Delaware paid family and medical leave

Beginning January 1, 2026, most Delaware workers will be eligible for paid family and medical leave under Delaware’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law.

PFML is available to covered individuals who work in Delaware. This includes individuals who have worked 1,250 hours in the 12 months prior to leave.

An employer may opt out of the state program by having a state-approved voluntary plan.

Key features

Coverage options	State plan or state-approved voluntary private plan
Funding	Premiums are 0.8% of wages to the Social Security contribution limit. Employers with 1-9 employees - employers are not required to provide any leave types but can opt in to the state plan or private carrier coverage. Employers with 10-24 employees - employers are only required to provide Parental Leave. Contributions are evenly split between employee and employer paying into the state plan. Employers with 25 or more employees - contributions are evenly split between employee and employer paying into the state plan. If an employer chooses a private plan, employees cannot contribute more than they would under the state plan.
Waiting period	0 days
Benefit (begins January 1, 2026)	80% of employee’s average weekly wage
Maximum benefit	$900 per week
Benefit duration (within a 52 consecutive week period)	6 weeks of paid medical leave in a 24 month period 6 weeks of paid family leave in a 24 month period 12 weeks of parental leave in a 12 month period, as defined by FMLA

Get more information from the state of Delaware.

Principal^® has a solution

We’re here to help by offering a state-approved voluntary private plan. When you have other group insurance products with us, it’s easy to add this solution. Plus, you get the same top-level service that comes with any of our products.

You can be assured Principal is committed to offering a private plan that meets your obligation under the paid family and medical leave law as a Delaware employer. Our fully insured product is available to employers who offer at least one other qualifying, insured Principal product (group term life , dental, vision, or long-term disability) and have 10 or more employees working in Delaware.

Get more information about the private plan solution from Principal.

Reach out

Want to learn more?

Talk to your financial professional to design a benefit offering that meets the specific needs of your business and employees.

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