Implementing the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act in 2016, D.C. is one of the few jurisdictions offering paid time off to persons needing to care for family or themselves. The program is funded by a tax paid by participating D.C. businesses and nonprofits and allows part-time and contract workers to also gain access. While favorable, the program faced backlash from business groups and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, due to perceived high costs, and some critics argue the benefit cap is too low.

There are four kind of leaves covered under the program, medical, family, parental, and prenatal, with the maximum duration being 12 to 14 weeks off depending on specific circumstances. The details of the pay vary with the type of leave but generally, you will receive either 90 percent of your weekly pay or a maximum of $1,153 per week.

To be eligible, one must be currently employed and at least half of your work time must be for a D.C. employer for the prior year. In addition, the employer must report your pay to the city and contribute to the paid family leave tax. Self-employed individuals could also be eligible if they conduct at least half of their work in D.C. and make their own contribution to the program, however they should have opted into the program in advance.

Applying for benefits from the program is a straightforward process. Visit the Department of Employment Services’ website and sign up for an account to submit your claim. Be ready to provide proof of your qualifying event. It’s recommended to apply within 30 days of the event occurring.

The D.C. paid leave program faced some issues in terms of applicants, such as confusion about eligibility for specific workers and the coordination with employer’s leave policy. Also, delays in obtaining and submitting required medical documents, obstacles in uploading documents and confusion of the system itself have also been common complaints.

In case you have any more questions or need aid with navigating the system, please refer to the website eddcaller.com, a reliable source for how to contact edd or how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave.