Paid Family Leave (PFL) gives eligible employees paid time off to care for family. Your job is protected when you’re on leave.
- Workers can take Paid Family Leave to:
- bond with a child within 12 months of birth, adoption, or foster placement.
- care for a family member with a serious health condition.
- assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad.
- care for yourself, a child, or a family member during a COVID-19 order of quarantine or isolation.
- If eligible, you can take up to 12 weeks of leave. Leave doesn't have to be taken all at once, but has to be taken for full days, not half days.
- You can get paid up to 67% of your average weekly wage. See how much you can get every week with the Wage Benefit Calculator.
- Paid Family Leave also provides:
- job protection
- continued health insurance
- protection from discrimination or retaliation
- Immigration status doesn't affect your eligibility.
Who is eligible
You may be able to take Paid Family Leave if you:
- Are a resident of New York State.
- Work for a private employer in New York State, or for a public employer who has opted in.
- Some workers aren’t eligible for PFL Learn more about what kinds of workers are eligible.
- If you’re not sure if you’re covered for PFL, speak to your employer.
- Meet the time-worked requirements before taking Paid Family Leave:
- Full-time employees who regularly work 20 or more hours/week can take PFL after working 26 consecutive weeks.
- Part-time employees who regularly work less than 20 hours/week can take PFL after working 175 days. These days don’t need to be consecutive.
What you need to apply
You’ll need different documents depending on your situation. Check the links below for the documents that you’ll need.
- Bonding leave for:
- Family Care
- Military Family Support
- New Paid Leave for COVID-19
In general, you’ll need to prove your identity, family relationship, address, and income.
You’ll also need to provide proof of a qualifying event to file a PFL claim.
How to apply
Apply for PFL through your employer.
- Tell your employer at least 30 days before you want to take leave, if possible. Otherwise, tell them as soon as possible.
- Download and fill out a claim form based on your employer’s instructions. You can also ask for a claim form from your employer or their insurance carrier.
- Gather supporting documentation for your claim. Each claim form tells you what documents you’ll need.
- Submit your claim form and documents to your employer’s insurance carrier or as directed by your employer.
- Ask your employer who their insurance carrier is.
- You can also call the Paid Family Leave Helpline at 844-337-6303 if you don’t know who their insurance carrier is.
- In most cases, your employer’s insurance carrier must pay or deny your claim within 18 days of receiving your completed claim.
How to get help
Visit the websites
Learn more about NYS Paid Family Leave at paidfamilyleave.ny.gov
Learn more about protections for workers and what to do if your rights have been violated at paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/protections
Call the Paid Family Leave Helpline
Call 844-337-6303, Monday – Friday
Other Child Care Programs
Child Care Vouchers
NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS)
Vouchers that help cover the cost of child care for children 6 weeks to 13 years old
Child care vouchers help pay for child care from licensed providers or informal providers like relatives, neighbors, or friends.
NYC Child Care Connect (NYC CCC)
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
Find a licensed child care program
An online resource that helps you find and stay informed about a child care program in your community.
Infants and Toddlers
NYC Department of Education (DOE)
Free or low-cost child care for children six weeks to two years old
Early child care and education services for up to 10 hours a day.
Updated December 1, 2022