New York State Paid Family Leave and Disability Benefits
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.
NY Disability Benefits Law (NY DBL) was enacted in 1949 and 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.
NY Paid Family Leave (NY PFL) was enacted in 2018 and 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.
All private employers with at least 1 eligible employee working in NY. Self-employed and certain public employers (other than the state government) can voluntarily opt into the program.
NY DBL
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.
NY PFL
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.
NY DBL
Employee’s own disability (must be unable to perform work), includes pregnancy.
NY PFL
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.
Employees may take NY PFL to care for the following family members:
Child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling.
NY DBL
50% of employee’s average weekly wage up to $170 per week.
NY PFL
67% of employee’s average weekly wage up to $1,287.91 per week effective 2027.
NY DBL
Employees contribute 0.50% of first $120 of employee’s weekly wages, up to 60 cents per week, maximum of $31.20.
NY PFL
Employees contribute 0.452% of employee’s weekly wages up to the annualized NYSAWW.
NY DBL
Up to 26 weeks.
NY PFL
Up to 12 weeks.
*DBL and PFL combined cannot exceed 26 weeks during any 52 consecutive calendar weeks.
All items of coverage, including benefits, eligibility, coverage limitations and exclusions which apply, are in compliance with the statutory requirements of New York. Any optional riders and/or features which may be available may incur additional costs. If there is a discrepancy between this document and the Certificate/Group Policy issued by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, the Group Policy will govern.
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