Connecticut’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (CT PFML) Program launched on January 1, 2021. Benefit payouts will begin January 1, 2022.
To help ensure an optimal experience for employees, businesses can choose between the state-run plan, or a private plan for their CT PFML coverage. If your business is considering a private plan, you need to have that choice approved by a majority of your Connecticut employees through a required vote.
If you missed the initial March 31, 2021 private plan application deadline, there’s still time to file your application. If you file now and your private plan application is approved by June 30, 2021, you do not have to remit second quarter contributions to the state. To meet this next deadline, we recommend getting your application in to the state by June 1, 2021.
Here is what you need to know to complete your decision:
Eligible employees can take leave for the following reasons:
CT PFML requires employers using the state plan to begin paying payroll deductions on January 1, 2021. Employers who use private plans don’t have to pay for their private coverage until after January 1, 2022. Benefits start under the program on January 1, 2022.
Starting July 1, 2022, employers are required to provide written notice about the CT PFML program to their employees at the time of hire and to their current employees on an annual basis. The notice must indicate:
Yes. Connecticut is going to continue to review private plan applications on an ongoing basis and companies can opt out in advance of each quarter’s contribution.
The next private plan approval deadline is 6/30/21 (see next question) for a 7/1/21 private plan exemption effective date. If you were to opt out, then 7/1/21 would be the first day that you could stop paying into the state plan. The benefits still will not start until 1/1/22.
Guardian recommends that you complete your initial opt out application by 6/1/21 to give your company enough time to complete the employee voting process and receive official approval from the state.
First quarter deductions are to be paid on 4/30/21 and second quarter will be due on 7/30/21. If your application to opt out is approved prior to 6/30/21, then you will not need to pay second quarter contributions or any contributions to the public plan going forward. Payments to the state are equal to .5% of the total of your Connecticut employee’s wages, which will be deducted directly from your employee’s wages.
Any deductions paid to the state are final and cannot be used for payment into a private plan.
Yes. Per guidance received from the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, you can apply those deductions towards funding a private plan.
The state of Connecticut requires the following:
2021-120646 20230531