to determine a schedule that works.
Q: My employer provides paid family leave. Can I use employer-provided paid family leave benefits and DC Paid Family Leave benefits?
A: Yes, it is up to the discretion of your employer to determine how their employer-provided benefits will coordinate with DC Paid Family Leave benefits. Employers may not reduce, in any way, the benefits provided by DC Paid Family Leave. Some employers may require employees to use DC Paid Family Leave benefits before applying for the employer-provided benefits. You may not work while receiving DC Paid Family Leave benefits, but you may receive both employer-provided and DC Paid Family Leave benefits simultaneously.
Medical Leave
Who Qualifies for Medical Leave?
DC Paid Family Leave allows you to take the time you need to be healthy and well during a difficult time. Medical Leave benefits are available to all private-sector workers in the District who have a serious health condition. Eligible health conditions include:
- Conditions that cause an overnight stay at a hospital
- Conditions that cause an extended period of incapacity and a need for treatment
- Chronic conditions
- Incurable conditions
- Restorative surgeries
- Complications resulting from pregnancy
- Preventative treatments
- Occurrence of a stillbirth
For more information about any of these eligible conditions, please visit dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov or call the contact center at 202-899-3700.
How Much Can I Receive in Medical Leave Benefits?
DC Paid Family Leave provides wage replacement of 90% of wages up to 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage and 50% of wages above 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage. To determine your benefit, DC Paid Family Leave uses wages reported by your employer and reported to DOES.
To calculate your potential benefit amount, visit https://dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov/benefits-calculator
How Do I Apply?
Start by telling your employer that you will be applying for Paid Family Leave benefits. You should notify your employer as soon as possible of your intent to apply for benefits, but you must wait until after the event has occurred to apply for benefits.
When you apply for Paid Family Leave benefits, DOES will request a medical certification from your medical provider confirming your qualifying health condition and your need for leave.
You can apply online at dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov or by calling 202-899-3700.
After you apply, the DC Office of Paid Family Leave will contact you within ten (10) business days.
Can I apply for Medical Leave benefits multiple times throughout the year?
Yes, you may receive DC Paid Family Leave benefits multiple times throughout the year. You may only receive a maximum of ten (10) weeks of Medical Leave benefits per year.
Is my job protected when I take DC Paid Family Leave?
DC Paid Family Leave does not provide job protection. Other laws, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), provide job protection when a person takes Paid Family Leave. It is important for you to notify your employer before applying for leave and to determine a schedule that works.
My employer provides sick leave benefits. Can I use employer-provided sick leave benefits and DC Paid Family Leave benefits?
Yes, it is up to your employer to determine how their employer-provided benefits will coordinate with DC Paid Family Leave benefits. Some employers may require employees to use DC Paid Family Leave benefits before applying for employer-provided benefits. You may not work while receiving DC Paid Family Leave benefits, but you may receive both employer-provided and DC Paid Family Leave benefits at the same time.
Parental Leave
Who Qualifies for Parental Leave?
Parental Leave benefits apply to all DC employees who are taking time off from work to bond with a new child, including parents of newborns, adopted children, and foster children. You can receive Parental Leave benefits if you have experienced one of the following in the past year:
- Your biological child was born in the past year
- A child was placed with you for adoption in the past year
- A child was placed with you for foster care in the past year
- You legally assumed parental responsibility for a child in the past year
How Much Can I Receive in Parental Leave Benefits?
DC Paid Family Leave provides wage replacement of 90% of wages up to 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage and 50% of wages above 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage. To determine your benefit, DC Paid Family Leave uses wages reported by your employer and reported to DOES.
To calculate your potential benefit amount, visit dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov/benefits-calculator
How Do I Apply?
Start by telling your employer that you will be applying for Paid Family Leave benefits. Although you should notify your employer prior to the event of your intent to apply for benefits, you must wait until after the event has occurred to apply for benefits.
When you are ready to apply, you can do so online or over the phone. Go to dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov or call the contact center at 202-899-3700.
After you apply, the Office of Paid Family Leave will contact you within ten (10) business days.
ACH Repayment FAQs
If I have an overpayment on my account, can I make a repayment online?
Yes. The Office of Paid Family Leave (OPFL) allows you to make online repayments using your bank account through the Paid Family Leave Benefits Portal at https://does.pflbas.dc.gov. You can use either a checking or savings account to make your payment.
How can I make an online repayment?
- Log into your account at https://does.pflbas.dc.gov.
- Select the Menu tab in the top left corner and navigate to Paid Family Leave Services.
- Choose Make a Repayment from the services list.
- A pop-up box will show your overpayment details, including the minimum monthly repayment amount.
- Enter your banking information in the provided fields.
- Select Make Payment to proceed. Review your payment details for accuracy. To make changes, select Cancel. If the details are correct, select Confirm Repayment to finalize the transaction.
You will receive a confirmation number for the repayment both on-screen and via email.
How will I know if my repayment was processed successfully?
Online repayments may take up to seven (7) business days to process. You will receive a confirmation email titled Payment Information for Department of Employment Services, along with a repayment receipt in your PFL account.
How will I know if my repayment was not processed due to an error?
If your repayment is returned, OPFL will notify you. You will need to resubmit your payment and may also have to pay applicable fees. If the repayment fails due to insufficient funds, a $65 fee will be added to your overpayment balance.
When will the repayment be credited to my overpayment balance?
Please allow up to seven (7) business days for processing. If, after seven (7) business days, you do not receive a repayment receipt or a notification to resubmit, contact our office at 202-899-3700.
Can I pay using a credit card, debit card, or payment apps like Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal?
No. Currently, repayments can only be made using a checking or savings account through a financial institution.
Will I be prevented from making an online repayment if I am not the primary account holder?
No. You can submit an online repayment even if you are not the primary account holder on the account.
Can I pay more than the minimum monthly repayment amount?
Yes. You can make a payment for any amount between the minimum monthly repayment and your full overpayment balance.
Can I pay less than the minimum monthly repayment amount?
No. Online repayments must meet or exceed the minimum monthly repayment amount. If you cannot meet this amount, contact our office at 202-899-3700.
My overpayment summary does not list a “Repayment Due Date” or “Minimum Monthly Repayment Amount.” Can I still make a repayment?
Yes. You have 60 days to appeal the overpayment. Once the appeal period ends, your overpayment is assessed, and you will begin receiving monthly billing notices with repayment due dates and minimum amounts. If you choose to repay your balance before the 60-day appeal period ends, you can make an online repayment once the overpayment is established. After the appeal period, online payments must meet the minimum monthly repayment amount.
Can I schedule recurring repayments to be deducted from my account?
No. OPFL currently only accepts one-time payments for online repayments.
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Downloadable Translations:
Program Changes FAQs
General
What’s changing with DC Paid Family Leave?
A: Starting October 1, 2026, two types of leave are changing. Medical Leave changes from 12 weeks to 10 weeks. Family Caregiving Leave changes from 12 weeks to 6 weeks. The most you can get each week is capped at $1,100. Prenatal Leave, Parental Leave, and employer contribution rates are not changing.
What’s staying the same?
Prenatal Leave stays at 2 weeks. Parental Leave stays at 12 weeks. Employers still pay the full cost of the program — workers do not have money taken from their paychecks for it. The wage replacement rate (up to 90%) also stays the same.
When do these changes take effect?
October 1, 2026. If you apply before this date, you follow the previous leave structure of 12-12-12-2 for parental, medical, family, and prenatal leave, respectively. If you apply on or after that date, you follow the new reduced leave categories of 12-10-6-2 weeks, respectively.
Where do these changes come from?
The DC Council passed these changes as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act of 2026. See the source line at the bottom of this page for the full citation.
What’s Changing
For applications submitted on or after October 1, 2026:
| Benefit Type | Current | New Weeks (as of Oct. 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Leave | 12 weeks | 10 weeks |
| Family Leave | 12 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Weekly Benefit Maximum | $1,190 | $1,100 |
I’m planning to apply for leave — which rules apply to me?
It depends on when you submit your application, not when your leave starts or ends. Apply before October 1, 2026, and you follow the current rules. Apply on or after October 1, 2026, and you follow the new rules.
I already have an approved claim — does this affect me?
No. These changes only apply to new applications filed on or after October 1, 2026. If you have questions about a claim you already have, contact our team directly at (202)-899-3700.
Benefit Details
How many weeks can I receive for Medical Leave if I file my claim on or after Oct. 1, 2026?
You may receive up to 10 weeks of medical leave, if you are eligible for the full duration. The actual amount of leave you receive will depend on the period for which you are determined to be eligible.
How many weeks can I receive for Family Caregiving Leave if I file my claim on or after Oct. 1, 2026?
You may receive up to 6 weeks of medical leave, if you are eligible for the full duration. The actual amount of leave you receive will depend on the period for which you are determined to be eligible.
Are Prenatal and Parental Leave affected?
No. Prenatal Leave stays at 2 weeks. Parental Leave stays at 12 weeks. This is true no matter when you apply.
Is the weekly benefit amount changing?
Yes. Starting October 1, 2026, the maximum amount you can get each week is $1,100.
Are these changes to the program permanent?
The reduced leave week structure approved by DC Council will remain in effect through October 1, 2030. Any changes after that date would be at the discretion of the DC Council.
For Employers
Do employers need to do anything differently?
Yes. Employers are required to update the Employee Notice provided to workers. Here’s what to do:
- Download the updated Employee Notice from dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov/programupdates.
- Replace the notice in every location where it’s currently posted or distributed.
- Share the updated notice with your staff so they know about the new benefit weeks and weekly maximum.
- Update new hire packets provided upon hire with updated documents.
No other action is required to maintain your current PFL funding setup.
Are employer contribution rates changing?
Employer contribution rates are not changing.
Get Help
Where can I get more information?
Visit dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov/program updates for the latest details. Employers can join our virtual office hours at dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov/information-sessions/. You can also call us at (202) 899-3700 or email [email protected].
Can I request a workshop or ask OPFL to table at my event?
Yes. Contact our team at [email protected] or (202) 899-3700 to request a workshop or ask us to join your event.
Other FAQs
Do I have to take all of my leave at once?
No, you can schedule your leave based on the schedule you work. For example, if you take leave for three (3) days of your work week, and work the other two (2) days of your work week, you would receive leave benefits for the three (3) days that you were on leave, and not for the full week of leave. You may apply for DC Paid Family Leave benefits for all or a portion of the benefits you are allowed.
Is my job protected when I take DC Paid Family Leave?
No, DC Paid Family Leave does not provide job protection. Other laws, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), provide job protection when workers take Paid Family Leave. It is important for you to notify your employer before applying for leave and to determine a schedule that works.
My employer provides paid maternity leave. Can I use employer-provided paid maternity leave benefits and DC Paid Family Leave benefits?
Yes. It is up to the discretion of your employer to determine how their employer-provided benefits will coordinate with DC Paid Family Leave benefits. Some employers may require employees to use DC Paid Family Leave benefits before applying for company-provided benefits. You may not work while receiving DC Paid Family Leave benefits, but you may receive both employer-provided and DC Paid Family Leave benefits simultaneously.
What if my benefits are paid out through ReliaCard?
ReliaCard is a prepaid debit card issued by U.S. Bank that is reloadable by the government agency. This prepaid debit card provides an electronic option for receiving your government agency payments. To learn more about ReliaCard, please download the ReliaCard FAQs below.
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Downloadable Translations:
Informations préalables à l’acquisition de la carte U.S. Bank ReliaCard
