D.C. Workers Lose Half Their Family Leave as New Laws Take Effect

October 1, 2026

Washington D.C. has significantly reduced paid family leave benefits for district workers effective October 1, as part of efforts to address a billion-dollar budget deficit. The maximum family caregiving leave has been cut in half from 12 weeks to six weeks, while medical leave drops from 12 to 10 weeks, and the maximum weekly payment decreases from $1,190 to $1,100. Although Mayor Bowser initially proposed eliminating these benefits entirely, the City Council partially restored them but at reduced levels compared to what workers previously received.

Who is affected

District workers who need time off to care for seriously ill family members
Workers requiring medical leave for their own serious health conditions
Black workers (who comprise 53% of family caregiving and medical leave users)
Lower-income workers (who tend to use family and medical leave more than parental leave)
Workers facing cancer treatment, surgery, or caring for seriously ill relatives
Employers (who continue paying the 0.75% payroll tax)

What action is being taken

The maximum family caregiving benefit is dropping from 12 to six weeks (beginning October 1)
Medical leave for workers with serious health conditions is falling from 12 to 10 weeks
The maximum weekly benefit is declining from $1,190 to $1,100
The share of payroll tax allocated to paid leave is being reduced from 0.25% to 0.11%
Employers are continuing to pay the same 0.75% payroll tax that funds the program

Why it matters

This represents the first time any U.S. jurisdiction has reduced paid family and medical leave benefits after implementation, setting a concerning precedent. The cuts disproportionately impact Black workers and lower-income employees who are the primary users of family caregiving and medical leave benefits. Workers facing the most serious medical circumstances—such as cancer treatment or caring for gravely ill family members—now have half the time they previously had to manage these critical life situations. The reductions occur despite employers continuing to pay the same payroll tax rate, with funds being diverted to address the District's broader budget shortfall rather than supporting the workers who contribute to the program.

What's next

For claims filed from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2030, family leave will be limited to six weeks and medical leave to 10 weeks
Beginning October 1, 2030, both family and medical leave will return to 12 weeks
The $1,100 maximum weekly benefit can increase annually with inflation if the District's chief financial officer certifies that the Universal Paid Leave Fund has sufficient funds

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer