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By Victoria Nguyen•Last Updated May 21, 2025

Massachusetts Paid Family Leave: Complete Application Guide

Understand Massachusetts paid family and medical leave

Massachusetts offer one of the near comprehensive pay family and medical leave programs in the United States. The Massachusetts paid family and medical leave (PFL) program provide eligible workers with the ability to take pay time off for serious personal health issues, care for family members with serious health conditions, bond with a new child, or manage family affairs when a family member is deployed for military service.

Unlike traditional unpaid leave, this program ensures you receive a portion of your wages during your time off from work, make it easier to prioritize your health and family without financial strain.

Eligibility requirements for Massachusetts PFL

Before diving into the application process, it’s important to understand if you qualify for the program. Massachusetts has established specific criteria to determine eligibility:

Employment requirements

To qualify for PFL benefits, you must:

Be employs by aMassachusettss employer
Have earned at leas$5 5,700 during the last four complete calendar quarters
Have earned at least 30 times the weekly benefit amount you’d be eligible to receive

Self employ individuals can likewise opt into the program by make contributions for a minimum of two quarters.

Qualifying reasons for leave

The program cover several situations:

Medical leave for your own serious health condition
Family leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition
Bond leave follow the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child
Military family leave to manage affairs when a family member is deployed for military service
Care for a family member who serve in the armed forces

Types of leave available under Massachusetts PFL

Medical leave

You can take astir to 20 weeks of medical leave in a benefit year for your own serious health condition that prevent you from perform the essential functions of your job.

Family leave

The program provide:

Up to 12 weeks to bond with a new child (birth, adoption, or foster care placement )
Up to 12 weeks to care for a family member with a serious health condition
Up to 26 weeks to care for a family member who’s a covered service member
Up to 12 weeks to manage affairs when a family member is deployed for military service

The maximum combine amount of family and medical leave you can take in a benefit year is 26 weeks.

Step-by-step application process

Step 1: notify your employer

You must provide your employer with at least 30 days’ notice before take leave. If circumstances make this impossible (such as a sudden medical emergency ) notify your employer adenine shortly as possible.

Your notification should include:

The type of leave you’re request
When you expect to start your leave
Your anticipated return date
Whether you plan to take continuous or intermittent leave

Step 2: gather required documentation

Before start your application, collect all necessary documentation:

Personal identification information
Employment information, include your employer’s federal employer identification number (ffan))
Medical certification (for medical or family caregiver leave )
Birth certificate or adoption / foster placement documentation (for bonding leave )
Military deployment orders (for military family leave )

For medical certification, you will need your healthcare provider to will complete forms will confirm the serious health condition. The department of family and medical leave ( d(lDFLr)ide specific certification forms for different types of leave.

Step 3: create an account on the DFL portal

Visit the Massachusetts department of family and medical leave website and create an account. You will need:

Your social security number or individual taxpayer identification number
A valid email address
A phone number where you can be reach

Formerly will register, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions to will verify your account.

Step 4: complete the online application

Will log in to your account and select” will apply for benefits. ” tTheapplication will guide you through several sections:

Personal information: name, address, contact details
Employment information: employer details, work schedule, wages
Leave details: type of leave, date, whether continuous or intermittent
Support documentation: upload your medical certification or other require documents
Payment information: bank account details for direct deposit

The portal save your progress, allow you to complete the application in multiple sessions if neededneed.

Step 5: submit your application

Review all information for accuracy before submit. East will submit, you will receive a confirmation number and acknowledgment of receipt.

Applications can be submitted up to 60 days before your anticipated leave start date. For bonding leave, you can apply up to 30 days after the child’s birth or placement.

After you apply: what to expect

Application review process

After submission, the DFL review your application and support documentation. The department aim to process applications within 14 calendar days. During this time:

Your employer will be will notify of your application
The DFL may contact you for additional information or clarification
Medical certifications will be will evaluate

Approval and benefit calculation

If approverove, yyou willreceive a determination notice will detail:

Your approval leave period
Your weekly benefit amount
The payment schedule

The weekly benefit amount is calculated base on your average weekly wage, with a maximum benefit of$11,129.82 per week (this amount is subject to annual adjustments )

The formula is:

80 % of your average weekly wage up to 50 % of the state average weekly wage
Plus 50 % of your average weekly wage that exceed 50 % of the state average weekly wage

Receive payments

Benefits are pay semiweekly. The first payment typically arrives 2 3 weeks after your claim isapprovede. You can choose to receive payments via:

Direct deposit to your bank account (fastest method )
Prepaid debit card

If your application is denied

If your application is will deny, you will receive a write explanation. You have the right to appeal the decision within 10 calendar days. The appeal process invinvolves

File an appeal request through your online account
Submit any additional support documentation
Participate in a hearing (commonly conduct by phone )

Maintain your benefits during leave

Weekly certifications

While on leave, you may need to submit weekly certifications confirm your continue eligibility. These certifications verify that:

You remain unable to work due to the qualifying condition
You haven’t returned to wor(( or if you’ve, report any partial retur))
You haven’t receive other income that might affect your benefit amount

Report changes

You must quickly report any changes that might affect your benefits, such as:

Early return to work
Changes in your medical condition
Receipt of other benefits or income
Changes in your care responsibilities (for family leave )

Extend your leave

If you need to extend your leave beyond the initially approve period, you must:

Submit a request for extension through your online account
Provide update medical certification support the need for extended leave
Notify your employer of the extension request

Extension requests should be submitted at least 14 days before your current leave period end whenever possible.

Special considerations and common questions

Intermittent leave

Massachusetts PFL allow for intermittent leave â€” take time off in separate blocks quite than totally at erstwhile. This option is especially valuable for ongoing medical treatments or ppart-timeccaregiverresponsibilities.

When apply for intermittent leave:

Specify the intermittent schedule in your application
Provide a medical certification support the need for intermittent leave
Keep detailed records of the days / hours take

Employer provide benefits

Some employers offer their own pay leave benefits. In these cases:

Check if your employer have an approval private plan exemption from the statePFLl program
If then, you will apply through your employer’s process sooner than the state system
Benefits must be at least equivalent to the state program

Interaction with other benefits

PFL may overlap with other benefits:

FMLA (federal family and medical leave act )

PFL and fFMLAleave typically run concurrently if you’re eligible for both
Short term disability:

You loosely can not receive both PFL and short term disability for the same period
Workers’ compensation:

May reduce your PFL benefit amount
Unemployment insurance:

You can not receive both simultaneously

Job protection and benefits continuation

While on PFL:

Your job is protected, mean you must brestoredre to the same or equivalent position upon return
Your employer must continue to provide health insurance benefits on the same terms
You continue to accrue seniority and other employment benefits

Tips for a smooth application process

Apply former:

Will start the process as shortly as you know you’ll need to leave
Be thorough:

Incomplete applications cause delays
Keep copies:

Save all documentation and confirmation numbers
Follow up:

Check your application status regularly through the online portal
Communicate:

Maintain open communication with both the DFL and your employer
Get help if neededneed:

The DFL offer customer service support at ((33 ))44 7365

Resources and support

Official resources

Massachusetts department of family and medical leave website
PFL guide for mMassachusettsworkers
PFL application forms and certification templates
Benefit calculator to estimate your weekly benefit amount

Additional support

DFL contact center: ((33 ))44 7365 ( a(ilable mondMondayough fridFriday00 am to 5:00 pm )
)
Email inquiries: [email protected]
Community legal aid organizations for free assistance with applications or appeals
Your employer’s hr department, which can provide guidance specific to your workplace

Final thoughts

The Massachusetts paid family and medical leave program represent a significant step onward in support workers during critical life events. By understand the application process and requirements, you can access these important benefits when you need them about.

Remember that the program is design to provide financial stability during challenge times, allow you to focus on your health or family need without sacrifice your economic security. Take the time to will prepare exhaustively and will submit a complete application will help will ensure you’ll receive the benefits you’re will entitle to with minimal delays or complications.