Connecticut

Understanding paid leave

Connecticut provides paid medical leave (PML) and paid family leave (PFL) income replacement benefits for eligible workers who need time off from work for qualifying reasons. This state program is called Connecticut Paid Leave (CTPL).

Connecticut CTPL: Coverage and cost

Learn about your state rules and eligibility.

Coverage options

State plan: Provides a baseline of benefits that all covered employers must offer.

State-approved private plans: Option to offer an approved private plan that meets or exceeds state benefits.

Employer coverage

Employer with one or more Connecticut employees must provide CTPL coverage. There are a few exceptions:
  • Nonpublic elementary or secondary schools.
  • Federal government.
  • State government.
  • Municipalities, local/regional boards of education.
  • Railroads are also an exclusion.
  • Sovereign nations (including tribes) are excluded unless tribal leaders enter into an agreement with the governor.

Sole proprietors and the self-employed working in Connecticut can opt in.

State, municipal and/or local/regional boards of education may be included depending on specific collective bargaining agreement rules.

Employee eligibility

Employee has worked in Connecticut, earned at least $2,325 during the highest earning quarter within the base period (first four of the five most recently completed quarters) and is either presently employed by an employer or has been employed by an employer in the previous 12 weeks.

Leave reasons

PML: Employee's own serious health condition.

PFL: Caring for a family member, bonding, qualifying exigency, military caregiver and family violence leave.

Job protection

Connecticut CTPL doesn’t provide job protection.

PFML benefits

Benefit percentage: Employees receive up to 95% of their average weekly wage on a sliding scale.

Maximum weekly benefit: The maximum weekly benefit is 60x the current state minimum wage. For 2025, $981 maximum weekly benefit based on a $16.35/hour minimum wage.

Waiting period: No waiting period.

Maximum duration: 

  • Maximum of 12 weeks in a 12-month period and an additional 2 weeks if incapacitated by pregnancy.
  • Safe leave maximum is 12 days.

Cost

Employee: 0.5% of employee wages up to the annual Social Security maximum wage. Funded by employees. Taxable wage base is $176,100.

Employer: None. Employer may elect to pay all or part of the employee contribution. For state-approved private plans, the employer must fund the additional cost if the private plan is greater than the state cost.

Program timeline

Paid leave legislation passed: 2019

Contributions started:
January 1, 2021

Benefits became available: January 1, 2022

Need more information? Visit the Connecticut Paid Leave website.

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How Colonial Life can help

Colonial Life offers a choice of disability insurance plans that can complement benefits for Connecticut paid medical leave (PML) and help bridge coverage gaps. Reach out to our sales representatives to learn more about our disability solutions.