Most Americans have no idea how parental leave actually works until they need it — and by then, the clock is already ticking.
Here's the reality: only about 20% of Americans have access to paid family leave through their employer when they welcome a new child. That number is genuinely disheartening. But there is good news: paid leave options in the U.S. are expanding every year, and most parents have more options than they realize.
Here are the three ways you can get paid during parental leave — and how to make sure you're using all of them.
Why Getting Paid on Parental Leave Is So Complicated
The U.S. has no federal paid family leave law. FMLA offers up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave — but it's unpaid. That means your income during parental leave depends entirely on three sources: your state, your employer, and your own insurance elections.
Most parents qualify for at least one of these. Many qualify for all three — and the way you stack and sequence them determines how much you get paid and for how long.
3 Ways to Get Paid on Parental Leave
1. State-Sponsored Paid Family Leave Benefits
A growing number of U.S. states offer paid family leave programs that replace a portion of your income while you're bonding with a new child. These programs work like insurance — you (or your employer) pay into the program through payroll contributions, and when you need it, you file a claim and receive weekly benefit payments.
States with paid family leave programs currently include California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, Rhode Island, Colorado, Oregon, Delaware, Maryland, and Minnesota, plus Washington D.C. Programs vary by state in terms of benefit duration, wage replacement percentage, and eligibility requirements.
Note: State paid family leave laws are expanding regularly. Confirm your state's current program status at your state's labor department website or through Hello Bundle's state-by-state services page.
What state paid family leave typically covers:
- Bonding leave for all parents (birth, adoption, foster) — generally 4 to 12 weeks depending on the state
- Pregnancy disability leave for birthing parents in some states (California, New Jersey, and others)
- Partial wage replacement — typically 60–90% of your regular wages up to a weekly maximum
Getting paid through state programs is not "working the system." You have been paying into these programs through your paycheck. File your claim and collect your benefits.
State programs are also notoriously complicated to navigate — application windows, concurrent deadlines, and benefit coordination rules trip people up constantly. Do your research, and don't be afraid to advocate for yourself.
California parent? Our CA Parental Leave Benefits Guide walks you through every program, how and when to apply, and how they all work together so you maximize your pay and time off.
2. Employer-Paid Parental Leave
Roughly 40% of U.S. employers offer some form of paid parental leave — though what that looks like varies enormously from one company to the next.
Before you plan your leave, request your employer's parental leave policy in writing. Things to look for:
- Does the policy apply to all parents, or only birthing parents?
- How many weeks of paid leave are offered?
- Is it fully paid or partial pay?
- Does it run concurrently with FMLA and state leave?
- Are there tenure requirements to qualify?
Most employer policies offer somewhere between 6 and 12 weeks of paid leave. Some offer more, many offer less. If your employer doesn't offer paid leave — or only offers a few weeks — your state benefits and short-term disability become even more important.
A note on PTO and sick time: If you have a bank of accrued PTO or sick days, these can supplement or extend your paid leave. Just make sure you hold some in reserve for when you return — newborns get sick, and so do new parents.
3. Short-Term Disability Insurance
Short-term disability (STD or SDI) is an income replacement benefit that covers a portion of your wages when you're unable to work due to a medical condition — including pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery.
For parental leave purposes, this is one of the most important benefits most people don't take advantage of — because you have to enroll before you get pregnant.
Most short-term disability plans treat pregnancy as a pre-existing condition. If you're already pregnant when you try to enroll, you likely won't be covered for the birth. This is an open enrollment decision that has to happen in advance.
What short-term disability typically covers for parental leave:
- 6 weeks of wage replacement for a vaginal delivery
- 8 weeks for a C-section
- A percentage of your income during that period (varies by plan)
Short-term disability runs at the same time as FMLA and, in most states, at the same time as state paid family leave. The goal is to stack these benefits strategically so your income is replaced for as long as possible. A parental leave consultant can help you map the overlap in your specific situation.
How the Three Sources of Paid Parental Leave Work Together
The key to maximizing paid leave isn't just knowing these three sources exist — it's understanding how they interact.
In states with paid family leave, your state benefits and FMLA typically run at the same time — meaning they overlap rather than stack. Employer leave may run concurrently or consecutively depending on your employer's policy. Getting the sequencing right can mean several additional weeks of paid leave.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Paid on Parental Leave
How do I get paid during maternity leave if my employer doesn't offer paid leave?
If your employer doesn't offer paid parental leave, your options are state paid family leave (if your state has a program), short-term disability insurance (if you enrolled before getting pregnant), and any accrued PTO or sick time. If you're in a state without paid family leave, short-term disability becomes your primary income source during leave.
Can both parents get paid on parental leave at the same time?
It depends on the source. Most state paid family leave programs allow both parents to claim benefits, though some states have rules about concurrent claims. Employer leave policies vary. FMLA is available to both parents individually. Check your state's specific rules and your employer's policy.
What if I'm self-employed — can I get paid on parental leave?
Self-employed individuals are not covered by employer leave and generally don't have access to short-term disability through an employer. However, some states allow self-employed workers to opt into state paid family leave programs. California, New Jersey, and New York are among the states with this option. Check your state's program eligibility requirements.
Does FMLA pay you during parental leave?
No. FMLA is a job protection law — it guarantees your position for up to 12 weeks but does not replace your income. To get paid during FMLA leave, you need to layer in state benefits, employer leave, short-term disability, or PTO.
How much does California pay for parental leave?
California's Paid Family Leave program pays 60–70% of your weekly wages, up to a 2026 maximum of $1,765 per week. California also offers State Disability Insurance (SDI) for birthing parents recovering from childbirth, which runs before PFL and uses the same wage replacement formula. Combined, California parents can receive up to 20+ weeks of paid benefits.
What is the best way to maximize paid parental leave?
The best way to maximize paid leave is to understand every benefit you qualify for — state programs, employer leave, short-term disability, and PTO — and sequence them strategically. Most parents leave money on the table not because benefits don't exist, but because they don't know how to stack them. A parental leave consultant can build a personalized plan based on your state, employer, and income.
Make Sure You're Getting Everything You're Entitled To
Parental leave in the U.S. is complicated by design. Most parents cobble together a plan on their own and leave weeks of paid leave unclaimed in the process.
Hello Bundle helps parents across the U.S. calculate their exact benefits from every available source, identify programs they didn't know they qualified for, and build a leave plan that maximizes their paid time off from day one.
Take the qualifying quiz and find out exactly what you're entitled to in your state.
About Hello Bundle
Hello Bundle helps new and expecting parents navigate parental leave so they can take the maximum amount of paid time off when they welcome a child. We offer consulting calls, custom parental leave calendars, and PDF guides — plus free daily tips on TikTok and Instagram.
