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Washington cuts paid family leave benefits starting October 1
Starting October 1, D.C. cuts its paid family leave benefits — the weekly maximum falls to $1,100 and family leave drops to six weeks — while the employer tax stays the same.
Why it matters
Washington, D.C. is the first U.S. jurisdiction ever to cut an established paid family and medical leave program while keeping the employer tax that funds it at the same rate. The changes apply to claims filed on or after October 1, 2026, and employers must update their mandatory workplace notices.
Full story
Effective October 1, 2026, amendments to the D.C. Paid Family Leave Act under the FY 2027 Budget Support Act reduce benefits in the District's Universal Paid Leave program. The maximum weekly benefit drops from $1,190 to $1,100 for all leave types; medical leave for an employee's own serious condition drops from 12 weeks to 10; and family leave to care for a sick relative drops from 12 weeks to six.
What is not changing: parental (bonding) leave remains at up to 12 weeks, prenatal leave stays at two weeks, and the employer payroll contribution stays at 0.75% of covered wages — employers cannot deduct it from paychecks. Wage replacement keeps the same sliding scale, up to 90%.
The weekly cap may be raised for inflation each October 1 starting in 2027, but only if the Chief Financial Officer certifies the fund can support it. The District's Department of Employment Services administers the program.
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