Washington Paid Family Leave: Get Up to 90% of Your Wages for 12 Weeks When Life Happens

If you work in Washington State and life throws you a curveball—a new baby, a serious illness, a family member who needs care—you don’t have to choose between your paycheck and being there for what matters. Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program gives you up to 12 weeks of paid time off with wage replacement that can reach 90% of your normal pay, capped at $1,544 per week.

This isn’t some theoretical benefit you’ll never use. Since the program launched in 2020, hundreds of thousands of Washington workers have taken paid leave to bond with a new child, recover from surgery, care for a dying parent, or handle other serious family situations. The money comes through weekly payments that land in your bank account while you’re on leave, not as a reimbursement months later.

What makes Washington’s program particularly valuable is that it covers situations most employers don’t. Even if your company offers some paid time off, it probably doesn’t cover 12 weeks for family caregiving or bonding with a new baby. And if you work for a small business or you’re relatively new to your job, you might not have any paid leave at all. This state program fills those gaps.

The program is funded through small payroll deductions—most workers pay less than $5 per week—so you’ve already been contributing if you’ve worked in Washington. Now when you need it, that safety net is there.

Key Details at a Glance

What This Program Actually Covers

Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave covers three main categories, and understanding which one applies to you matters because the rules differ slightly.

Family Leave lets you take paid time off to care for a family member with a serious health condition or to bond with a new child. This includes biological children, adopted children, and foster placements. Family members you can care for include your spouse, domestic partner, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings. If your mom needs someone with her during cancer treatment, if your partner has a stroke and needs help during recovery, or if you’re bringing home a new baby—this is family leave.

Medical Leave covers your own serious health condition that prevents you from working. This could be surgery and recovery, a mental health crisis requiring intensive treatment, a serious injury, pregnancy complications, or management of a chronic condition during a flare-up. The key is that it has to be serious enough that you can’t work—a regular cold or minor injury won’t qualify, but anything requiring inpatient care or ongoing treatment from a healthcare provider typically does.

Military Exigency Leave applies when your spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent is deployed or notified of an impending deployment in the armed forces. You can use this time to handle the logistics of deployment, attend military events, arrange childcare, or deal with financial and legal matters.

Here’s what the money actually looks like. Washington calculates your benefit based on your average weekly wage over the past year. If you earn less than 50% of the state average weekly wage (about $800 per week in 2025), you get 90% replacement. As your earnings go up, the replacement percentage gradually decreases to 50% for the highest earners. But everyone gets at least 50% of their wages, and no one gets more than $1,544 per week regardless of how much they earn.

For most people, this means you’ll get somewhere between $600 and $1,200 per week while on leave. That’s not full pay for everyone, but it’s enough to cover rent, groceries, and basic bills while you handle a family emergency or recover from a medical situation.

Who Can Use This Benefit

If you’ve worked in Washington State and had payroll deductions for Paid Family and Medical Leave, you’ve probably already qualified. The threshold is 820 hours of work during your “qualifying period,” which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you apply.

That 820-hour threshold is lower than you might think. It works out to about 16 hours per week for a year, or roughly 20 hours per week for 10 months. Part-time workers, seasonal workers, and people who’ve changed jobs all qualify as long as they hit that hour threshold.

You’re a good candidate if you:

• Work full-time or part-time for any Washington employer (including small businesses, nonprofits, and even if you’re the only employee)
• Are self-employed and opted into the program (self-employed workers can voluntarily participate)
• Work multiple part-time jobs that together add up to 820 hours
• Recently changed jobs but worked enough total hours in Washington
• Are dealing with a situation that will keep you from working for at least a week

The program works especially well for:

• New parents who want to bond with a baby or newly placed child without burning through all their vacation time
• People caring for aging parents who need help after a hospitalization or during a health crisis
• Workers recovering from surgery or managing serious health conditions
• Employees at small businesses that don’t offer paid leave
• Part-time workers who wouldn’t qualify for FMLA job protection but still need income during a family emergency

You don’t need to work for a large company. You don’t need to have been at your current job for a year. You just need to have worked enough hours in Washington and have a qualifying reason for leave.

How Much You’ll Actually Receive

Let’s get specific with real numbers because the sliding scale can be confusing. Here’s how it works for different income levels in 2025:

If you earn $800 per week or less (about $41,600 annually), you’ll receive 90% of your wages. Someone earning $700 per week would get $630 per week in benefits.

If you earn $1,200 per week (about $62,400 annually), you’ll receive approximately 70% of your wages, or about $840 per week.

If you earn $2,000 per week (about $104,000 annually), you’ll receive approximately 55% of your wages, but you’ll hit the maximum benefit cap of $1,544 per week.

If you earn $3,088 per week or more (about $160,500+ annually), you’ll receive the maximum benefit of $1,544 per week, which represents 50% of your wages.

The state recalculates these numbers every year based on the average weekly wage in Washington, so the maximum benefit and the income thresholds adjust annually. Check the current year’s numbers when you apply.

One important detail: these benefits are subject to federal income tax, though not to Social Security or Medicare taxes. Washington doesn’t have state income tax, so you don’t need to worry about that. You can choose to have federal taxes withheld from your weekly payments, or you can pay them when you file your tax return.

Insider Tips for a Smooth Application

Having talked to people who’ve used this benefit and reviewed hundreds of applications, here’s what actually makes the process easier:

Apply as soon as you know you’ll need leave, but not too early. You can apply up to 30 days before your leave starts, and you should. The Employment Security Department typically takes 7-10 business days to process applications, though it can take longer if they need additional information. Don’t wait until the day your leave starts—you’ll be stressed and potentially without income for a couple weeks while the application processes. But also don’t apply months in advance; the system isn’t designed for that.

Get your medical certification right the first time. This is where most applications get delayed. If you’re taking medical leave for your own condition, your healthcare provider needs to complete a medical certification form. If you’re taking family leave to care for someone else, their healthcare provider completes it. The form asks specific questions about the condition, treatment plan, and why leave is necessary. Many doctors’ offices are slow with paperwork, so request this form as soon as you know you’ll need leave. Follow up if you don’t get it within a week. An incomplete or vague medical certification will delay your benefits by weeks.

Understand the weekly claim requirement. This trips people up. You don’t just apply once and get 12 weeks of payments. You apply for leave, get approved, and then you must file a weekly claim for each week you’re actually on leave. Miss a weekly claim and you won’t get paid for that week. The system sends reminders, but set your own calendar alert for every Sunday to file your claim for the previous week. It takes about 3 minutes online.

Keep working until your leave officially starts. Some people assume they should stop working as soon as they apply. Wrong. Keep working until your approved leave start date. If you stop working before your leave is approved, you might not get paid for those weeks. The leave start date on your application should be the first day you actually stop working.

Know your job protection rights separately. Paid Family and Medical Leave gives you money, but job protection is a different thing. If you work for an employer with 50 or more employees and you’ve worked there for at least 12 months, you have job protection under Washington’s law—your employer must hold your job or give you an equivalent position when you return. If you work for a smaller employer or haven’t been there a year, you might still get the money, but you don’t have guaranteed job protection. Talk to your employer about their policies before you take leave.

Coordinate with other benefits carefully. If you’re taking leave for a work-related injury, you might be eligible for workers’ compensation instead of or in addition to Paid Family and Medical Leave. If you’re receiving unemployment benefits, you generally can’t receive Paid Leave at the same time. If you have short-term disability insurance through your employer, check whether it coordinates with state Paid Leave or if you need to choose one. The Paid Leave website has guidance on coordination, but when in doubt, call their customer service line before you apply.

Use the online system, not paper. The online application at paidleave.wa.gov is faster, easier to track, and less likely to get lost than paper applications. You can save your progress and come back to it. You can upload documents directly. You can check your claim status anytime. Unless you absolutely can’t access the internet, use the online system.

Application Timeline and Process

Here’s a realistic timeline for taking Paid Family and Medical Leave, working backward from when you actually need to be off work:

Week 0 (When you learn you’ll need leave): Gather basic information. You’ll need your Social Security number, information about your employers from the past 18 months, and details about why you need leave. If it’s for a medical reason, contact your healthcare provider’s office and request the medical certification form. If you’re bonding with a new baby, gather birth or placement documents.

Week 1-2: Complete your online application at paidleave.wa.gov. The application asks about your work history, the reason for leave, when you want leave to start, and how long you expect to be gone. Be as accurate as possible with dates, but understand that you can adjust later if things change. Submit the application and note your confirmation number.

Week 2-3: Follow up on your medical certification if required. The state will send the form directly to your healthcare provider if you provide their information, or you can download it and take it to your appointment. Make sure your provider completes it thoroughly and returns it quickly. Incomplete forms are the number one cause of delays.

Week 3-4: The Employment Security Department reviews your application. They’ll verify your work history and that you meet the 820-hour requirement. If everything is in order, you’ll receive an approval notice with your weekly benefit amount and approved leave dates. If they need more information, they’ll contact you—respond immediately to avoid delays.

Week 4 onward (During your leave): File weekly claims every week you’re on leave. You’ll answer a few questions confirming you were on leave that week and didn’t work. Submit by Sunday for the previous week. Benefits are typically paid within 3-5 business days after you file your weekly claim.

When you return to work: File your final weekly claim for your last week of leave, then notify the Employment Security Department that you’ve returned to work. This closes out your claim properly.

If you need to extend your leave beyond what you originally requested, you can apply for an extension before your approved leave ends. If your situation changes and you need to return to work earlier than planned, you can do that too—just stop filing weekly claims and notify the department.

Common Mistakes That Delay Benefits

Waiting until you’re already on leave to apply. By the time you’re approved and file your first weekly claim, you could be three weeks without income. Apply at least two weeks before your leave starts if at all possible.

Providing incomplete employer information. The state needs to verify your work history. If you’ve worked for multiple employers in the past 18 months, include all of them with accurate dates and addresses. Missing or wrong employer information means delays while they track down your work history.

Not following up on the medical certification. Your doctor’s office is busy. They might put your form at the bottom of the pile. Call them a week after you submit your request. Offer to pick it up in person if that’s faster. A missing medical certification means no benefits until it’s received.

Filing weekly claims late or inconsistently. You have 30 days to file a weekly claim, but don’t push it. File every Sunday for the previous week. Make it a routine. Late claims can delay payments and create confusion about which weeks you were actually on leave.

Not reporting other income. If you receive any wages, vacation pay, sick pay, or other income during your leave, you must report it on your weekly claim. Failing to report other income can result in overpayments that you’ll have to pay back, plus penalties.

Assuming you can work part-time while on leave. Paid Family and Medical Leave is for when you can’t work. If you work any hours during a week, you need to report it, and it will likely reduce or eliminate your benefit for that week. This isn’t a program for reducing your hours—it’s for when you need to be completely off work.

Not understanding the difference between applying and filing weekly claims. Applying gets you approved. Filing weekly claims gets you paid. You need to do both. Every week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take leave intermittently instead of all at once? Yes, for certain situations. If you need ongoing treatment for a chronic condition or you’re caring for someone who needs regular appointments, you can take leave in blocks of time or on a reduced schedule. You’ll need medical certification supporting the intermittent schedule, and you’ll file weekly claims only for the time you actually miss work.

What if I work for multiple employers? You can take leave from all of them, some of them, or just one. Your benefit is based on your total wages from all Washington employers. When you apply, you’ll indicate which job(s) you’re taking leave from. You’ll need to coordinate with each employer separately about your leave.

Can my employer require me to use my vacation or sick time first? No. You can choose to use your accrued paid time off to supplement your Paid Leave benefit (since it might not be 100% of your wages), but your employer can’t force you to use it. However, some employers have policies about coordinating benefits, so check your employee handbook.

What happens if my employer goes out of business while I’m on leave? You’ll still receive your Paid Leave benefits from the state. However, you won’t have job protection to return to since there’s no job to return to. Your benefits continue for the approved leave period regardless of what happens with your employer.

Can I take leave to care for my grandparent or grandchild? Yes. Washington’s definition of family member is broader than federal FMLA. You can take leave to care for your child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling with a serious health condition.

What if my leave situation changes? If you need more time than originally approved, apply for an extension before your current leave ends. If you need less time and can return to work early, that’s fine—just stop filing weekly claims and notify the department. If the reason for your leave changes (for example, you’re on leave for your own medical condition and then your spouse also becomes ill), you may need to file a new application.

Do I get paid for the first week of leave? Yes, there’s no waiting period for most situations. You’ll receive benefits starting from your first day of approved leave. This is different from some other states’ programs that have a one-week waiting period.

Can I take leave if I’m self-employed? Yes, but only if you opted into the program and have been paying premiums. Self-employed workers aren’t automatically covered—you have to voluntarily elect coverage and pay premiums for at least four quarters before you can take leave. If you haven’t opted in yet, you can do so, but you’ll need to wait a year before you can claim benefits.

What if I’m denied? You have the right to appeal. Common reasons for denial include not meeting the 820-hour work requirement, not having a qualifying reason for leave, or incomplete medical certification. The denial notice will explain the reason and how to appeal. Many denials are overturned on appeal when applicants provide additional documentation.

Will this affect my unemployment benefits if I lose my job later? No. Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits don’t reduce your unemployment insurance benefits if you become unemployed later. They’re separate programs.

How to Apply Right Now

Ready to apply for Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave? Here’s exactly what to do:

First, gather your documents. You’ll need your Social Security number, information about your Washington employers from the past 18 months (names, addresses, dates of employment), and details about why you need leave. If it’s for a medical reason, have your healthcare provider’s contact information ready.

Second, go to the official application portal at paidleave.wa.gov and create an account if you don’t have one. The site works best on a computer rather than a phone, though mobile works if that’s all you have.

Third, complete the online application. Take your time and answer every question accurately. The application takes most people 20-30 minutes. You can save your progress and come back to it if you need to look up information.

Fourth, submit your medical certification if required. The state can send the form directly to your healthcare provider, or you can download it and take it to your appointment. Make sure your provider completes every section and returns it within a week.

Fifth, watch for your approval notice. This typically arrives within 7-10 business days. It will tell you your weekly benefit amount and your approved leave dates. If the department needs more information, respond immediately.

Sixth, file your weekly claims every week you’re on leave. Set a reminder for every Sunday. This is how you actually get paid.

Questions about your specific situation? The Paid Leave customer service line is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time. Call 833-717-2273. They can answer questions about eligibility, walk you through the application, and help troubleshoot issues. The wait times are longest on Mondays and around the first of the month, so call mid-week if possible.

You can also find detailed guides, video tutorials, and FAQs on the official website. The site has information in multiple languages and resources for employers as well.

This benefit exists because you’ve been paying into it. When life happens and you need to be there for yourself or your family, use it. That’s exactly what it’s for.