LeaveCalc / State paid leave / Delaware weekly benefit calculator

NEW — paying benefits since Jan 1, 2026

Delaware Paid Leave calculator

Delaware's Paid Leave program is brand new — the state started paying benefits on January 1, 2026. Enter your gross wage and instantly estimate your weekly benefit at 80% wage replacement, plus the 2026 minimum and maximum.

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

1 Your wage & leave

Based on the Delaware Paid Leave formula for the 2026 benefit year: 80% of your average weekly wage (AWW), subject to the state minimum and maximum. Your actual benefit is set by the Delaware Department of Labor using your highest-earning quarter, not a single wage figure.

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

How we calculated this

Data verified July 2026 against labor.delaware.gov and the Division of Paid Leave's official FAQs.

  • Weekly benefit formula. 80% of your average weekly wage (AWW). If your AWW is under $58,500/year (about $1,125/week), your benefit is 80% of your actual AWW; at or above that, you receive the flat $900/week maximum. Source: Delaware Paid Leave FAQ PDF.
  • 2026-2027 maximum: $900/week. $100/week minimum, except if your AWW itself is under $100/week, in which case you get 100% of it. Source: labor.delaware.gov.
  • Leave duration. 12 weeks/year for parental (bonding); 6 weeks every 24 months each for your own serious health condition, caring for a family member, or a family member's overseas military deployment. Combined leave is capped at 12 weeks in any 12-month period. Source: Delaware Paid Leave FAQ PDF.
  • No waiting week is published for Delaware Paid Leave claims - we found no statutory elimination period in the program's official materials.
  • Notice & filing - a single 30-day rule. You're required to apply for benefits at least 30 days before you plan to take leave, whenever the leave is foreseeable. If it isn't (an emergency), apply for retroactive leave as soon as possible. Source: Delaware Paid Leave "Key Dates" FAQ PDF.
  • Eligibility. Generally, you need at least 12 months of employment and at least 1,250 hours worked for a covered employer in the most recent 52 weeks - the same thresholds federal FMLA uses. Source: Delaware Paid Leave FAQ PDF.
  • Benefits began January 1, 2026 - Delaware is the newest state actually paying claims, after a year of payroll contributions in 2025.
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How the Delaware Paid Leave weekly benefit is calculated

Delaware Paid Leave — created by the Healthy Delaware Families Act, Delaware's new paid leave law — is a brand-new program: payroll contributions from employers and employees began January 1, 2025, and the state started paying benefits on January 1, 2026. It replaces part of your wages while you're on approved parental, medical, family-caregiving, or military-exigency leave. Unlike Minnesota, Maine, or most other states, Delaware's formula is a flat percentage — no tiers. Wondering how much you'll get under this new law? It's a flat 80% of your wage, detailed below.

The formula. Your weekly benefit is 80% of your average weekly wage (AWW). For 2026 and 2027, the weekly benefit is capped at $900/week no matter how high your wage — the Department of Labor will adjust the cap in later years based on the Consumer Price Index. There's also a $100/week minimum benefit, except if your AWW itself is under $100/week, in which case you receive 100% of your actual wage.

How long does the benefit last?

Delaware Paid Leave provides up to 12 weeks of parental leave per year to bond with a new child, and up to 6 weeks every 24 months each for your own serious health condition, caring for a family member's serious health condition, or supporting a family member's overseas military deployment. However you combine categories, benefits are capped at a maximum of 12 weeks total in any 12-month period.

Source: Delaware Department of Labor, 2026.

Delaware Paid Leave FAQ (2026)

How much does Delaware Paid Leave pay in 2026?

Your weekly benefit is 80% of your average weekly wage, capped at $900/week for 2026 and 2027. There's also a $100/week minimum, except if your actual wage itself is under $100/week, in which case you receive 100% of it.

Is Delaware Paid Leave really new?

Yes. Delaware is the 11th state to create a paid family and medical leave program, and it's the newest one actually paying claims as of this writing — the first benefits went out on January 1, 2026, after a year of payroll contributions in 2025.

Who is eligible for Delaware Paid Leave?

Most employees who have worked for a covered Delaware employer for at least 12 months and at least 1,250 hours qualify, though the exact employer-size thresholds differ by leave type (parental vs. medical/family/military). See labor.delaware.gov for the current covered-employer 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.