Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave 2026
Last updated: · Source: Maine labor department
Maine · Leave Laws 2026
Federal FMLA
Applies (50+ employees)
State Leave Law
Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave
State Employer Threshold
1+
Paid Family Leave
Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave — up to $1,249/wk
Bereavement Leave
No mandatory law
FMLA in Maine: Federal Leave Protections
Federal FMLA applies to every qualifying employee in Maine the same way it applies nationwide: up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for employees who've worked 12+ months and at least 1,250 hours for an employer with 50+ employees within 75 miles.
Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave (ME PFML)
Maine's Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave (ME PFML) extends job-protected leave to more workers than federal FMLA alone: it applies to employers with as few as 1 employees, versus the federal threshold of 50. Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of leave.
Eligibility test: Job restoration requires 120 days employed with your current employer (approximated here as 4 months), and you must independently qualify for PFML benefits by earning roughly $7,188 in your base period (figure from secondary compliance sources, pending direct confirmation against Maine DOL's adopted rule text). This is different from federal FMLA's 12-month + 1,250-hour test — don't assume the federal rule applies here.
ME PFML Benefits: How Much You Get Paid
Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave pays eligible workers approximately 90% of their wages, up to $1,249/week, for up to 12 weeks . The program has been in effect since 2026-05-01.
90% of wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage, plus 66% of wages above that, up to the weekly cap.
| Weeks available | 12 |
| Wage replacement | 90% (tiered) |
| Max weekly benefit | $1,249 |
| Covers bonding with a new child | Yes |
| Covers caring for a family member | Yes |
| Covers military family leave | No |
Apply through the official ME PFML site ↗ Estimate your weekly benefit →
Maine Bereavement Leave: What ME Law Requires
Maine has no law requiring employers to provide bereavement leave. Most employers offer 3–5 days as a matter of policy, not legal obligation — check your employee handbook for your specific employer's bereavement policy.
How ME PFML and FMLA Work Together
When a leave qualifies under both federal FMLA and Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave, the two run concurrently — counting against both entitlements at the same time — and the employee gets whichever protection is more generous on each specific point (employer size, weeks, covered relationships).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Federal FMLA applies to all qualifying employees in Maine at covered employers (50+ employees within 75 miles), providing up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.
Yes. Maine has Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave (ME PFML), which applies to employers with 1+ employees and provides up to 12 weeks of leave. To qualify: Job restoration requires 120 days employed with your current employer (approximated here as 4 months), and you must independently qualify for PFML benefits by earning roughly $7,188 in your base period (figure from secondary compliance sources, pending direct confirmation against Maine DOL's adopted rule text).
Yes. Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave, replacing approximately 90% of wages up to a maximum weekly benefit of $1,249.
No. Maine has no law requiring bereavement leave. Any bereavement leave is provided at the employer's discretion.
When a leave qualifies under both federal FMLA and Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave, the two typically run concurrently (at the same time), and the employee receives whichever protection is more generous on each specific point, such as employer size threshold or weeks available.