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New York State Paid Family Leave and Disability Benefits

Baby smiling.

The New York State Paid Family Leave (NY PFL) law provides paid leave to employees for bonding, including the birth of a child, or leave related to adoption and foster care obligations prior to the child's placement with the family. It also provides paid leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, and to assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active military service. 

The New York State Disability Benefits Law (NY DBL) provides weekly cash benefits to individuals employed in New York who cannot work due to an off-the-job injury or illness. Unemployed workers can also receive NY DBL benefits to replace unemployment insurance benefits lost because of illness or injury. 

The chart below compares NY PFL and NY DBL. 

  

NY Disability Benefits Law (NY DBL)  

NY Paid Family Leave (NY PFL ) 

Program summary 

Provides weekly cash benefits to individuals employed in New York who cannot work due to an off-the-job injury or illness. Unemployed workers can also receive NY DBL benefits to replace unemployment insurance benefits lost because of illness or injury.  

Provides paid leave to employees for bonding, including the birth of a child, or leave related to adoption and foster care obligations prior to the child's placement with the family; to care for a family member with a serious health condition; and to assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active military service.  

Program effective date  

1949  

2018  

Employee eligibility requirements  

Full-time employees are eligible after completing 4 consecutive weeks of NY employment, unless eligibility was previously satisfied  

Part-time employees are eligible on the 25th day of regular NY employment, unless eligibility was previously satisfied  

Prior eligibility transfers when entering new employment  

Employees who work 20 or more hours per week for 26 consecutive weeks of employment  

Employees who work less than 20 hours per week for 175 workdays (need not be consecutive)  

Eligibility does not transfer when entering new employment  

Covered leave reasons  

Employee’s own disability (must be unable to perform work), includes pregnancy.  

Bond with a new child (birth, adoption, foster)  

Care for a family member with a serious health condition  

Qualifying military exigency for spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent being deployed or on active duty  

Covered relationships  

Employee  

Child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling    

Employee contribution  

0.50% of the first $120 of employee’s weekly wages, up to $0.60 per week; maximum contribution is $31.20    

 2024

0.373% up to New York State Average Weekly Wage (NYSAWW) of $89,343.80 

2025

0.388% up to New York State Average Weekly Wage (NYSAWW) of $91,373.88

Employer contribution  

Balance of premium cost in excess of maximum employee contribution    

None  

Maximum weekly benefit  

$170.00 per week  

2024

$1,151.16 per week   

2025

 $1,177.32 per week

Maximum benefit duration*  

26 weeks 

12 weeks    

Waiting period  

7 days  

None    

Is job protection available? 

No  

Yes    

Are private plans allowed?  

Yes  

Yes    

Does Guardian have a product to support?  

Yes  

Yes  

Stay up to date!

Subscribe to the Guardian Absence Management blog to get the latest regulatory news and information impacting employee leave, including federal and state legislative updates.

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*DBL and PFL combined cannot exceed 26 weeks during any 52 consecutive calendar weeks.

Brought to you by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. Material discussed is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only and it is not to be construed as tax, or legal advice.  Consult your tax, legal, or other professional regarding impact to your company.

Links to external sites are provided for your convenience in locating related information and services. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees expressly disclaim any responsibility for and do not maintain, control, recommend, or endorse third-party sites, organizations, products, or services and make no representation as to the completeness, suitability, or quality thereof.

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Tools and resources

Yes. You can find information on the NY DBL program online at www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/DisabilityBenefits/employee-disability-benefits.jsp. You can find information on the NY PFL program at https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/.     

  • NY DBL and PFL 2025 benefit provisions  

  • NY PFL 2025 claims FAQs for employers and employees (PDF)   

  • NY PFL billing information and premium calculation guide for employers (PDF)