Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave Benefits Start Date Confirmed

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Published January 20th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) Authority has confirmed that benefits will begin on May 1, 2026, following a review of the trust fund's solvency. Applications for benefits will be accepted starting in April 2026.

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What changed

The Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Authority has officially confirmed that benefits for the state's paid family and medical leave program will commence on May 1, 2026. This decision was made after an actuarial study indicated the PFML Trust Fund is solvent over the next ten years, negating the need to delay the benefit start date. Aflac, the benefits administrator, will begin accepting applications in April 2026.

Employers and employees should note that any leave taken on or after May 1, 2026, will be eligible for PFML benefits. While applications open in April, the specific process for applying will be announced separately. Employers can contact the PFML Authority for inquiries. This confirmation marks a significant milestone for the program, providing a clear timeline for implementation and access to benefits for Maine workers.

What to do next

Review Maine PFML program details on the official website.
Prepare for application acceptance starting in April 2026.
Ensure employee leave taken on or after May 1, 2026, is managed in accordance with PFML requirements.

Source document (simplified)

Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave Benefits to Begin May 1

January 20, 2026

For Immediate Release: January 20, 2026

Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave Benefits to Begin May 1

With the trust fund being found solvent, the PFML Authority voted today to uphold the planned May 1 benefit start date. Aflac, administering benefits on behalf of the Department, will start accepting applications in April.

MAINE - The Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Authority met today to discuss the solvency of the PFML Insurance Fund and the start of benefits later this year. By law, benefits were set to begin May 1, 2026, unless the PFML Authority determined that additional contributions would be needed to support the overall solvency of the fund. The law allowed the Authority to delay the start of benefits by up to 90 days to help address any solvency concerns. The Authority reviewed and discussed the actuarial study - https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/docs/2025/MEPFMLActuaryReport.pdf, which showed that the PFML Trust Fund is projected to be solvent over the ten years included in the study. After its discussion, the Authority voted unanimously to uphold the beginning of benefits on May 1.

"I am thrilled that, after thoughtful review of an actuarial study reflecting strong numbers to support the program, the Authority voted today that Maine's paid family and medical leave benefits will become available for most Mainers starting May 1, 2026," said Maria Fox, Chair of the Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Authority.

"The Department has been working diligently to ensure that this program will be ready this spring," said PFML Director Luke Monahan. "It will bring transformational support for Maine workers and their families. It will give employers a new recruitment tool and a reliable way to reduce the costs of turnover and training. We are very excited to reach this milestone of confirming when benefits will go live."

While a workers' leave must occur on or after May 1 to be eligible for Maine PFML benefits, the Department and its provider, Aflac, will start accepting applications in April. The Department will make a separate announcement with details on how to apply.

In the meantime, keep up to date with the latest information on Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave at https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/. The website provides answers to FAQs and includes a link to sign up for emails under "get notified." Information, including the actuarial report from today's Authority meeting, is also available online.

Employers with questions can call (207) 621-5024 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, or send a message through the Maine Paid Leave Contributions Portal - https://pfml.maine.gov/contributions/_/.