PFML Update: What you need to know (1/26/2024)

Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) is here to help.
Each quarter, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) provides you with news on recent updates and enhancements to ensure you have access to the most current information about PFML.
Important Annual Updates 
As a reminder, 2024 contribution amounts released by DFML on October 1, 2023, should be distributed to all employees and eligible 1099-Misc workers before January 1, 2024. For your convenience, updated PFML information updated for 2024 can be viewed below.
Updated: PFML 2024 Maximum Benefit Amount - DFML announced the 2024 maximum benefit amount. 
Updated: PFML 2024 Employer Contribution Rates and Calculator – DFML released the rates for both employers with fewer than 25 eligible workers and employers with 25 or more eligible workers.
Updated: 2024 workplace poster and workforce notifications - DFML updated the workplace poster and workforce notifications with the maximum benefit amount, minimum earnings requirement and employer contribution rates. All Massachusetts employers (including employers with private or self-insured benefits plans) are required to distribute certain information to their employees under the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law.  
Here are some additional program changes and enhancements that will impact employers and employees. 
New: Enhanced Employer Review of Other Leave and Benefits - Leave Administrators now actively confirm information reviewed, even if unchanged. Clearer options to add, amend, or remove employee-provided details ensure clarity and confirm Leave Administrator input. This improves the employer experience and strengthens integrity of application data.
New: Selection of Language Preference in the Application Website - Employees can now set their preferred language for written communications (e.g., emails, mail, and notices) when applying for leave on the application website. Language options include English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Chinese. Extending the availability of these languages to written communications reduces barriers to access and ensures clarity in the application and management of leave. Additionally, placement of the language selection feature is updated to follow US Web Design System best practices to ensure that this experience is easy to use, unbiased, and meets visitor expectations for how to find it.
New: Applications that Span Benefit Years No Longer Split - Applications for claims spanning benefit years, whether submitted online or via phone, now appear as a single application. Having one application reduces confusion for employees applying for benefits and provides consistency in processing across all channels.
Updated: Redesign of Previous Leaves Section in the Application - In an effort to reduce the number of employees incorrectly reporting previous leaves to DFML, this section of the application has been updated. It now includes updated content, question configuration, validations and the ability to dynamically pull an employee's previously reported PFML leave into the application, so that more employees correctly report this information, reducing the impact of unnecessary appeals.
Coming Soon: Enhanced Benefits Calculator - The PFML Benefits Calculator, which is provided for estimation purposes, will be updated to show individual average weekly wage in addition to currently available information about estimated benefits.
 
 
Department of Family & Medical Leave
PO Box 838 Lawrence, MA 01842
(833) 344-7365 from 8am–5pm ET