Connecticut Paid Leave pays benefits to eligible CT employees who need time off from work for specific medical or caregiving reasons.
Paid family and medical leave benefits reduce financial stress on workers while keeping workplaces competitive.
Especially in the Northeast Tri-state area, where New Jersey offers robust TDB and FLI benefits and New York has set the pace for Paid Family and Medical Leave, Connecticut's program helps employers stay competitive across state lines.
Qualifying Claims for CT Paid Family Leave
Eligible employees can file a CT Paid Leave claim for partial pay for up to 12 weeks during any 12-month period, with an additional two weeks available for incapacity during pregnancy (prior to the birth of a child).
Employees can apply for paid leave for any of the following reasons:
- Treatment or recovery from their own serious health condition
- Organ or bone marrow donation
- Pregnancy
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition
- Bonding with a newborn child or an adoption or foster child placement within the first year of the event
- Care for a parent, spouse, child, or next of kin injured in the line-of-duty in the US military
- Specific circumstances related to the military deployment of a parent, spouse or child overseas
- Family violence or sexual assault
Connecticut uses a broad definition of "family caregiver." Workers may take time off to care for anyone related to them "by blood or affinity," which means a worker can take paid leave to care for a person who is "equivalent" to a family member.
Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave by the Numbers for 2026
Employee contributions fund the state program through payroll deductions. Employees pay a total contribution rate of 0.50% of their wages up to the Social Security wage cap. The Social Security wage cap is subject to change annually.
Employers are not required to contribute to CT PFML but may choose to cover a portion or the entire employee contribution rate.
Connecticut PFML benefits equal 95% of the covered employees base weekly earnings, up to 40 times the state minimum wage. Employees earning more than 40 times the state minimum wage will receive 95% of 40 times the state minimum wage plus 60% of their base weekly earnings that are above the 40 times to a maximum amount set annually by the state. The maximum weekly benefit for 2026 is $1,016.40.
Advantages of a Private Plan in CT
Connecticut Paid Leave is funded entirely by employees, with no employer contributions other than the payroll deductions the owner will experience as an employee of the company.
However, it's important for businesses to consider privatizing CTPL for better service.
By law, private Paid Family and Medical Leave Act plans in CT must offer payouts the same or better than the state plan, with premiums equal to or lower than state premiums.
Private plans typically offer faster underwriting and better service. Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave is a stand-alone benefit. But employers may be able to save money by bundling it with ancillary benefits, including dental, vision, and group life.
Working with The DBL Center as your wholesale general agency gives you access to our white-glove service, fast and flexible payouts, and our Broker Dashboard: Net Revenue Tracker, a purpose-built app designed to help brokers track renewals, cancellations and commissions.
