Paid Leave · Delaware
Delaware Paid Family Caregiving Leave in 2026
Caring for a seriously ill family member. Here is how many weeks Delaware pays, what each week pays at your income, and the formula the state uses — worked through at $60,000 a year, with a table for other pay levels.
Informational only — not financial or legal advice. Does not include income tax on benefits.
In Delaware you can take up to 6 weeks of family caregiving leave and be paid for 6 of them: about $900 a week, or 78% of your usual pay.
- 80% of your $1,153.85 average weekly wage$923.08
- Capped at the Delaware maximum$900.00
- Weekly benefit$900.00
- Program: Delaware Paid Leave, run by Delaware Department of Labor.
- Waiting period: none for this type of leave.
- Who qualifies: 12 months with your employer and 1,250 hours worked. Employers with 10–24 employees must provide parental leave only; 25+ provide all three.
- Benefits began January 1, 2026. Medical and caregiving leave are limited to 6 weeks in any 24 months; all types together are capped at 12 weeks a year. The $900 cap is fixed through 2027.
Law: 19 Del. C. ch. 37 · Figures: Delaware DOL — Delaware Paid Leave for employees
Job protection is separate. Federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave if your employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles and you have worked there 12 months and 1,250 hours. State paid leave usually runs at the same time, not after it.
Assumes steady pay over the past year. Benefits are figured from your quarterly wage records, so uneven pay changes the answer. Informational only, not financial or legal advice.
Delaware family caregiving leave by yearly pay
| Yearly pay | Weekly wage | Weekly benefit | Share of pay | Total for 6 paid weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $576.92 | $461.54 | 80% | $2,769 |
| $45,000 | $865.38 | $692.31 | 80% | $4,154 |
| $60,000 | $1,153.85 | $900.00 (cap) | 78% | $5,400 |
| $80,000 | $1,538.46 | $900.00 (cap) | 59% | $5,400 |
| $100,000 | $1,923.08 | $900.00 (cap) | 47% | $5,400 |
| $150,000 | $2,884.62 | $900.00 (cap) | 31% | $5,400 |
Assumes the same pay in every quarter of the base period. The share of pay falls as income rises because the formula replaces less of each extra dollar, then stops at the cap.
Asking your employer
Delaware pays the benefit, but your employer still needs notice. Draft a leave request letter that cites 19 Del. C. ch. 37 and federal FMLA.
Other kinds of leave in Delaware
Last reviewed: September 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much does Delaware family caregiving leave pay per week in 2026?
Up to $900.00 a week. Below the cap, the benefit is a share of your average weekly wage: at $60,000 a year it is about $900 a week. The table above shows other pay levels.
How many weeks of family caregiving leave do you get in Delaware?
Up to 6 weeks under Delaware Paid Leave. Benefits began January 1, 2026. Medical and caregiving leave are limited to 6 weeks in any 24 months; all types together are capped at 12 weeks a year. The $900 cap is fixed through 2027.
Who qualifies for Delaware family caregiving leave?
12 months with your employer and 1,250 hours worked. Employers with 10–24 employees must provide parental leave only; 25+ provide all three. Qualifying for pay is separate from job protection: federal FMLA protects your job only if your employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles and you have worked there 12 months and 1,250 hours.
What law sets Delaware's family caregiving leave benefit?
19 Del. C. ch. 37, administered by Delaware Department of Labor. StubTrue reviews the figures each year when the state updates its average weekly wage and cap; last reviewed September 2026.
Related tools
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