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Washington D.C. Paid Family Leave calculator

Enter your gross wage and instantly estimate your 2026 DC Paid Family Leave (PFL) weekly benefit under the district's two-tier formula, which is tied directly to the DC minimum wage.

✓ Free ✓ Runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded ✓ 2026 figures ↗ Official source: dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov

1 Your wage & leave

Based on the DC Paid Family Leave formula for 2026, tied to the current DC minimum wage. Your actual benefit is set by the Office of Paid Family Leave (part of DOES) using your highest-earning quarters, not a single wage figure.

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Not legal or benefits advice. Estimates only — the official program calculator is authoritative. See dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov.

How we calculated this

Data verified July 2026 against dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov.

  • Weekly benefit formula. 90% of your average weekly wage (AWW) up to 1.5 times 40x the DC minimum wage ($1,104.00); plus 50% of the portion above that. Source: dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov FAQ.
  • Current maximum weekly benefit: $1,190.00, based on a DC minimum wage of $18.40/hour. This is a separate cap set by the Office of Paid Family Leave, not simply the formula threshold. Source: dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov Benefits Calculator.
  • Leave duration. Family, Medical, and Parental leave each provide up to 12 weeks - but they share one combined maximum of 12 weeks total per year, not 36 weeks added together. Prenatal leave adds up to 2 more weeks on top, so a birth parent can receive up to 14 weeks around a birth. Source: dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov (Family Leave, Medical Leave, Parental Leave, Prenatal Leave pages).
  • No waiting week is published for DC PFL - we found no elimination period in the program's official pages.
  • After you apply, the Office of Paid Family Leave (OPFL) contacts you within 10 business days while it reviews your claim. DC does not publish one fixed advance-notice day count, so tell your employer as soon as you reasonably can. Source: dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov.
  • DC PFL has been paying claims since July 2020 - one of the more established programs on this list.
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This page covers Washington, D.C. (the District) — not Washington State. Looking for Washington State PFML? →

How the DC Paid Family Leave weekly benefit is calculated

Washington D.C.'s Paid Family Leave (PFL) program has been paying benefits since July 2020. It replaces part of your wages while you're on approved parental, family, medical, or prenatal leave. Like Connecticut, DC's formula is pegged to its minimum wage — currently $18.40/hour (effective July 1, 2026) — so the threshold rises automatically whenever the minimum wage does. Wondering how much you'll get? The official does.dc.gov program page confirms the same rules, including the 2 weeks of prenatal leave described below.

The formula. 90% of your average weekly wage (AWW) up to 150% of 40× the DC minimum wage ($1,104.00); plus 50% of the portion of your AWW above $1,104.00. The current maximum weekly benefit is $1,190, a separate cap set by the Office of Paid Family Leave that increases periodically (most recently effective for claims starting on or after September 28, 2025).

How long does the benefit last?

DC PFL provides up to 12 weeks of parental leave, 12 weeks of family leave, or 12 weeks of medical leave — but for most workers these draw from a single combined bank of up to 12 weeks total in any 52-week period, not 36 weeks added together. There are also up to 2 additional weeks of prenatal leave available on top of that combined bank.

Source: DC Office of Paid Family Leave, 2026.

DC Paid Family Leave FAQ (2026)

How much does DC Paid Family Leave pay in 2026?

You get 90% of your average weekly wage up to $1,104.00 (150% of 40× the DC minimum wage), plus 50% of anything above that. The current maximum weekly benefit is $1,190, a separate cap that increases periodically.

Is DC Paid Family Leave new?

No — DC PFL has been paying claims since July 2020, making it one of the more established programs on this list.

Who is eligible for DC Paid Family Leave?

Most workers who spend more than 50% of their work time in DC, or whose employer is based in DC, are covered — including many people who live in Maryland or Virginia but work in the District. See dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov for full eligibility rules.

Is the benefit taxable?

Paid Leave benefits are generally expected to be treated as taxable income for federal purposes, similar to other state paid-leave programs, but confirm current guidance with the IRS or a tax professional.