Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Begin May 1, 2026

Starting May 1, 2026, many workers across Maine will have access to a new benefit designed to help them take time away from work during some of life’s most important moments. The state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program will allow eligible workers to take time off while still receiving partial pay.

The program was approved by the state a few years ago, and workers and employers began contributing to the program through payroll deductions on January 1, 2025. Now, beginning this spring, the benefits will finally become available.

Under the program, eligible workers can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave within a 12-month period. This time can be used for several important situations, including:

• Medical leave when a serious health condition prevents someone from working

• Parental leave to bond with a newborn, adopted, or foster child

• Family care leave to care for a loved one with a serious health condition

• Military family leave to help prepare for a family member’s deployment

• Safe leave for someone seeking safety from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking

The goal of the program is to make sure workers don’t have to choose between their job and caring for themselves or their families during difficult times.

Most employees who work in Maine are covered by the program. To qualify for benefits, workers must meet a minimum earnings requirement. This is based on the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) and looks at what a worker earned during the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before their leave begins. For example, someone who plans to start leave in August 2026 would have their wages from April 2025 through March 2026 reviewed.

Workers will also need to communicate with their employer before taking leave whenever possible. Applications for leave will be handled by Aflac, the company administering the program for the state. Workers will be able to apply online or by phone. Pre-applications for leave beginning on or after May 1 will open in April 2026, with application links expected to be available on the state’s website at that time.

Once an application is submitted, the administrator will request any required documentation and review the claim. If approved, workers will receive partial wage replacement while they are on leave.

Another important feature of the program is job protection. Workers who have been employed by their employer for at least 120 consecutive days will be able to return to the same job or an equivalent one with the same pay and benefits when their leave ends.

For more details about eligibility, benefits, or how to apply, visit the Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave website at www.maine.gov/paidleave.