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Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave is a state program that allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid time off available to care for paid time away from work for certain family, medical, or safety-related reasons. The program is funded by contributions from both employers and employees
Who is Eligible?
Most employees who earn wages in Maine are eligible. Independent contractors may elect coverage, and if so would report wages earned and submit contributions in order to be a covered individual. To be eligible for benefits, workers must have a qualifying family or medical event and have earned at least six times the state average weekly wage (ex. 2025: $1,198 x 6=$7,188) during the preceding year.
How does it work?
Starting on May 1, 2026, qualified employees can take paid leave for certain family, medical, or safety-related situations. Leave may run concurrently with other federal or state leave laws, depending on the circumstances.
While the exact amount of leave and benefit amounts are determined by the state, here is a general overview:
Leave Details:
Maine PFML provides up to 12 weeks of leave in a Benefit Year. The Benefit Year is the 12- month period that starts the same week your leave starts. Leave can be taken for the following qualifying reasons:
- Medical Leave: For times when a serious health condition keeps you from working.
- Parental Leave: Time to bond with a child after birth, fostering or adoption.
- Family Care Leave: Time to care for a loved one with a serious health condition.
- Military Family Leave: Time to prepare for a family member's deployment.
- Safe Leave: Time to find safety after abuse or violence.
Benefit amount:
Benefit amounts are determined by the state and depend on how much an employee earned in their base period. This can range from $125/week to $1,200/week. Benefits can be estimated on the Maine Paid Leave website.
How do my employees file a claim?
Maine is using Aflac as their insurance carrier, so claims can be filed directly with them. A claim filing tutorial can be found on the Maine DOL website but, in general, the process is as follows:
- Submit an application with Aflac, online or by phone.
- Aflac will send the required forms based on the type of leave.
Please note: Employees should list the worksite employer on the claim form, not Justworks.
What does my company need to do?
Register your business with Maine Paid Leave
- Create a Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave account for your business. Please select “Employer Account”. Provide your employee count, which should only include the total number of Maine-based employees at your company.
- Justworks will send you a Third Party Administrator authorization request through the state portal. You will need to grant Justworks access to your account, in order for us to administer the plan. Learn how to respond to a TPA request here.
- Designate a Claim Contact from your organization. This person will be notified when an employee files a claim. Learn more here.
Display the Workplace Poster
Maine requires employers to display a Maine Medical and Family Paid Leave poster in the workplace. For the most up-to date poster, head to your Document center or the Maine Paid Leave website.
Notify your employees
Maine requires employers to notify their Maine employees about the program at the time of hire. This written notice must include the benefits available under the program, the employee’s right to job protection and continuation of health insurance, and the process for filing a claim. Example notices can be found on the Maine Paid Leave website.
Do I need to File Wage Reports?
Justworks will handle PFML reporting and premium payments with the State of Maine on your behalf through the Maine Paid Leave contributions portal. You do not need to file PFML premiums directly with the state.
Disclaimer
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for accounting, legal or tax advice. If you have any legal or tax questions regarding this content or related issues, then you should consult with your professional legal or tax advisor.