DC and Massachusetts Update Paid Family Leave Benefit Amounts for 2024
By Joel Riley
The District of Columbia increases its maximum weekly PFML benefit from $1,049 to $1,118, and Massachusetts raises its minimum earnings threshold from $5,100 to $6,000 for PFML eligibility.
What Changed
Two jurisdictions have updated their paid family and medical leave benefit amounts for 2024:
District of Columbia: The maximum weekly benefit under the DC Paid Family Leave program increases from $1,049 to $1,118, reflecting an annual cost-of-living adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index.
Massachusetts: The minimum earnings threshold to qualify for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) benefits increases from $5,100 to $6,000 over the prior 12 months.
These are routine annual adjustments rather than new legislative requirements.
Who Is Affected
DC: All employers who pay into the DC Paid Family Leave program and their eligible employees.
Massachusetts: All employees and employers participating in the MA PFML program. Employees must now have earned at least $6,000 in the prior 12 months to qualify for benefits.
Where It Applies
District of Columbia — all covered employers and employees
Massachusetts — statewide
When It Takes Effect
Both updates take effect in the 2024 benefit year. The DC adjustment reflects an October 2023 update; the Massachusetts threshold applies to claims filed in 2024.
Why It Matters
These are incremental updates, but employers should ensure their FMLA/PFML policies reference the correct benefit amounts. Employees relying on these programs for wage replacement should be aware of the updated figures. For Massachusetts employers, the higher earnings threshold means some part-time or intermittent employees who previously qualified may no longer meet the minimum.
The Humareso Take
These are housekeeping updates — not the kind of changes that keep you up at night, but exactly the kind that slip through the cracks and create confusion when an employee files a claim. Make sure your policy documents and any employee-facing materials reference the correct 2024 numbers. A quick audit now saves a headache later.
Recommended Action Steps
Update your DC FMLA and Paid Family Leave policy to reflect the new maximum weekly benefit of $1,118.
Update your Massachusetts PFML policy to reflect the new minimum earnings threshold of $6,000.
Communicate the updated benefit amounts to employees in both jurisdictions.
Contact your Humareso representative if you need assistance updating your leave policy documents for 2024.
✅ Recommended Action Steps
Originally posted by Joel Riley on 2023-12-05T17:00:16.011Z in Humareso Team > Compliance channel.