DC reduces paid family and medical leave benefits under Universal Paid Leave program

At a glance

• The District of Columbia (DC) has amended its Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016 (UPLAA) to temporarily reduce the duration of certain paid family and medical leave benefits and lower the maximum weekly benefit amount.
• For claims filed on or after October 1, 2026, and before October 1, 2030:
• Paid family leave for caring for a family member with a serious health condition is reduced from 12 weeks to six weeks.
• Paid medical leave for an employee’s own serious health condition is reduced from 12 weeks to ten weeks.
• Paid parental leave remains unchanged at 12 weeks.
• Paid prenatal leave remains unchanged at two weeks.
• The maximum weekly benefit is reduced from USD1,190 to USD1,100. Unlike the reductions in leave duration, the revised weekly benefit cap will not automatically revert on October 1, 2030.
• The employer contribution rate remains unchanged at 0.75% of covered employee wages.

Background on DC’s Universal Paid Leave program

DC’s Universal Paid Leave (UPL) program, established by the UPLAA provides wage replacement benefits to eligible employees who need time away from work for qualifying leave events. The program covers four categories of leave: parental leave for bonding with a new child; family leave for caring for a family member with a serious health condition; medical leave for an employee’s own serious health condition; and prenatal leave. The program is funded entirely by employer contributions through payroll taxes.

Covered employers are non-profit and for-profit private employers that pay DC unemployment insurance taxes for one or more employees. Covered employees are generally those who spend at least 50% of their work time in DC. The DC government, the federal government, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and religious institutions generally are excluded from coverage.

Effective October 1, 2022, eligible employees were entitled to up to 12 weeks each of parental, family, and medical leave, plus two weeks of prenatal leave, within a 52-week period. The combined maximum was 12 weeks, with the exception that parental and prenatal leave could be combined for up to 14 weeks. The maximum weekly benefit for fiscal year 2026 was USD1,190, subject to annual inflation adjustments.

What changed

The amendments to the UPL program, codified in DC Official Code § 32-541.04, include the following changes:

• Temporary reductions in leave durations from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2030.Family leave is reduced from 12 work weeks to six work weeks, and medical leave is reduced from 12 work weeks to ten work weeks. Parental leave remains unchanged at 12 workweeks, and prenatal leave remains unchanged at two workweeks. The reduced durations apply to claims filed on or after October 1, 2026 and before October 1, 2030. Claims filed on or before September 30, 2026 will receive the benefit levels that were in effect at that time for the full duration of their approved leave, including leave days occurring after October 1, 2026. Beginning October 1, 2030, family and medical leave benefits are scheduled to return to 12 work weeks.
• Lower maximum weekly benefit.The maximum weekly benefit is reduced from USD1,190 to USD1,100 for claims filed on or after October 1, 2026. Unlike the reductions in leave duration, the weekly benefit cap will not automatically revert on October 1, 2030. DC may increase the cap in the future to reflect inflation if sufficient UPL funds are available to support the adjustment.
• Unchanged employer contribution rate.The employer payroll tax contribution rate remains at 0.75% of covered employee wages.

Practical considerations

Given the October 1, 2026 effective date, employers may consider:

• Reviewing and updating paid leave policies and employee handbooks to reflect the reduced family and medical leave durations applicable from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2030. 
• Updating the UPL notice provided to employees in accordance with the updated notice published by DC’s Office of Paid Family Leave.
• Communicating the new USD1,100 maximum weekly benefit amount to employees who may be eligible for DC paid family leave benefits.
• Assessing whether any adjustments will be made to employer-provided supplemental leave or short-term disability benefits, if applicable, in light of the changes to paid leave benefits available under DC’s program.