Home
Maryland Paid Family Leave

May 22, 2026

Maryland’s Family & Medical Leave Insurance (MD FAMLI)

What is MD FAMLI?

Maryland’s Family & Medical Leave Insurance is the state‑mandated program that provides eligible employees with partially paid time off for up to 12 weeks per benefit year for qualifying personal and family needs. Up to an additional 12 weeks leave time available if an employee needs both medical and bonding in the same benefit year, providing a maximum combination of 24 weeks.

Beginning January 3, 2028, Eligible reasons for MD FAMLI benefits include:

The employee’s own serious health condition
- Including complications to pregnancy and/or childbirth
Bonding leave to care for a new child, including birth, adoption, or foster placement
Caring for a family member with a serious health condition, including a:
- Child, spouse/domestic partner, sibling, parent
- Grandparent or grandchild
- Legal ward or other individuals the employee/employee’s spouse has court-appointed financial and/or personal decision-making authority over
Qualifying military exigency

What is the weekly paid benefit under MD FAMLI?

Effective January 3, 2028, the maximum weekly benefit is $1,000.00

The benefit calculation is tiered so that lower wage earners receive a higher wage replacement benefit. Below are the steps needed to calculate the individual’s benefit payment.

Calculate the employee’s average weekly wage (AWW)
a. Take the highest quarter in the base period divided by 13.
Calculate weekly benefit

	2026 Maximum Weekly Benefit $1000	Example:
	State AWW: $1,704.00	$1,500/week gross pay
Tier 1	90% of the claimants AWW that is less than or equal to 65% the state AWW	65% SAWW: $1107.60
Tier 1		95% is $996.84
Tier 2	50% of the claimant’s AWW that exceeds Tier 1	Wages over Tier 1: $392.40
Tier 2	50% of the claimant’s AWW that exceeds Tier 1	50% is $196.20
Subtotal	Add Tiers 1 and 2	$996.84+$196.20=$1193.04
Weekly Benefit	Is either the sum of Tier’s 1+2 or the maximum weekly benefit	Weekly benefits would be
	2026 maximum $1,016.40	$1,000.00

Did You Know: STD benefits are still needed because the state benefit alone is not enough to cover the risk of an employee’s own medical needs in many instances. Contact your DBL Center expert to learn how to save your STD book and add PFML to your portfolio offering.

Is MD FAMLI Job Protected?

Yes. MD FAMLI provides job protection, however, may be terminated for cause or limited circumstances that would cause the employer substantial and grievous economic injury.

It may run concurrently with the laws below, depending on employee eligibility.

Federal FMLA – Family & Medical Leave Act
MD FMLA – Maryland Family & Medical Leave Act
MD FLA – Maryland Flexible Leave Act
MD PLA – Maryland Parental Leave Act
MD ALL – Maryland Adoption Leave Law
MD FML – Maryland Family Military Leave Law

Which employers are required to provide MD FAMLI?

Most private employers with one or more employees working in Maryland are covered under MD FAMLI and must provide benefits.

This requirement includes:

Employees working in Maryland (not resident state)
Remote workers whose work is based in Maryland

It does not include:

The federal government

How much does MD FAMLI cost?

MD FAMLI Public Plan

Year	Rate	Payroll Cap	Premium due	ER Fund	EE Pay
	MD	SS Wage base		50%	50%
2027	0.90%	$184,500	$1,661	$830	$830

• Small employers with <15 Nationwide employees are not assessed as the employer portion of the contribution. They will remit 0.45%, which can be fully funded through payroll deductions.

Private Plan Alternative

Private plans are individually underwritten
Payroll deductions may be used but cannot exceed the public plan cost for employees. For 2027, that is 0.45% (which is 50% of the state’s rate)

What is a MD FAMLI Private Plan?

When Maryland employers register with the state, they are automatically enrolled in the MD FAMLI Public Plan

However, employers may instead comply through a state‑approved private plan.

A MD PFML private plan may be either fully insured or self‑insured and must:

Provide the same or better benefits as the public plan
Offer equal rights and protections to employees
Cost employees no more than the state plan payroll deduction

The DBL Center works with a network of approved private plan carriers that offer compliant and cost‑effective solutions.

Advantages of a Private Plan

Here are a list of advantages for Maryland employers who are considering a private plan for their MD FAMLI compliance needs

Potential cost savings
- Plans are individually underwritten, like other insured employer benefits
- Employers receive an exemption from contributing to the state PFML fund
Improved claims experience
- Direct access to dedicated claims professionals instead of call centers
- Faster claims turnaround times
Employer‑level absence reporting
- Visibility into claim status and approved leave dates
- Especially helpful for tracking intermittent leave

How to Apply for a Private Plan

The DBL Center team supports both you and your clients throughout the entire private plan process.

Step 1: Request a Private Plan Quote
We compare private plan pricing, benefits, and service levels against the state public plan.

Required census details include:

All Maryland employees
Gender
Employment status (full‑time, part‑time, seasonal)
Employee age
Total Maryland wages (including overtime and bonuses)

Step 2: Select an Insurance Carrier

In 2026, a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to use a private plan will be available for a limited time between September 1 – November 15, 2026.
In 2027, a MD PFML Policy will be issued.

Step 3: Apply for the State Exemption
A new registration link will be published prior to September, 2026.

This is the same portal used for public plan administration
In 2027 the DOI must be replaced with a private plan. A private plan application fee will be applied
The state will issue:
- Approval confirmation
- Contribution exemption effective date
Private plan approvals and contribution exemptions are renewed annually
MD FAMLI will send reminder notices for annual maintenance activities to keep your private plan compliant.

Why choose DBL Center?

The DBL Center has 40 years of experience in state‑mandated disability and leave programs. Let us be your trusted partner for navigating complex PFML requirements on behalf of our clients.

We provide:

Expert advice to employers and brokers as state PFML Programs evolve.
Strategic review of state mandated benefits
Access to competitive, compliant private plan options
Ongoing service and support beyond the initial sale
Net Revenue Tracker enabling Broker access to their renewals, cancellations and book of business from anywhere.

Our goal is to deliver cost‑effective solutions with a seamless experience for both employers and employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Maryland PFML?

Maryland PFML is Maryland’s paid family and medical leave program under the Time to Care Act. Named Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) the program provides up to 24 weeks of paid leave for a variety of caregiving or medical reasons.

Who Can Claim Maryland PFML?

Maryland employees can claim Maryland PFML (FAMILY) to care for a new child during the first year the child joined the family through birth, adoption, kinship care or foster placement. FAMLI also covers time off due to an individual’s own health condition, time off to care for a family member with a serious health condition, or to care for a service member who is the worker’s next of kin. FAMLI also covers time off for a qualifying military exigency if a family member has been deployed as a member of the U.S. military.

To be eligible for coverage, an employee must have worked at least 680 hours in 12 months prior to leave.

How Does Pre-funding Work in Maryland?

Employers must begin funding FAMLI through payroll taxes beginning October 1, 2024. If an employer opts for a private plan, they may be exempt from remitting contributions to the State during the pre-funding period. More information to follow.

What are the Advantages of Privatizing Maryland PFML?

In general, private paid family and medical leave plans offer better service, faster, more flexible claims payouts, and cost savings.

The Benefits

Learn how DBL Center white glove service can help brokers like you expand your book of business with new clients

LEARN MORE

How it works

Select your carrier, Fill out the forms, Get approved It's that simple! White glove service you & your clients deserve.