Paid Leave · Maine
Maine Paid Family Caregiving Leave in 2026
Caring for a seriously ill family member. Here is how many weeks Maine 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 Maine you can take up to 12 weeks of family caregiving leave and be paid for 12 of them: about $911 a week, or 79% of your usual pay.
- 90% of the first $624.56$562.10
- 66% of the $529.29 above $624.56$349.33
- Weekly benefit$911.43
- Program: Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave, run by Maine Department of Labor.
- Waiting period: none for this type of leave.
- Who qualifies: Six times the state average weekly wage ($7,494.72) earned in the base period. Job protection needs 120 days with your employer.
- Benefits began May 1, 2026. All leave types share one 12-week benefit year. The 90% band is half the state average weekly wage ($1,249.12 from July 1, 2026), which is also the cap.
Law: 26 M.R.S. § 850-C · Figures: Maine DOL — PFML employee FAQ (July 2026)
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.
Maine family caregiving leave by yearly pay
| Yearly pay | Weekly wage | Weekly benefit | Share of pay | Total for 12 paid weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $576.92 | $519.23 | 90% | $6,231 |
| $45,000 | $865.38 | $721.05 | 83% | $8,653 |
| $60,000 | $1,153.85 | $911.43 | 79% | $10,937 |
| $80,000 | $1,538.46 | $1,165.28 | 76% | $13,983 |
| $100,000 | $1,923.08 | $1,249.12 (cap) | 65% | $14,989 |
| $150,000 | $2,884.62 | $1,249.12 (cap) | 43% | $14,989 |
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
Maine pays the benefit, but your employer still needs notice. Draft a leave request letter that cites 26 M.R.S. § 850-C and federal FMLA.
Other kinds of leave in Maine
Last reviewed: September 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much does Maine family caregiving leave pay per week in 2026?
Up to $1,249.12 a week. Below the cap, the benefit is a share of your average weekly wage: at $60,000 a year it is about $911 a week. The table above shows other pay levels.
How many weeks of family caregiving leave do you get in Maine?
Up to 12 weeks under Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave. Benefits began May 1, 2026. All leave types share one 12-week benefit year. The 90% band is half the state average weekly wage ($1,249.12 from July 1, 2026), which is also the cap.
Who qualifies for Maine family caregiving leave?
Six times the state average weekly wage ($7,494.72) earned in the base period. Job protection needs 120 days with your employer. 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 Maine's family caregiving leave benefit?
26 M.R.S. § 850-C, administered by Maine 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
See how many weeks of leave your state gives, how many are paid, and what each week pays — for a new baby, your own health, or caring for family. Formula and law shown.
/paid-leave-calculatorOpen →Leave Request Letter GeneratorDraft a request for time off to your employer that cites federal FMLA and your state's paid leave program. Copy it and send.
/leave-request-letterOpen →State Disability & Paid Leave Deduction CalculatorSee exactly how much your state's SDI or PFML payroll deduction takes from your paycheck — covers CA, NJ, NY, RI, HI, WA, MA, CT, and OR.
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