District of Columbia

Navigating paid family leave in the District of Columbia
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PFL in the District of Columbia

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Birthing parents

Start here if you're giving birth.

If you're giving birth, you may need to file for the one or all of these programs.

Short-term disability insurance (STD): if you have an employer policy (ask HR or refer to your employee handbook)
Prenatal Leave
Paid Family Leave (PFL)
PFL is a wage replacement programs and does not guarantee leave. For questions about leave eligibility, contact your employer.

District of Columbia Paid Family Leave (PFL)

Click Here to Apply
Tips for Applying
Prepare to file. For a checklist of required documentation and forms, visit Before You Apply.  

Prepare to wait. The Office of Paid Family leave (OPFL) will review your claim within 10 business days. You can estimate your benefits amount here.

Provide confirmation of your weekly benefit rate to your employer or leave and claims administrator.  If your company works with Parento, also provide a copy to the Parento Leave Concierge team.    

Your company may choose not to pay you paid parental leave while you’re waiting for the approval from the state for PFML. While you may be eligible for parental leave pay, you may see a delay.  If you have concerns, reach out to your company. 
Who should apply?
Birthing and non-birthing parents should apply.
How much time is available?
Up to 12 weeks in a 52-week period.  Birthing parents may be eligible for an additional 2 weeks of Prenatal Leave for medical care related to pregnancy.   
When will benefits begin?
Benefits are payable on day 1. 
How much of my pay does PFL cover?
Between 50% and 90% of wages up to 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage, not to exceed $1,118 per week (as of 1/1/2024). To understand how your benefits are calculated, download the PFL Employee Handbook.  
When am I eligible for PFL?
You may file for Paid Family Leave following a parental leave qualifying event.  Generally, this is after the birth or placement of child.  For birthing parents, you may file for Prenatal Leave prior to the birth of a child.  
What to Expect
Once you begin leave, you will need to file a claim for Paid Family Leave. You may file online, by phone, or in person.  New claims should be submitted as soon as possible after the qualifying event but no later than 30 days following the start of leave.  When submitting your claim, you will also need to provide documentation of a qualifying event with your claim. 

If you are the birthing parent and require time off prior to birth, you may be eligible for Prenatal Leave.  To request Prenatal Leave, your healthcare provider must complete a Prenatal Leave Medical Certification Form.‍

If your employer has a private STD policy, you will also need to file for those benefits.  STD benefits are reduced by what you receive from PFL.  That means you may or may not receive benefits from STD, depending on how much you receive from PFML. For more information, refer to your employer’s STD policy.  

Note: Prenatal Leave taken before the birth of a child does not count against the 8 weeks of PFL.
Example Payroll for Birthing Parent
Birthing parent eligible for PFL and 14 weeks of paid parental leave.

If you are the birthing parent, your company will cover the difference between STD and/or PFL pays up to the limits of the policy.  It is important that you file for these benefits as soon as possible to avoid delays in pay.  

Note: Prenatal Leave taken before the birth of a child does not count against the 8 weeks of PFL.

Numbers, figures, and projections are estimates only and may not be applicable to you. Consult with your employer or your state's labor office for more information.
Non-birthing parents

Start here if you're the dad, spouse, adoptive, or foster parent.

If you are not the birthing parent, you only have to apply for District of Columbia's Paid Family Leave (PFL).

PFL is a wage replacement programs and does not guarantee leave. For questions about leave eligibility, contact your employer.

District of Columbia Paid Family Leave (PFL)

Click Here to Apply
Tips for Applying
Prepare to file. For a checklist of required documentation and forms, visit Before You Apply.  

Prepare to wait. The Office of Paid Family leave (OPFL) will review your claim within 10 business days. You can estimate your benefits amount here.

Provide confirmation of your weekly benefit rate to your employer or leave and claims administrator.  If your company works with Parento, also provide a copy to the Parento Leave Concierge team.    

Your company may choose not to pay you paid parental leave while you’re waiting for the approval from the state for PFML. While you may be eligible for parental leave pay, you may see a delay.  If you have concerns, reach out to your company. 

Provide confirmation of your weekly benefit rate to your employer or leave and claims administrator.  If your company works with Parento, also provide a copy to your Parento Leave Administrator.    

Your company may choose not to pay you paid parental leave while you’re waiting for the approval from the state for PFML. While you may be eligible for parental leave pay, you may see a delay.  If you have concerns, reach out to your company. 
Who should apply?
Birthing and non-birthing parents should apply.
How much time is available?
Up to 12 weeks in a 52-week period.  Birthing parents may be eligible for an additional 2 weeks of Prenatal Leave for medical care related to pregnancy.   
When will benefits begin?
Benefits are payable on day 1. 
How much of my pay does PFL cover?
Between 50% and 90% of wages up to 1.5 times DC’s minimum wage, not to exceed $1,118 per week (as of 1/1/2024). To understand how your benefits are calculated, download the PFL Employee Handbook.
When am I eligible for PFL?
You may file for Paid Family Leave following a parental leave qualifying event. Generally, this is after the birth or placement of child. 
What to Expect
Once you begin leave, you will need to file a claim for Paid Family Leave. You may file online, by phone, or in person. New claims should be submitted as soon as possible after the qualifying event but no later than 30 days following the start of leave. When submitting your claim, you will also need to provide documentation of a qualifying event with your claim. 

If you are the birthing parent and require time off prior to birth, you may be eligible for Prenatal Leave.  To request Prenatal Leave, your healthcare provider must complete a Prenatal Leave Medical Certification Form.‍

If your employer has a private STD policy, you will also need to file for those benefits. STD benefits are reduced by what you receive from PFL. That means you may or may not receive benefits from STD, depending on how much you receive from PFML. For more information, refer to your employer’s STD policy. 
Example Payroll for Non-Birthing Parent
Non-birthing parent eligible for PFL and 14 weeks of paid parental leave.

Numbers, figures, and projections are estimates only and may not be applicable to you. Consult with your employer or your state's labor office for more information.

Explore other state PFL guides