Paid Family Leave -
New York State Employees
Overview
Since first launching in 2018, New York State Paid Family Leave has provided critical benefits to improve the lives of tens of thousands of working New Yorkers and their families.
After a successful four-year phase-in, New York State Paid Family Leave is now fully realized, with benefits at their target levels.
New York Paid Family Leave provides eligible employees job-protected, paid time off to:
- Bond with a newly born, adopted or fostered child,
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition, or
- Assist loved ones when a spouse, domestic partner, child or parent is deployed abroad on active military service.
The Paid Family Leave benefit is available for New York State Management/Confidential (M/C) employees in Bargaining Units 06, 18, 46, and 66. State employees in the Executive Branch who are represented by a union will have access to Paid Family Leave when the State and their respective union reach an agreement to provide the benefit to its members. As of July 10, 2019, M/C employees in Bargaining Unit 98 and State employees represented by District Council 37 also have access to Paid Family Leave through the State's vendor, MetLife.
The Paid Family Leave benefit is also available for United University Professions (UUP) employees in Bargaining Unit 08 and unclassified Management/Confidential (SUNY MC13) employees. For additional information, visit: www.suny.edu/benefits/attendance/pfl/
.
Paid Family Leave guarantees that employees can return to their same or comparable job after their leave ends, and that they will be able to continue their health insurance while on leave on the same terms as if they had continued working.
In 2024, eligible employees will have access to up to 12 weeks of job protected, paid time off to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or to assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad on active military service. This time can be taken all at once, or in increments of full days.
Eligibility Criteria
Covered employees become eligible to take Paid Family Leave for a qualifying event once they have met the minimum time-worked requirements:
- Full-time employees: If you work a regular schedule of 20 or more hours per week, you are eligible after 26 consecutive weeks of employment.
- Part-time employees: If you work a regular schedule of fewer than 20 hours per week, you are eligible after working for your employer for 175 days, which do not need to be consecutive. Employees with irregular schedules should look at their average schedule to determine if they work, on average, fewer than 20 hours per week.
Citizenship and/or immigration status is not a factor in employee eligibility.
Employees who qualify for a PFL waiver will be provided an optional PFL waiver form by their agency.
Employees may also qualify for a PFL waiver if they are receiving, or are eligible to receive, Social Security benefits due to age. Employees must complete the following form, DB-130, and provide a notarized copy to the Workers' Compensation Board and their agency.
Benefits
During 2024, employees can take up to 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave and receive 67% of their average weekly wage (AWW), capped at 67% of the Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW).
Generally, an employee's AWW is the average of their last eight weeks of wages prior to taking Paid Family Leave. The SAWW is updated annually.
To estimate your benefits, use the Wage
Benefits Calculator.
Payroll Deductions for Paid Family Leave
New York's Paid Family Leave is insurance that is fully-funded by employees through payroll deductions.
In 2024, the contribution is 0.373% of an employee's gross wages each pay period. The maximum annual contribution is $333.25.
Employees earning less than the Statewide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) of $1,718.15 will contribute less than the annual cap of $333.25, consistent with their actual wages.
To estimate your deduction, use the Payroll Deduction Calculator.
Apply for Bonding Leave
If you're an M/C employee who wishes to utilize Paid Family Leave benefits, you must notify your agency personnel administrators at least 30 days in advance if the leave is foreseeable. If the leave is not foreseeable, you must give your agency personnel administrator as much notice as practicable.
Once you have notified your agency personnel administrators of your intent to utilize Paid Family Leave, you are encouraged to call MetLife at 1-800-300-4296 to begin the process to receive benefits.
Alternatively, you can begin the process by completing and submitting a claim as follows. More detailed instructions are provided on the back of each claim form.
Step 1: COMPLETE THE REQUEST FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE FORM
The Request for Paid Family Leave (MET-PFL-1) form has sections that need to be completed by you and by your agency's personnel administrator.
- Complete Part A of the MET-PFL-1 form, make a copy and give the form to your agency personnel administrator to complete Part B. If your agency's human resources office is with the Business Services Center (BSC), BSC will complete the employer section of the claim form. If you have any questions, contact the BSC Personnel Administration Unit at BSCPersonnelAdmin@ogs.ny.gov or (518) 457-4272.
- Agency personnel administrators must return Part B of MET-PFL-1 to employees within three business days. If there is a delay, you do not have to wait to proceed. Send along the MET-PFL-1 that you have filled out, along with the rest of your request package, directly to MetLife. Your request for PFL cannot be denied solely because the employer did not fill out Part B within three business days.
Step 2: COMPLETE AND ATTACH THE BONDING CERTIFICATION FORM AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Complete the Bonding Certification (MET-PFL-2) and attach copies of supporting documentation.
Required documentation for bonding with a newborn
Birth parent:
A copy of the child's birth certificate if available, or an original copy of a health care provider certification of birth.
Other parent:
A copy of the child's birth certificate, if available, naming you as the second parent, a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity (Form LDSS-4418), or a Court Order of Filiation.
Or
Same documentation as birth parent and a second document verifying the relationship to the birth parent, such as a marriage certificate, civil union, or domestic partnership document.
Required documentation for adoption
You will need to provide one of the following:
- A copy of the court documents finalizing the adoption
- Documentation in furtherance of adoption
- A court order finalizing the adoption
If you are not the parent named in the court documents, you must also provide proof verifying your relationship to the parent named in the court documents, such as a marriage certificate, civil union, or domestic partnership document.
Required documentation for foster care
You will need to provide a foster care placement letter issued by the county or city department of social services or authorized voluntary foster care agency.
If you are not the parent named in the placement letter, you must also provide proof verifying your relationship to the parent named in the placement letter, such as a marriage certificate, civil union, or domestic partnership document.
Step 3: SUBMIT TO METLIFE
Submit your completed MET-PFL-1, MET-PFL-2 forms and your supporting documentation to MetLife via email, US mail, or fax.
- Email: oriskanymetlife@metlife.com
- Mail: MetLife Disability - PO Box 14590, Lexington, KY 40512
- Fax: 1-800-230-9531
- Online: MyBenefits
In most cases, MetLife must pay or deny benefits within 18 calendar days of receiving your completed request or your first day of leave, whichever is later. Your request cannot be considered incomplete solely because your agency failed to fill out Part B of MET-PFL-1 within three business days.
Note: M/C employees may receive PFL benefits either by check or direct deposit. Employees wishing to receive payment through direct deposit must complete and submit MetLife's Electronic Funds Transfer Form. No action is necessary if an employee prefers to receive payment through a check.
If you have a question regarding the status of your request, contact MetLife at 1-800-300-4296.
Withholding taxes
According to the New York State Department of Tax and Finance Notice N-17-12 Paid Family Leave benefits are subject to State and Federal Income tax. To withhold federal taxes from your Paid Family Leave benefit, you must complete an IRS Form W-4S (Request for Federal Income Tax Withholding From Sick Pay) and submit it to MetLife with your initial claim form. To withhold New York State taxes, you must provide a written notice to MetLife specifying the dollar amount to be withheld from each weekly benefit check - you can use the New York State Paid Family Leave (PFL) State Tax Withholding Request Form for this notice.
Note: If you wish to withhold New York State taxes you must also withhold federal taxes. Questions concerning how much to withhold should be directed to a tax professional.
Apply to Care for a Family Member with a Serious Health Condition
If you're an M/C employee who wishes to utilize Paid Family Leave benefits, you must notify your agency personnel administrators at least 30 days in advance if the leave is foreseeable. If the leave is not foreseeable, you must give your agency personnel administrator as much notice as practicable.
Once you have notified your agency personnel administrators of your intent to utilize Paid Family Leave, you are encouraged to call MetLife at 1-800-300-4296 to begin the process to receive benefits.
Alternatively, you can begin the process by completing and submitting a claim as follows. More detailed instructions are provided on the back of each claim form.
Step 1: COMPLETE THE REQUEST FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE FORM
The Request for Paid Family Leave (MET-PFL-1) form has sections that need to be completed by you and by your agency's personnel administrator.
- Complete Part A of the MET-PFL-1 form, make a copy and give the form to your agency personnel administrator to complete Part B. If your agency's human resources office is with the Business Services Center (BSC), BSC will complete the employer section of the claim form. If you have any questions, contact the BSC Personnel Administration Unit at BSCPersonnelAdmin@ogs.ny.gov or (518) 457-4272.
- Agency personnel administrators must return Part B of MET-PFL-1 to employees within three business days. If there is a delay, you do not have to wait to proceed. Send along the MET-PFL-1 that you have filled out, along with the rest of your request package, directly to MetLife. Your request for PFL cannot be denied solely because the employer did not fill out Part B within three business days.
Step 2: COMPLETE ADDITIONAL FORMS (MET-PFL-3 & MET-PFL-4)
Next, you need to complete the family care forms, MET-PFL-3 and MET-PFL-4.
- Ask your family member (the care recipient), or their authorized representative, to complete the Release of Personal Health Information Under the Paid Family Leave Law (MET-PFL-3) and submit it to their health care provider.
This form authorizes a health care provider to release information regarding your family member's serious health condition to MetLife. This release will end after one year, or when your family member revokes it.
The health care provider will keep this form on file. Do not send it to MetLife.
- MET-PFL-4, Health Care Provider Certification of Family Member with a Serious Health Condition Under the Paid Family Leave Law, has sections that need to be completed by you and by your family member's health care provider.
Fill out your section, make a copy and give the form to the health care provider. Ask the provider to complete their portion of the form and return it to you in a timely manner.
Step 3: SUBMIT TO METLIFE
Submit your completed MET-PFL-1 and MET-PFL-4 forms to MetLife via email, US mail, or fax.
- Email: oriskanymetlife@metlife.com
- Mail: MetLife Disability - PO Box 14590, Lexington, KY 40512
- Fax: 1-800-230-9531
- Online: MyBenefits
In most cases, MetLife must pay or deny benefits within 18 calendar days of receiving your completed request or your first day of leave, whichever is later. Your request cannot be considered incomplete solely because your agency failed to fill out Part B of MET-PFL-1 within three business days.
Note: M/C employees may receive PFL benefits either by check or direct deposit. Employees wishing to receive payment through direct deposit must complete and submit MetLife's Electronic Funds Transfer Form. No action is necessary if an employee prefers to receive payment through a check.
If you have a question regarding the status of your request, contact MetLife at 1-800-300-4296.
Withholding taxes
According to the New York State Department of Tax and Finance Notice N-17-12 Paid Family Leave benefits are subject to State and Federal Income tax. To withhold federal taxes from your Paid Family Leave benefit, you must complete an IRS Form W-4S (Request for Federal Income Tax Withholding From Sick Pay) and submit it to MetLife with your initial claim form. To withhold New York State taxes, you must provide a written notice to MetLife specifying the dollar amount to be withheld from each weekly benefit check - you can use the New York State Paid Family Leave (PFL) State Tax Withholding Request Form for this notice.
Note: If you wish to withhold New York State taxes you must also withhold federal taxes. Questions concerning how much to withhold should be directed to a tax professional.
Apply to Assist a Service Member
If you're an M/C employee who wishes to utilize Paid Family Leave benefits, you must notify your agency personnel administrators at least 30 days in advance if the leave is foreseeable. If the leave is not foreseeable, you must give your agency personnel administrator as much notice as practicable.
Once you have notified your agency personnel administrators of your intent to utilize Paid Family Leave, you are encouraged to call MetLife at 1-800-300-4296 to begin the process to receive benefits.
Alternatively, you can begin the process by completing and submitting a claim as follows. More detailed instructions are provided on the back of each claim form.
Step 1: COMPLETE THE REQUEST FOR PAID FAMILY LEAVE FORM
The Request for Paid Family Leave (MET-PFL-1) form has sections that need to be completed by you and by your agency's personnel administrator.
- Complete Part A of the MET-PFL-1 form, make a copy and give the form to your agency personnel administrator to complete Part B. If your agency's human resources office is with the Business Services Center (BSC), BSC will complete the employer section of the claim form. If you have any questions, contact the BSC Personnel Administration Unit at BSCPersonnelAdmin@ogs.ny.gov or (518) 457-4272.
- Agency personnel administrators must return Part B of MET-PFL-1 to employees within three business days. If there is a delay, you do not have to wait to proceed. Send along the MET-PFL-1 that you have filled out, along with the rest of your request package, directly to MetLife. Your request for PFL cannot be denied solely because the employer did not fill out Part B within three business days.
Step 2: COMPLETE AND ATTACH THE MILITARY QUALIFYING EVENT FORM AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
- Complete the Military Qualifying Event Form (MET-PFL-5) and attach copies of supporting documentation.
Required Documentation
You will need to verify your family member's service with one of the following:
- Covered active duty orders.
- A letter from the military unit documenting impending call or order to covered duty.
- Documentation of military leave signed by the approval authority for the military member's Rest and Recuperation.
If leave is requested to meet with a third-party, you must provide documentation of the meeting that includes the following:
- The name, address and contact information of the individual or entity with whom you are meeting.
- A description of the meeting.
The last page of the MET-PFL-5 form has a template you can use to document these meetings.
Step 3: SUBMIT TO METLIFE
Submit your completed MET-PFL-1 and MET-PFL-5 forms and supporting documentation to MetLife via email, US mail, or fax.
- Email: oriskanymetlife@metlife.com
- Mail: MetLife Disability - PO Box 14590, Lexington, KY 40512
- Fax: 1-800-230-9531
- Online: MyBenefits
In most cases, MetLife must pay or deny benefits within 18 calendar days of receiving your completed request or your first day of leave, whichever is later. Your request cannot be considered incomplete solely because your agency failed to fill out Part B of MET-PFL-1 within three business days.
Note: M/C employees may receive PFL benefits either by check or direct deposit. Employees wishing to receive payment through direct deposit must complete and submit MetLife's Electronic Funds Transfer Form. No action is necessary if an employee prefers to receive payment through a check.
If you have a question regarding the status of your request, contact MetLife at 1-800-300-4296.
Withholding taxes
According to the New York State Department of Tax and Finance Notice N-17-12 Paid Family Leave benefits are subject to State and Federal Income tax. To withhold federal taxes from your Paid Family Leave benefit, you must complete an IRS Form W-4S (Request for Federal Income Tax Withholding From Sick Pay) and submit it to MetLife with your initial claim form. To withhold New York State taxes, you must provide a written notice to MetLife specifying the dollar amount to be withheld from each weekly benefit check - you can use the New York State Paid Family Leave (PFL) State Tax Withholding Request Form for this notice.
Note: If you wish to withhold New York State taxes you must also withhold federal taxes. Questions concerning how much to withhold should be directed to a tax professional.
Employee Resources
- 2024 Updates for Paid Family Leave
- Frequently Asked Questions for State Employees
- 2024 PFL Poster
- 2024 Statement of Rights for Paid Family Leave
- Attendance and Leave Policy Bulletin
- New York State Paid Family Leave Website
- Paid Family Leave Payroll Deduction Calculator
- Paid Family Leave Wage Benefit Calculator
Contact Us
For questions, email us at pfl@cs.ny.gov.