TL;DR: Thirteen states offer paid family leave for fathers, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Every one of these programs pays 60-100% of wages for 8-12 weeks, and every one covers fathers for bonding leave on exactly the same terms as mothers, there's no separate, lower "dad tier." You apply through your state's PFL agency, not your employer, and it runs alongside FMLA, which protects your job while PFL pays you. Here's the state-by-state breakdown and how it differs from maternity-specific benefits like pregnancy disability leave.
Most dads assume paid leave is a maternity benefit they don't qualify for. That assumption costs them real money. Paid family leave for fathers isn't a smaller version of what mothers get in the 13 states that offer it, it's the identical benefit, funded the same way, capped at the same dollar amount, for the same number of weeks.
This guide breaks down exactly what "paid family leave for dads" means in practice: why PFL programs are gender-neutral by design, how much every one of the 13 states actually pays (pulled directly from each state's program data), how bonding leave differs from pregnancy-specific benefits that only birth mothers can use, and the exact steps to apply.
Paid Family Leave Is Gender-Neutral by Design
Here's the part that trips people up: none of these state laws are called "maternity leave." They're written as family leave insurance or paid family and medical leave programs, and the "bonding leave" category inside them was built from the start to cover any parent (biological, adoptive, or foster) regardless of gender.
That's not a loophole or a recent fix. Look at how the states themselves describe it:
California's EDD pays PFL bonding benefits to "a mother, father, adoptive parent, foster parent, or registered domestic partner", the same 8 weeks, same wage formula, same cap, no matter which of those you are.
New York's PFL statute defines bonding leave as time to bond with a new child "during the first 12 months" after birth, adoption, or foster placement, again, without regard to which parent gives birth.
Washington, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maine, Delaware, Maryland, and Rhode Island all structure their bonding-leave benefit the same way: one wage-replacement formula, one set of qualifying weeks, applied identically to both parents.
Same-sex couples, adoptive fathers, and foster fathers qualify too, the bonding-leave clock starts at placement, not at birth, so who gave birth is irrelevant to eligibility. The only thing that determines your benefit amount is your own wages and your state's formula, not your relationship to the birth.
Paid Family Leave for Fathers by State (2026)
Every state below runs a program that explicitly covers bonding leave (pfl_covers_bonding: true for all 13), meaning fathers qualify identically to mothers. Figures are each state's current wage-replacement rate, maximum bonding-leave weeks, and maximum weekly benefit.
State | Bonding Weeks | Wage Replacement | Max Weekly Benefit |
|---|
Oregon | 12 | 100%* | $1,692 |
Connecticut | 12 | 95%* | $1,016 |
California | 8 | 90%* | $1,765 |
Washington | 12 | 90%* | $1,647 |
Colorado | 12 | 90%* | $1,448 |
Minnesota | 12 | 90%* | $1,423 |
Maine | 12 | 90%* | $1,249 |
Maryland | 12 | 90% | $1,000† |
New Jersey | 12 | 85% | $1,119 |
Massachusetts | 12 | 80%* | $1,230 |
Delaware | 12 | 80% | $900‡ |
New York | 12 | 67% | $1,229 |
Rhode Island | 8 | 60%* | $1,150 |
*Marked states use a tiered or blended formula, the listed percentage applies to lower earners, with a reduced rate above a wage threshold, up to the maximum weekly benefit. Check your state's program for your exact rate.
†Maryland's FAMLI benefit hasn't started paying claims yet. Payroll contributions begin January 1, 2027, and benefit payments start no earlier than January 1, 2027 (possibly as late as 2028) under Maryland HB 102. The numbers above are what's scheduled once it launches.
‡Delaware Paid Leave became effective January 1, 2026, so it's newly active this year.
Every dollar figure here comes directly from each state's own program data as of this writing. Programs update their wage caps periodically (usually annually), so confirm the current number on your state's official site (linked in each state's row below) before you plan your leave around it.
Notice the spread: a father in Oregon earning at or below 65% of the state's average weekly wage gets 100% of his pay replaced; a father in Rhode Island gets roughly 60%. Both are calculated the same way for fathers and mothers within their own state, the gap is between states, not between parents.
How Much Do Fathers Actually Get Paid?
The math is simple once you have your state's rate. Take a father earning $60,000/year ($1,154/week) taking 12 weeks of bonding leave:
In Oregon (100% up to the cap): he'd receive close to his full $1,154/week, since that's under Oregon's $1,692 maximum.
In New York (67%): he'd receive roughly $773/week, since 67% of $1,154 is under the $1,229 cap.
In New Jersey (85%): he'd receive roughly $981/week.
This is an illustrative example based on each state's published percentage, your actual benefit depends on your base-period earnings calculation, which varies by state and isn't simply "last week's paycheck × the percentage." Every state PFL agency has its own benefit calculator; use the official one for your state rather than estimating from a table.
Paid Family Leave vs. Pregnancy Disability Leave: The Real Difference
This is where a lot of confusion comes from, and it's worth being precise about it. Bonding leave (what PFL primarily pays for) and pregnancy disability leave (PDL) are two different benefits that happen to sit inside some of the same states, and only one of them applies to fathers.
Bonding leave compensates a parent for time spent caring for and bonding with a new child. It's available to fathers, mothers, adoptive parents, and foster parents alike, because the qualifying event is the child's arrival, not anyone's medical condition.
Pregnancy disability leave compensates the birth parent for a medical condition (pregnancy, labor, delivery, and recovery) the same way short-term disability insurance covers any other temporary inability to work. It's tied to an actual physical condition, so only the person who was pregnant can file a claim.
Two of the 13 PFL states run a separate PDL-type benefit on top of bonding leave: California offers up to 17 weeks of pregnancy disability leave through State Disability Insurance, and Rhode Island offers up to 30 weeks of Temporary Disability Insurance that can cover a pregnancy-related medical leave. In both states, a birth mother can use her PDL/TDI weeks for recovery and then use her separate PFL bonding weeks to be home with the baby, stacking two benefits. A father in either state qualifies for the bonding-leave weeks on identical terms, but not for the disability weeks, because he wasn't pregnant. That's not gender discrimination in the benefit design; it's the same logic that keeps short-term disability limited to people who actually have the covered condition.
The other 11 PFL states don't run a distinct state pregnancy-disability program at all, bonding leave is the only state-paid benefit tied to a new child, and it works identically for both parents from day one.
How to Apply for PFL as a Father
File with your state's PFL agency, not your employer. Programs like California's EDD and New York's PFL office process the claim and pay you directly.
Provide proof of the qualifying event, a birth certificate, hospital discharge paperwork, or adoption/foster placement documentation, depending on your state's requirements.
Check your state's filing window. Most states want claims filed within 30-45 days of your leave starting (Colorado allows 30 days for full back-pay, Massachusetts allows 90); filing late in states with a hard deadline can reduce or forfeit your benefit.
Get benefits paid directly to you, typically by direct deposit or a prepaid debit card, separate from your regular paycheck.
Notify your employer separately about the leave itself, since PFL eligibility and job protection run through two different processes.
PFL + FMLA: How They Work Together
PFL and FMLA solve two different problems, and understanding the split matters as much as the dollar amounts.
FMLA protects your job. It's federal, unpaid, and guarantees up to 12 weeks of leave with reinstatement rights and continued health coverage, as long as you meet the 12-month, 1,250-hour eligibility test.
PFL pays your wages. It's a state program, funded through payroll contributions, and has no relationship to job protection on its own in most states.
Run concurrently, the two cover both halves of the problem: FMLA guarantees you have a job to come back to, and PFL guarantees you have income while you're out. Most fathers in PFL states file for both at the same time so the 12-week clocks overlap rather than stack , 12 weeks total, not 24. A handful of states with lower employer-size thresholds for their own state family leave laws (rather than federal FMLA) extend job protection further down the company-size scale than the federal 50-employee floor, so check your paternity leave rights and your specific state's paid family leave program for how job protection applies at your employer.
For a broader look at what fathers are entitled to beyond just the paid-leave piece, FMLA eligibility, employer obligations, and how the two programs interact state by state, see our full guide to paternity leave for fathers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do fathers get paid family leave?
Yes, in all 13 states that run a PFL program: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Every one of these programs covers bonding leave for fathers on the same terms as mothers, same weeks, same wage-replacement formula, same maximum benefit.
How much does PFL pay fathers?
Between 60% and 100% of wages, up to a state-specific weekly cap ranging from $900 in Delaware to $1,765 in California. The exact percentage and cap depend entirely on which state you work in, not on whether you're the father or the mother.
Can I take PFL and FMLA at the same time?
Yes, and most fathers do. FMLA is the federal law that protects your job for up to 12 weeks; PFL is the state program that pays your wages during that time. They typically run concurrently, so your 12 weeks of job protection and your paid weeks overlap rather than adding up to 24 weeks total.
Do adoptive and foster fathers qualify for PFL?
Yes. Every state's bonding-leave benefit is triggered by the placement of a child through birth, adoption, or foster care, not specifically by childbirth. An adoptive or foster father qualifies for the same weeks and pay rate as a biological father in his state.
Why don't fathers qualify for pregnancy disability leave?
Because pregnancy disability leave (available in California and Rhode Island, among the 13 PFL states) compensates a birth parent for an actual medical condition, pregnancy, labor, delivery, and recovery. It works like short-term disability insurance: only the person who has the covered condition can claim it. Fathers in those same states still qualify fully for the separate bonding-leave weeks.
Is paid family leave the same as paternity leave?
Not exactly. "Paternity leave" is a general term for any time a father takes off around a new child, it can be unpaid FMLA leave, employer-provided paid parental leave, or state PFL. Paid family leave specifically refers to the state-run wage-replacement programs covered in this guide, which is one way (often the primary way) fathers actually get paid during paternity leave.
Which states don't offer paid family leave for fathers?
The other 37 states plus the federal government have no state PFL program. Fathers there may still have unpaid job protection through FMLA (if they meet the eligibility rules) or paid leave through their employer's own policy, but there's no state agency paying wage replacement.
How do I apply for PFL as a new father?
File a claim with your state's PFL agency (not your employer) as soon as your leave starts, along with proof of the birth, adoption, or foster placement. Each state publishes its own application, typically online, with benefits paid by direct deposit or debit card once approved.
Does my employer have to approve my PFL claim?
No. PFL claims are approved or denied by the state agency administering the program, based on whether you meet the state's wage and work-history requirements, not by your employer. Your employer separately handles any job-protection request under FMLA or state family leave law.
Can both parents take PFL bonding leave at the same time?
In most states, yes, each parent who separately qualifies can file their own claim and take bonding leave concurrently, though a few states cap the combined household benefit or require it to be taken within the same 12-month bonding window. Check your specific state's rules if both parents plan to be off together.
Is PFL taxable income for fathers?
PFL benefits are generally treated as taxable income at the federal level, the same as they are for mothers, the tax treatment doesn't change based on which parent is receiving the benefit. Some states may or may not tax it at the state level; check your state's PFL agency or a tax professional for specifics.
What happens if my state's PFL program hasn't started paying claims yet?
Maryland's FAMLI program is a current example: it's enacted and covers fathers for bonding leave once active, but payroll contributions don't begin until January 1, 2027, and benefit payments start no earlier than that date. If your state's program is scheduled but not yet paying, you'd rely on FMLA job protection (if eligible) and any employer-provided paid leave until the state program launches.
Key Takeaways
13 states pay fathers for bonding leave: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
The benefit is identical for fathers and mothers , 60-100% of wages, for 8-12 weeks, capped between $900 and $1,765/week depending on the state.
Pregnancy disability leave is a separate, birth-parent-only benefit in states like California and Rhode Island, fathers don't qualify for it, but they qualify fully for bonding leave in the same state.
Apply through your state's PFL agency, not your employer, and expect a filing window of roughly 30-90 days after your leave starts.
PFL and FMLA run concurrently. FMLA protects your job, PFL pays you, and together they cover 12 weeks rather than 24.
