Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave replaces part of your wages when you need time away from work for your own serious health condition, to care for a family member, to bond with a new child, or to handle certain military-related needs. You qualify once you’ve worked 820 hours in Washington during the qualifying period. In 2026, the maximum weekly benefit is $1,647, and most approved claims run between 12 and 18 weeks. The Employment Security Department runs the program and pays the claims.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility turns on hours worked, not months employed or job title. You need at least 820 hours in Washington during the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your claim start date.1Washington State Legislature. RCW 50A.15.010 Hours can be added together across multiple jobs, and they don’t need to be consecutive. Roughly four to five months of full-time work usually gets you there.
Most employees are enrolled automatically through payroll. Self-employed workers and people employed by federally recognized tribal businesses on tribal land are not covered automatically but can opt in.2Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. How Paid Leave Works Opting in locks you into paying premiums for three years. After that, you have a 30-day window to withdraw, or coverage renews year by year.3Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Elective Coverage Opt In Federal employees are not covered by the program at all.
What You’ll Be Paid
Your weekly benefit is calculated against the statewide average weekly wage, with a formula that replaces a higher share of pay for lower earners. The 2026 cap is $1,647 per week. The minimum sits around $100 per week, depending on your reported wages. The program’s online calculator will give you a personalized estimate.4Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Estimate Your Weekly Pay
This is partial wage replacement, not full pay. Some employers add supplemental pay on top, but that’s voluntary on their part — the state doesn’t require it.
How Long You Can Take
Medical leave for your own serious health condition runs up to 12 weeks. Family leave for caregiving or bonding also runs up to 12 weeks. If you use both types in the same claim year, the combined cap is 16 weeks. A pregnancy-related serious health condition adds up to two more weeks, for a possible 18 weeks total.
The Waiting Week
A seven-day waiting period applies before benefits begin for most leave types. That first week is unpaid, though it does count toward your total leave. The waiting period is waived for bonding leave after the birth or placement of a child and for qualifying military exigency leave, so payments for those start right away.5Washington State Legislature. RCW 50A.15.020 – Benefit Amount and Duration
Qualifying Reasons for Leave
The program covers four categories: your own serious health condition, care for a family member with a serious health condition, bonding with a new child, and military exigency leave tied to a family member’s active duty.
Medical leave covers conditions like inpatient hospital stays, chronic conditions needing ongoing treatment, recovery from surgery, and pregnancy complications. A licensed healthcare provider has to certify that the condition meets the program’s definition.
Family care leave uses an unusually broad definition of “family member.” It covers your spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, and sibling, plus anyone who regularly lives in your home and depends on you for care.6Washington State Legislature. RCW 50A.05.010 – Definitions That last category can include relationships that don’t fit traditional labels.
Bonding leave is available to both parents, including non-birth parents and legal guardians, after a birth, adoption, or foster placement. You have 12 months from the child’s arrival to use it.7Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. New Parents
Military exigency leave covers practical needs when a family member is called to covered active duty — short-notice deployment arrangements, military ceremonies and briefings, childcare, financial and legal preparations, counseling, time with the service member on rest and recuperation (up to 15 days), and post-deployment activities within 90 days of the end of active duty.8U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet 28M(c) – Qualifying Exigency Leave Under the Family and Medical Leave Act
What It Costs You
Starting January 1, 2026, the total premium is 1.13% of gross wages. Employees pay 71.43% of that, employers pay 28.57%.9Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Updates For a worker earning $60,000, that’s roughly $484 a year from your paycheck and about $193 from your employer. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees don’t have to pay the employer share, but the employee share still comes out of your pay.10Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Employers
How to Apply
Before you file with the state, give your employer written notice. For a foreseeable leave, that means at least 30 days ahead. For an unexpected one, as soon as you reasonably can. The program publishes a standard notice form.11Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Notice to Employer Notifying your employer is a separate step from filing your benefit claim.
Gather your documents before you start. Everyone needs a Social Security Number or ITIN, approved identity documents, and their employment history.12Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Apply Now If you don’t have an SSN or ITIN, you can request a paper application.
For medical or family care leave, you need the Certification of a Serious Health Condition form completed by a licensed provider, with the condition described, an estimated duration, and the provider’s signature and credentials. The federal FMLA certification form is also accepted.13Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Paid Leave Certification Forms For bonding after a birth, submit the Certification of Birth form or a birth certificate. For adoption or foster placement, submit court documents or a letter from the social worker or agency confirming the placement date.14Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Parents’ Guide to Paid Family and Medical Leave
Applications go through the online portal with a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account.15Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Log In Expect a decision in about three to four weeks. The department mails a decision letter and posts it to your account.16Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. About the Program Watch for requests for additional information; slow responses add weeks.
Once you’re approved, you file weekly claims to actually get paid for each week of leave. You don’t need to file weekly claims while the application is still under review. If leave started before approval, you can file those weekly claims retroactively for back pay.17Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. After You Apply
Keeping Your Job
Starting January 1, 2026, employers with 25 or more employees must return you to the same position, or an equivalent one with the same pay and benefits, after approved leave.18Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. Job Protection Requirements for Employers An employer hits that threshold by having at least 25 workers on its Washington payroll for 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or prior year. Your employer cannot fire, demote, or penalize you for taking PFML leave.19Washington State Legislature. RCW 50A.35.010 – Employment Protection
If you work for a smaller employer, you still receive benefits, but there’s no legal requirement to hold your job. Many smaller employers hold the position anyway; the guarantee just isn’t in the statute.
If Your Claim Is Denied
Denials usually come from insufficient hours, missing medical certification, or incomplete paperwork. The decision letter will state the specific reason and include instructions and a deadline for appealing. Your employer also gets notice of your claim and has 18 days to contest it, which sometimes produces disputes over reported hours.
The best prevention is complete documentation on the first try. Incomplete medical certifications are the single most common problem. If your provider leaves fields blank or describes the condition vaguely, expect delays or a denial.
Federal Taxes on Your Benefits
The IRS has not issued definitive guidance on whether Washington PFML benefits are federally taxable. Based on how similar state programs are treated, family leave benefits are likely considered taxable federal income.20Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave. What to Know About Your 1099-G Washington doesn’t automatically withhold federal tax from benefit payments, so setting money aside or making estimated payments can prevent a surprise bill. Washington has no state income tax, so there’s no state-level issue. If you received benefits, you’ll get a 1099-G after year-end.