PFML status
Enacted — benefits pending
Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)
2026Enacted — benefits pendingMaryland Paid Leave
$1,000/week · 12 family weeks · 0.45% employee premium· Paid sick leave mandate.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Maryland paid leave snapshot
Enacted Maryland FAMLI program with benefits not yet payable in mid-2026. Weekly-max rank #13 (#1 = highest among all jurisdictions); family-weeks rank #11.
Max weekly
$1,000
Min $50
Family weeks
12
Combined cap 24
Employee premium
0.45%
Shared employee / employer
Paid sick leave
Paid sick leave
Maryland Healthy Working Families Act paid sick leave (employer-size thr…
Compare Maryland with another state
Compare any two states
PFML weekly max, weeks, premiums, and paid sick leave mandates.
Maryland PFML program details
- Program
- Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)
- Wage replacement
- 9%
- Medical weeks
- 12
- Combined weeks max
- 24
- Premium payer
- Shared employee / employer
- Benefits timing
- Contributions delayed to 1/1/2027; benefits delayed to 1/3/2028 (verify MD Labor updates).
- Wage base / premium note
- Typically capped at the Social Security taxable wage base for the year. 0.9% total premium typically split when the employer has 15+ employees.
Until contributions/benefits start, workers rely on employer policies, sick leave, and unpaid FMLA.
Example employee PFML premium
On $80,000 annual wages, a 0.45% employee rate models about $360 per year before wage-base caps and employer-size exemptions. Typically capped at the Social Security taxable wage base for the year. 0.9% total premium typically split when the employer has 15+ employees.
Key takeaways — Maryland paid leave
- Maryland PFML status: Enacted — benefits pending (Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)).
- Modeled weekly maximum $1,000 with about 12 family/bonding weeks and up to 12 medical weeks.
- Employee premium ~0.45% (~$360/year on $80,000 before wage-base caps).
- Paid sick leave mandate. Maryland Healthy Working Families Act paid sick leave (employer-size thresholds apply).
- Ranks #13 on weekly max and #11 on family weeks among 51 jurisdictions (#1 = highest).
- Contributions delayed to 1/1/2027; benefits delayed to 1/3/2028 (verify MD Labor updates).
Maryland vs neighboring states
PFML status, weekly maxima, family weeks, and sick-leave mandates for states that share a border with Maryland.
| State | PFML | Max weekly | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Enacted — benefits pending | $1,000 | This page |
| District of Columbia | Active PFML program | $1,190 | vs MD |
 Delaware | Active PFML program | $900 | vs MD |
 Pennsylvania | No statewide PFML | — | vs MD |
 Virginia | Voluntary insurance only | — | vs MD |
 West Virginia | No statewide PFML | — | vs MD |
Maryland PFML at the weekly maximum
Illustrative totals if every week paid the modeled maximum. Most claimants receive less; waiting periods and offsets can reduce cash paid.
4 weeks at weekly max
$4,000
$1,000 × 4 wks
8 weeks at weekly max
$8,000
$1,000 × 8 wks
12 weeks at weekly max
$12,000
$1,000 × 12 wks
How to read this page
Maryland paid leave overview (2026)
Enacted Maryland FAMLI program with benefits not yet payable in mid-2026.
Maryland has enacted a PFML framework, but benefits are not yet payable in this snapshot. Contributions delayed to 1/1/2027; benefits delayed to 1/3/2028 (verify MD Labor updates). Until then, rely on sick leave, employer PTO, and unpaid FMLA where eligible. Until contributions/benefits start, workers rely on employer policies, sick leave, and unpaid FMLA.
Paid sick leave is tracked separately: Maryland Healthy Working Families Act paid sick leave (employer-size thresholds apply).
Premiums and benefits in Maryland
Modeled payroll shares: employee 0.45%, employer 0.45%. Typically capped at the Social Security taxable wage base for the year. 0.9% total premium typically split when the employer has 15+ employees.
At the weekly maximum for 12 weeks, a full family-leave claim could approach $12,000 before taxes and offsets—only if you qualify for the maximum for every week.
Job protection is not guaranteed by a cash benefit alone. Confirm whether FMLA, a state family-leave statute, or PFML restoration rules apply to your employer size and tenure.
Planning leave while working in Maryland
Map the reason for leave (bonding, family care, own serious health condition, safe leave) to the right program—PFML, disability, sick leave, or unpaid FMLA.
Ask payroll whether PFML premiums already appear on your pay stub and whether the employer uses a private plan.
If you live near a border, compare Maryland with District of Columbia, Delaware, Pennsylvania—PFML and sick-leave rules can change by work location.
Who this Maryland paid leave page helps
Useful if…
- •Employees in Maryland estimating bonding or caregiving wage replacement.
- •Managers budgeting backfill while someone is on PFML or sick leave.
- •Candidates weighing a Maryland offer against a neighboring state’s leave laws.
- •Workers checking whether a sick-leave mandate applies even without PFML.
Use official tools if…
- •You need an approved claim, private-plan exemption, or exact waiting period.
- •Your hours or employer size fall below statutory thresholds.
- •A city ordinance (not just statewide rules) governs your worksite.
- •You are self-employed and need opt-in PFML rules rather than employee coverage.
Maryland paid leave checklist
Quick steps before treating rankings as a claim or relocation decision.
- 1Confirm Maryland PFML status (Enacted — benefits pending) and benefit start timing.
- 2Estimate weekly pay using ~9% replacement capped at $1,000.
- 3Review sick/any-reason leave accrual: Paid sick leave mandate.
- 4Check pay stubs for PFML/SDI-style deductions and annual wage-base caps.
- 5Document FMLA eligibility separately if you need job protection.
- 6Compare Maryland with a peer state before relocating for leave benefits alone.
Related states for paid leave
ConnecticutActive PFML program · $1,016/wk · 12 wks
Compare Maryland vs Connecticut →
New JerseyActive PFML program · $1,119/wk · 12 wks
Compare Maryland vs New Jersey →Active PFML program · $1,190/wk · 12 wks
Compare Maryland vs District of Columbia →
New YorkActive PFML program · $1,229/wk · 12 wks
Compare Maryland vs New York →Maryland paid leave FAQs
Enacted — benefits pending. Program: Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI). Contributions delayed to 1/1/2027; benefits delayed to 1/3/2028 (verify MD Labor updates).
This guide models $1,000/week (minimum $50 where published) at roughly 9% wage replacement before caps.
About 12 family/bonding weeks in a benefit year, with up to 12 medical weeks where the program covers own serious health conditions (combined caps near 24 weeks).
About 0.45% of covered wages ($360/year on a $80,000 example before wage-base caps). Typically capped at the Social Security taxable wage base for the year. 0.9% total premium typically split when the employer has 15+ employees.
Paid sick leave mandate. Maryland Healthy Working Families Act paid sick leave (employer-size thresholds apply).
No. FMLA is unpaid. Maryland does not currently provide a mandatory statewide PFML paycheck replacement in this mid-2026 snapshot.
Weekly-max rank #13 and family-weeks rank #11 in this 51-jurisdiction table (#1 = highest weeks/benefit). Employee-premium rank #7 (#1 = lower employee rate among programs).
Use the state labor/PFML agency for claims, premiums, and notices. This page is an educational comparison using 2026 chart values updated 2026-07-31.
At the modeled weekly maximum, 12 weeks would total about $12,000 before taxes and offsets. Most claimants earn less than the maximum.
Usually only for short absences tied to illness, appointments, or safe leave—not full bonding leave. Maryland Healthy Working Families Act paid sick leave (employer-size thresholds apply). Use PFML (where active) or unpaid FMLA for multi-week bonding.
Nearby combined snapshots: District of Columbia (Active PFML program, $1,190/wk); Delaware (Active PFML program, $900/wk); Pennsylvania (No statewide PFML); Virginia (Voluntary insurance only); West Virginia (No statewide PFML). Open a compare page for side-by-side premiums and weeks.
Often yes under FMLA or state restoration rules if you remain eligible, but you may still owe your share of premiums. PFML cash benefits do not automatically equal benefit continuation—confirm with HR.
Not legal advice. Agency rules control claims, premiums, and job protection.