Maine Paid Family and
Medical Leave (ME PFML)
Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave (ME PFML) offers wage replacement benefits for employees who are sick or hurt and cannot work. PFML applies to family related matters, such as bonding with a new child or caring for a family member with a serious heal condition and can be used to address a family member’s military duty, or for safety concerns.
Employers can participate in the state-run program (Maine Family and Medical Leave Insurance) or they can self-insure or fully insure a private plan.
MetLife will offer fully insured and self-insured plans.
Benefit Overview
Mandated Coverage & Employee Eligibility
HintLeave Reason, Duration, Job Protection
HintCost of Coverage and Contributions
HintBenefit Payments
HintEmployers are required to offer ME PFML if they have 1 or more employees working in the state.
All employees working for a covered employer are eligible for ME PFML benefits if they have earned at least 6 times the SAWW working in Maine the year before benefits start.
The Federal government and its employees are exempted from the law.
Eligible employees can receive part of their pay if they need to take time off for certain reasons. ME PFML provides job protection once an employee has worked for an employer for at least 120 days.
Medical Leave can be taken for up to 12 weeks to:
- address a personal serious health condition of injury, including organ donation and pregnancy (7-day waiting period)
Family Leave can be taken for up to 12 weeks to:
- bond with a new child
- care for a family member with a serious health condition
- assist while loved ones are on overseas military deployment
- to address safety concerns, such as domestic violence, assault, or sexual assault
- Bereavement can be used for death or serious health condition of certain family members in the armed forces (up to 12 days)
Employers can approve intermittent leave down to 1-hour increments.
The maximum employee contribution is 0.5% of an employee’s wages.
Private plan premiums may differ, however, employee max contributions for a private plan cannot be more than what they would pay for the state-run program. Employers fund the balance of the premium for private plans.
Under the state-run program:
- Employers with 15 or more employees would contribute 0.5% of the employee’s wages, bringing the total contributions to 1% of an employee’s wages.
- Employers with less than 15 employees do not need to contribute. The program would be completely funded by the employee’s portion of 0.5% of the employee’s wages.
- Self-employed individuals who opt-in are only responsible for the 0.5% of wages.
- Please visit the state program’s website for the latest state rates and additional state plan information.
The benefit amount an employee can receive depends on the employee’s average weekly pay.
While benefits are not yet payable, the state has provided the following information for calculating benefit payments once benefits are payable: an employee could receive 90% of their average weekly wage that is equal to or less than 50% of the state average weekly wage, plus 66% of their average weekly wage that is more than 50% of the state average weekly wage, up to the maximum.
Key Dates
- All employers begin contributing and taking employee payroll contribution deductions
- Review the state’s what you need to know flyer
Applying for a MetLife Private Plan & Employer Requirements
To obtain a quote from MetLife, you or your broker must create a census of your eligible Maine workforce and send it to MetLife.
MetLife will offer self-insured and fully insured ME PFML private plans.
If fully insured, MetLife will issue a state approved ME PFML policy.
If self-insured, you will need to work with your own employment counsel to define your ME PFML plan to submit to the state for approval.
The Paid Leave Portal private plan application site will go live in April 2025 for you to apply for a private plan.
If applying with a fully insured ME PFML private plan, you will need:
- Policy documentation provided by MetLife
- $250 application fee, and if approved there is an additional $250 fee
If applying with a ME PFML self-insured private plan, you will also need a Surety bond.
Additional details coming soon.
Once you receive your approval, you need to provide MetLife a copy of your state approved plan.
You are responsible for notifying all of your eligible employees.
Please post this state provided poster in a prominent location in the workplace.
ME PFML private plans are valid for 3 years. The state will send renewal reminders 60 days before plan expiration.
Additional details coming soon.
Taking a Leave
Filing for Benefits with MetLife
HintSupporting Claim Documentation
HintCoordination of Benefits
HintStep 1: An employee should notify an employer of the need for a leave as soon as possible.
Step 2: An employee should file a claim, not more than 60 days in advance of any foreseeable leave. If the leave is unforeseeable, claims may be submitted up to 90 days after the leave has begun.
Step 3: After all information has been received, a decision will be made within 10 calendar days or the first day of leave, whichever is later.
Step 4: If a claim is approved both the employer and the employee will be notified of the approval within 5 business days of the approval.
Step 5: The employee will receive their first benefit payment within two weeks of claim approval.
Step 6: If an employee’s claim is denied, the employee may appeal the claim with MetLife within 15 business days.
Proof to support an employee’s leave may be required before the claim decision can be made. The state is still defining these requirements.
Employees may qualify for more than one benefit based on the leave reason. ME PFML and FMLA can be taken at the same time and should be taken at the same time when applicable.
MetLife’s claims team will reach out to the employer to coordinate dates of the company leave that directly overlap with the state leave.
MetLife representatives can help review employer paid benefits that may overlap with the state leave. They can help document overlaps and preferred contact and action when the overlap happens.
Note: There may be additional leaves that MetLife does not administer. Employers may be responsible for providing additional leaves for their employees. Employers should consult their own employment attorneys.
Need more information?
FAQs
A child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or any individual with whom the employee has a significant personal bond that is or is like a family relationship, regardless of biological or legal relationship.
As of November 15, 2024