With the new year comes expanded Paid Family Leave (PFL) and statutory Short-Term Disability (DBL) eligibility in New York.
Expanded NY PFL and DBL Eligibility for Domestic Workers
On December 22, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation, A6077A, changing the NY Disability Benefits and Paid Family Leave Law (DBL/PFL) to expand upon eligibility for domestic workers:
Domestic workers who work for a private employer for 20+ hours per week are now eligible for Paid Family Leave and statutory Short-Term Disability benefits effective January 1, 2022.
This changes the previous requirement of needing to work for 40+ hours per week, unlike other industries, to be eligible. To receive PFL benefits, they must be employed for 26 consecutive weeks; to receive DBL benefits, the domestic worker must be employed for 30 days.
Expansion of NY Paid Family Leave Benefits in 2022 and Beyond
Notably, this is the third expansion of Paid Family Leave benefits announced in recent months. In the fall of 2021, New York State raised the cap on intermittent leave benefits, enabling New York employees who work six- or seven-day weeks to claim up to 72- or 84-days respectively. This benefit also began on January 1, 2022.
New York will expand Paid Family Leave further, beginning on January 1, 2023, to include family leave to care for a sibling -- biological siblings, adopted siblings, step-siblings and half-siblings –- regardless of where the sibling resides.
NY Paid Family Leave provides job-protected, paid time off to employees to bond with a new child, care for a qualified family member with a serious health condition, or address family matters due to a qualifying military exigency.
Our 2022 ABCs of PFL is updated with these changes, so be sure to download your copy today!
This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal counsel. Please consult with an appropriate professional for legal and compliance advice. Any DBL or PFL information is as of the blog post’s date stamp; it is based on the applicable statutes and regulations, and may change as regulations evolve or NY State issues guidance regarding Disability Benefits Law (DBL) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) regulations.