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How to apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

If you work in Massachusetts and need to take Paid Family and Medical Leave, here's how you can begin your application.
You must provide notice to your employer prior to beginning an application. If you have informed your employer and have all of your necessary documents, you should be able to complete your PFML application in 15 minutes.

Department of Family and Medical Leave

Phone

Get answers to your questions in English, Español, and Português. Translation services for up to 240+ languages are also available. Call Department of Family and Medical Leave, Get answers to your questions in English, Español, and Português. Translation services for up to 240+ languages are also available. at (833) 344-7365

Department of Family and Medical Leave - Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Department of Family and Medical Leave - Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Department of Revenue - Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Details   of How to apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

What you need to know   for How to apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

You can take your leave 3 ways: continuous, intermittent, or reduced.

If you are applying for military-related paid family leave benefits, or if you are currently unemployed, please call the Department's Contact Center at (833) 344-7365 to begin your application.

Have multiple employers? Read about how to take leave when you have more than 1 job.

Notify your employer

Begin by speaking with your employer about when you need to take leave. Try to provide at least 30 days notice before your official start date, if possible.

Collect information about your leave

While filling out your application, you will be asked for:

  • The reason you are taking leave
  • The date you notified your employer that you need to take leave
  • The date when you are planning to take leave, or when your leave started

Gather documents and personal information

You'll need:

  • Proof of ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID. You can provide an image of this document online or through the mail
  • Your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
  • Your employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Your bank account information
  • Information from your health care provider about the serious medical condition you or your family member is experiencing

Read more about the documents you may need and how to submit them here, or download a checklist of what you need to apply.

You may also want to learn more about common issues that could delay your application or payment (and how to avoid them).

Find your employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN, or sometimes just EIN)

Your EIN is a unique number assigned to your employer so that the Internal Revenue Service can identify it, and for tax purposes.

You can find your employer’s EIN on a W-2 form. It’ll be in Box B, right above your employer’s name and address. EINs are usually 9 digits with a dash after the first 2: XX-XXXXXXX. This number does not change, so you do not need the most recent W-2. 

If you can’t find a W-2 or haven’t received one yet, try asking your employer. We recommend reaching out to payroll, accounting, or human resources departments first. 

How to apply   How to apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

If you are applying for military-related paid family leave benefits, or if you are currently unemployed, please call the Department's Contact Center at (833) 344-7365 to begin your application.

Downloads   for How to apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

Contact   for How to apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

Phone
Get answers to your questions in English, Español, and Português. Translation services for up to 240+ languages are also available. Call Department of Family and Medical Leave, Get answers to your questions in English, Español, and Português. Translation services for up to 240+ languages are also available. at (833) 344-7365

Department of Family and Medical Leave - Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Department of Family and Medical Leave - Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Department of Revenue - Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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