Effective October 1, 2026, amendments to the D.C. Paid Family Leave Act reduce the maximum duration and weekly amount of certain paid leave benefits available to eligible employees. Employer funding obligations are unchanged, but employers must update their mandatory workplace notice and communicate the revised benefit levels to employees before the effective date.
Key Changes
Maximum amount of Paid Family Leave: the maximum amount of combined Paid Family Leave available to employees in one 52-workweek period decreases from 12 weeks to 6 weeks.
Maximum amount of Paid Medical Leave: the maximum amount of combined Paid Medical Leave available to employees in one 52-workweek period decreases from 12 weeks to 10 weeks.
Maximum Weekly Benefit: The amendment reduces the maximum weekly benefit for qualifying paid leave beneficiaries by $90, taking the total from $1,190 to $1,100.
What Is Not Changing
Maximum amount of Paid Prenatal Leave: the maximum amount of combined Paid Prenatal Leave available to employees in one 52-workweek period remains 2 weeks.
Maximum amount of Paid Parental Leave: the maximum amount of combined Paid Parental Leave available to employees in one 52-workweek period remains 12 weeks.
Employer contributions: employer payroll deductions remain impermissible and thus, employers remain fully responsible for funding the paid leave program.
Wage replacement: the calculation for replacement wages remains the same sliding scale, up to 90% wage replacement.
You can find additional information on the DC Paid Family Leave Government Website.
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