New Hampshire’s paid family leave program was implemented with hopes of facilitating new fathers to take paternal leave. For years, the city of Concord, within the state, offered short-term disability insurance for new mothers but no equivalent facility for new fathers. The arrival of the statewide paid family leave program brought a major change. It allows six weeks of leave for newborn bonding for beneficiaries of any gender, theoretically enabling mothers to return to work earlier due to support at home.

The program, initiated by the state Republicans, started accepting new members in late 2022. It allows six weeks of leave per year to cover various scenarios. Beneficiaries receive 60% of their standard pay during these six weeks. As of January 2024, over 20,000 New Hampshire workers are signed on, with half of them receiving it as a benefit covered by their job, while others are signed up automatically as state employees, or buying the plans as individuals.

Studies show that among those who get the insurance through their employers, 57 percent are using the benefits for child bonding, but among those who pay for the plans themselves, 79 percent are using their benefits for child bonding. Approximately 75 percent of those individuals are women, and 68 percent are under 45 years old.

It may be useful at this stage for those participating in the program or those considering it to have a clear understanding of their benefits and how to navigate the intricate state systems. In such cases, websites like eddcaller.com can be extremely beneficial. They offer information on how to contact relevant departments, like SDI (State Disability Insurance), PFL (Paid Family Leave), and EDD (Employment Development Department) in a convenient and accessible manner. Spreading awareness of such resources can greatly simplify the process of obtaining benefits.