The New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYSDFS”) announced on September 1, 2020 the Paid Family Leave (“PFL”) benefit and contribution amounts to take effect on January 1, 2021. While these amounts were previously published, the NYSDFS could have delayed their implementation if it so desired.
The new weekly paid family leave benefit amount will be up to 67% of the New York State average weekly wage for 2021 ($1,450.17), a maximum of $971.61, up from the current $840.70. Assuming a PFL-qualifying reason (discussed below), the benefits will last for as much as 12 weeks, up from the current 10 weeks.
New York State states the following reasons qualify for paid family leave:
Bonding with a newly born, adopted or fostered child
Caring for a family member with a serious health condition
Assisting loved ones when a spouse, domestic partner, child or parent is deployed abroad on active military service.
You can see more about NYS’s PFL program on their website.
The employee contribution rate shall increase from the current 0.27% of wages per pay period to 0.511% of wages per pay period, up to a maximum of $385.34 per year. This contribution rate for 2021 includes a 0.005% risk adjustment for the payment of COVID-19 claims.
If you have any questions regarding these new amounts, PFL eligibility or the concurrent running of PFL and federal Paid Family and Medical Leave (“FMLA”), or if you have any other Labor & Employment Law concerns, please contact the Underberg & Kessler attorney who regularly handles your legal matters or Paul Keneally, the author of this piece, here or at (585) 258-2882.