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FY2022 Annual Report for the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

Department of Family and Medical Leave FY2022 annual report for the PFML program.

The enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Law, M.G.L. c. 175M on June 28, 2018, created Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) in Massachusetts. The law requires the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) to issue annual reports containing information on applications for PFML benefits made to DFML (M.G.L. c. 175M s. 7(e)).

This report provides a summary of data on applications for paid leave benefits from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, including cases subsequently approved through the appeals process. The data used in this report is derived from various sources, including DFML’s claims processing system and the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance. The report provides information on benefits, applications, and certain applicant demographics during Fiscal Year 22 (FY22, July 1, 2021- June 30, 2022).

 

A PDF version of this annual report is available.

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Approved applications information

  • For FY22, 112,531 applications were approved.
  • Medical leave accounted for 59.31% of approved applications (66,738 approved applications).
  • Family leave to bond with a child following birth, adoption or foster care placement accounted for 30.61% of approved applications (34,441 approved applications).
  • Family leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition accounted for 10.05% of approved applications (11,313 approved applications).
  • Military exigency leave accounted for .04% of approved applications (32 approved applications).
  • Leave to care for a service member accounted for .01% of approved applications (7 approved applications).

Denied applications information

For FY22 (as of June 30, 2022), 27,507 applications were denied, which was 19.64% of all filed applications. In FY21, 22.99% of all filed applications were denied.

Reasons for denials

The following categories accounted for the denials issued by DFML in FY22:

Denials Table

Demographics for approved claimants

Demographic information is provided for all claimants with approved leaves.

Age

Age Graph

The total number of claimants does not add up to the total number of approved claims because claimants can file for multiple leaves within a year.

Gender 

Demographic information for gender is optional for claimants to disclose to DFML.

Gender Graph

Occupation

Applicants for paid leave worked in a wide variety of industries. The top three sectors who received paid leave benefits were office employees and administrative support, management, and healthcare practitioners. This data is derived from self-disclosed occupation information to the Department of Unemployment Assistance.

Occupations Data

Weekly wages

The average Individual Average Weekly Wage (IAWW) for PFML applicants was $1,421.80.

Types of leave

FY22

  • 52,816 (46.93%) covered individuals took paid leave for their own serious health conditions.
  • 34,441 (30.61%) covered individuals took paid leave to bond with a child.
  • 13,922 (12.37%) covered individuals took paid leave related to pregnancy or recovery from childbirth.
  • 11,313 (10.05%) covered individuals took paid leave related to the care of a family member.
  • 32 (<1%) covered individuals took paid leave to manage family affairs while a family member was deployed in military service.
  • 7 (<1%) covered individuals took paid leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition related to their time serving in the military.

Average weekly benefit

During FY22, the average weekly benefit was:

  • $793.55 for family leave
  • $754.84 for medical leave

Processing times

To apply for paid leave benefits, a covered individual must submit an application and upload supporting documentation. The application is then sent to their employer, which has 10 business days to review and respond. After the employer responds or the 10 business days have lapsed, the application is adjudicated by DFML, and a decision is reached within 14 business days.

The median response time from employers was 2.75 calendar days. The initial determination (from application submission to initial decision) was 17 calendar days. The final determination (from application submission to final decision, including the appeal process) was 37 calendar days.

Leave durations

Assuming a five-day work week, the average duration of a leave completed in FY22 was 12 weeks.

  • For medical leave, the median duration of a leave completed in FY22 was 12 weeks.
  • For family leave, the median duration of a leave completed in FY22 was 12 weeks

Open cases

At the end of FY22, there were 16,143 open leave requests, where employees were in the midst of taking their leave. There were 96,900 closed leave requests, where the leave had been completed.

Total benefits distributed

In FY21 (January 1, 2021-June 30, 2021), DFML paid out a total of $174,729,366.12 in family and medical leave benefits.

In FY22 (July 1, 2021-June 20, 2022), DFML paid out a total of $602,767,692.31 in family and medical leave benefits.

Date published: February 7, 2023

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