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What state has the best state-paid parental leave programs?

Updated: Jan 11

Hey, Claire. What's the best state to have a baby?


How the hell should I know? I’m not a parent. 


Just kidding. As you’ve probably noticed, I spend a lot of time thinking about leave administration and researching different states’ laws and paid leave programs. 



Here’s what I’ve learned:


 👎 The worst states to have a baby in are the ones with no state-paid programs at all


You'd be better off if you were laid off. At least then you’d be eligible for unemployment. But it would be illegal to lay you off for having a baby, of course. So I guess the people in these states are screwed.


If you live in AL, AK, AZ, AR, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WV, WI, WY, your state doesn’t have any guaranteed income while you’re on leave. That leaves you at the mercy of your employer. 



😬 Only slightly better are the states with “voluntary” programs


If you live in VA, NH, ND, statutory paid parental leave is “voluntary.” 


WTF is a “voluntary” paid leave program? Wouldn’t everyone choose to be paid rather than not paid?

Sure, if it were up to you. But it’s not.


IF the employer wants to offer paid leave, they can buy state-subsidized insurance plans that meet a statutory minimum. But the minimum sets a low bar. It may be less than your employer would choose to pay without it as a reference point.



⏸️ Some states' programs aren’t live yet


DE, ME, MN, MD have passed paid parental leave laws that won't go into effect for months to years. That means that you’re paying taxes into the program, but you can’t get any money out yet. 


Hopefully you can “hold it.”



😒 Some state programs are underwhelming


RI only pays for 6 weeks. CA only pays for 8.



🙃 Some states are prone to error


HI and NY have mandatory paid disability or PFL programs, but rely on private insurance to administer them. Some employers don’t realize they forgot to sign up until someone tries to file a claim. Which leads to delays in payment for the parent and penalties for the company. 


(Side note: New York’s PFL is reasonable, but disability benefits are so low that it’s hardly worth applying. Who can live off of $170/week in NY?)



😵‍💫 Connecticut is whack


CT has a state program, but no one knows the details. Go to the state website and see for yourself. Five bucks says you can’t figure it out.



👍 The best states to have a baby offer a full 12+ weeks at a livable weekly maximum.


They are:


  • NJ (up to $1170/week)

  • DC (up to $1153/week)

  • MA (up to $1170/week with generous disability extensions)

  • CO (up to $1324 with generous disability)

  • WA (up to $1542 with generous disability and job protections that last forever)

  • OR (up to $1568 with generous disability and job protections that practically never run out)


We built a resource that shows the length and maximum weekly benefit of state PFL programs. It also includes links to each state’s benefits calculator and additional information.



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