What is Minnesota Paid Family & Medical Leave?
Starting January 1, 2026, Minnesota workers can take paid time off for important life events — and still receive a portion of their wages. Whether you're welcoming a new baby, recovering from surgery, caring for a sick family member, or dealing with a safety situation, PFML has you covered.
90%
Maximum Wage Replacement
$1,423
Max Weekly Benefit (2026)
Plan Your Leave With Confidence
The PFML Navigator helps you understand exactly what you're entitled to, calculate your benefits down to the dollar, track your leave usage, and get answers to your questions — all backed by Minnesota law.
💰
Calculate Your Benefits
Enter your salary and instantly see exactly how much you'll receive each week during your leave — no guessing required.
📅
Track Your Leave
Keep track of how many weeks you've used and how many remain. Never accidentally exceed your annual limit.
❓
Get Legal Answers
Ask questions about eligibility, coverage, and your rights — get answers with actual statute citations.
📋
Plan Your Request
Understand the process, prepare your documentation, and feel confident when requesting leave from your employer.
📊
Export Reports
Download professional PDFs of your calculations and history to share with HR, your employer, or keep for your records.
🔄
Auto-Sync Tracking
Your leave tracker automatically integrates with the calculator, so your remaining weeks are always accurate.
Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) is a state-run insurance program that provides wage replacement when you need time away from work for qualifying life events. Think of it as a safety net that lets you take care of yourself and your family without losing your income.
How PFML Works
The Basic Concept
While you're working, a small amount is deducted from your paycheck (and your employer contributes too). This funds the PFML program. When you need to take qualifying leave, you apply and receive weekly benefit payments that replace a portion of your normal wages — up to 90% for lower earners.
Key Program Features
- Wage replacement, not full salary — You receive a percentage of your normal pay, calculated using a progressive formula that benefits lower-income workers more
- Job protection — Your employer must hold your job (or an equivalent position) while you're on approved PFML leave
- Health insurance continuation — Your employer-provided health coverage continues during your leave
- No waiting period once eligible — Once you meet eligibility requirements, you can use benefits immediately when you need them
- Intermittent leave available — For some situations, you can take leave in smaller increments instead of all at once
Who is Eligible?
To qualify for Minnesota PFML benefits, you must meet these requirements:
- Work in Minnesota — Your primary work location must be in Minnesota
- Meet earnings requirements — You must have earned enough wages during a "base period" before your leave
- Have a qualifying reason — Your leave must fall into one of the four covered categories (bonding, medical, family care, or safety)
- Provide required documentation — Depending on leave type, you may need medical certification or other documentation
💡 Good News: Most Workers Qualify
The eligibility requirements are designed to be inclusive. If you've been working in Minnesota and earning regular wages, you likely qualify. When in doubt, use our Questions feature to ask about your specific situation.
How Benefits Are Calculated
Minnesota uses a progressive wage replacement formula that gives lower-income workers a higher percentage of their wages:
The Three-Tier Formula
Wages up to 50% of state average
90% replaced
Wages from 50% to 100% of state average
66% replaced
Wages above state average
55% replaced
Maximum weekly benefit (2026)
$1,423
Don't worry about doing this math yourself — our calculator handles it all automatically!
The 20-Week Annual Limit
⚠️ Important: Combined Maximum
While each leave type allows up to 12 weeks, you can only take a total of 20 weeks of paid leave per year across ALL types combined. For example:
• If you take 12 weeks of bonding leave for a new baby...
• You'd have 8 weeks remaining if you needed medical leave later that year
The year resets on your leave anniversary, not the calendar year.
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Your 20 weeks of annual PFML leave
Minnesota PFML covers four distinct types of leave. Each serves a different purpose, but all provide up to 12 weeks of benefits (within the 20-week annual combined maximum).
Up to 12 weeks
Time to bond with a new child joining your family through birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
- Birth of your child
- Adoption of a child
- Foster care placement
- Both parents can take it
- Must be taken within 12 months of child's arrival
Up to 12 weeks
Time to recover from your own serious health condition that prevents you from working.
- Surgery and recovery
- Serious illness treatment
- Chronic condition flare-ups
- Pregnancy-related conditions
- Mental health conditions
Up to 12 weeks
Time to care for a family member with a serious health condition who needs your help.
- Care for sick spouse or partner
- Care for sick child
- Care for sick parent
- Care for grandparent or grandchild
- Care for sibling
Up to 12 weeks
Time to address issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking affecting you or your family.
- Seeking safe housing
- Legal proceedings
- Counseling services
- Safety planning
- Medical attention
What Counts as a "Serious Health Condition"?
For Medical Leave and Family Care Leave, the condition must be "serious" — meaning it requires either:
- Inpatient care — An overnight stay in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical facility
- Continuing treatment — A condition that requires ongoing care from a healthcare provider
Examples of qualifying serious health conditions:
✅ Usually Qualifies
- Cancer treatment
- Heart surgery recovery
- Severe depression or anxiety
- Pregnancy complications
- Broken bones requiring surgery
- Chronic conditions requiring treatment
❌ Usually Does Not Qualify
- Common cold or flu
- Minor injuries
- Routine dental work
- Cosmetic procedures
- Conditions not requiring treatment
Can I Use Multiple Leave Types?
Yes! You can use different types of leave in the same year — as long as you don't exceed 20 weeks total.
📋 Example: New Parent Scenario
Maria's year:
• February: Takes 2 weeks of Medical Leave for pregnancy complications
• March: Takes 8 weeks of Bonding Leave after baby is born
• Total used: 10 weeks
• Remaining: 10 weeks available if needed
If Maria's mother becomes seriously ill in September, she still has 10 weeks of Family Care Leave available.
When you select the PFML product, your dashboard transforms into a command center for managing your paid family leave benefits.
What You'll See
Program Status Banner
A green banner at the top confirms the Minnesota PFML program is active (as of January 1, 2026) and shows the current benefit year.
Key Statistics Cards
Four cards give you a quick overview:
- Questions Asked — How many PFML questions you've asked our AI
- Calculations Run — How many benefit calculations you've performed
- Reports Exported — PDFs you've downloaded
- Leave Weeks Used — Your usage this year (e.g., "8/20 weeks")
Quick Action Cards
Colorful cards provide one-click access to main features:
💰 Calculate Benefits
Find out exactly how much you'll receive during your leave.
❓ Ask a Question
Get answers about eligibility, coverage, and your rights.
📅 Track My Leave
Monitor your leave usage and plan future time off.
Leave Types Overview
Visual cards showing all four leave types with their maximum durations:
- Bonding — New child (up to 12 weeks)
- Medical — Your own health (up to 12 weeks)
- Family Care — Caring for loved ones (up to 12 weeks)
- Safety — Domestic situations (up to 12 weeks)
Key Benefits Summary
A reminder of what PFML provides:
- Up to 90% wage replacement — Progressive formula benefits lower earners more
- $1,423/week maximum — The 2026 benefit cap
- Job protection — Your position is protected during approved leave
The calculator is the heart of the PFML Navigator. Enter your salary and see exactly what you'll receive — no guesswork, no surprises.
How to Use the Calculator
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Enter your annual salary
Type your yearly earnings (before taxes). The calculator auto-formats with commas and shows your weekly wage below. Example: $65,000/year = $1,250/week.
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Select your leave type
Choose from the dropdown: Bonding, Medical, Family Care, or Safety. This doesn't change your benefit amount, but helps with planning and tracking.
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Check if you've used leave this year
If you've already taken PFML leave, check the box "I've already used PFML leave this year." Enter weeks used by type if applicable.
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Adjust your leave duration
Use the slider to select how many weeks you plan to take (1-12 weeks). If you've used prior leave, the maximum automatically adjusts.
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Click "Calculate My Benefits"
Instantly see your weekly benefit amount, total for your leave period, and detailed breakdown.
Calculator Preview
🧮 Example Calculation
$1,153.50/week
Your Weekly Benefit (92.3% wage replacement)
Total for 12 weeks: $13,842
Understanding Your Results
What the Results Show
- Weekly benefit amount — The exact dollar amount you'll receive each week (e.g., $1,153.50)
- Wage replacement percentage — What portion of your normal pay this represents (e.g., 92.3%)
- Total for your leave period — Multiply weekly benefit by weeks taken (e.g., $13,842 for 12 weeks)
- Detailed breakdown — How we calculated your benefit using the three-tier formula
The Benefit Breakdown
Your results include an explanation of how the formula applied to your specific salary:
Example Breakdown for $65,000/year ($1,250/week)
First $577.50 (50% of state avg) × 90%
$519.75
Next $577.50 (50-100% of state avg) × 66%
$381.15
Remaining $95 (above state avg) × 55%
$52.25
Total Weekly Benefit
$953.15
Note: Numbers in this example are illustrative. Actual calculations use current state average weekly wage (SAWW).
Prior Leave Integration
If you've already used PFML leave this year, the calculator integrates with your Leave Tracker:
- Auto-load from tracker — If you've been tracking leave, your used weeks load automatically with a green checkmark
- Manual entry option — Can also enter weeks manually if you haven't been tracking
- Refresh button — Click to reload the latest data from your tracker
- Remaining weeks display — Shows "X weeks remaining (of 20 max/year)"
- Adjusted slider maximum — If you've used 8 weeks, the slider only goes up to 12 more
Saving & Exporting
After calculating, you can:
💾 Save Calculation
Store this calculation in your history to reference later. Great for comparing scenarios or keeping records.
📄 Export PDF
Download a professional PDF showing your calculation, breakdown, and key details. Perfect for sharing with HR or your employer.
Common Calculation Scenarios
👶 New Parent Planning Ahead
Situation: You're expecting a baby in 3 months and want to know what you'll receive during bonding leave.
What to do: Enter your current salary, select "Bonding," leave prior leave unchecked (since you haven't used any), and set duration to your planned leave (e.g., 8 weeks). See exactly what you'll receive and plan your budget accordingly.
🏥 Mid-Year Medical Leave
Situation: You already took 4 weeks of bonding leave in March. Now you need surgery in October.
What to do: Check "I've already used PFML leave," enter 4 weeks under Bonding. The calculator shows you have 16 weeks remaining. Select Medical leave type and your planned duration to see your benefits.
❤️ Caring for Aging Parent
Situation: Your mother had a stroke and needs care during recovery. You're not sure how long you'll need.
What to do: Enter your salary, select "Family Care," and try different durations (4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks) to see the financial impact of each scenario. This helps you plan how much time you can afford to take.
Minnesota's PFML law is complex. Our AI assistant can answer your questions with references to actual statutes, so you know the information is accurate and legally grounded.
What You Can Ask
Eligibility Questions
You
Am I eligible for PFML if I've only worked at my job for 3 months?
AI Assistant
Minnesota PFML eligibility is based on your overall work history in the state, not just your current employer. Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 268B, you're eligible if you've earned sufficient wages during the "base period" — typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your leave.
Key point: Even if you're new to your current job, wages from previous Minnesota employers count toward eligibility. If you've been working in Minnesota for at least a year total, you likely qualify.
Reference: Minnesota Statutes §268B.04
Coverage Questions
You
Can my employer deny my PFML leave request?
AI Assistant
No, employers cannot deny a valid PFML leave request. Under Minnesota law, PFML is an employee right, not an employer-granted benefit.
However, employers can:
• Request certification (medical documentation for health-related leave)
• Ask for reasonable advance notice when leave is foreseeable
• Require you to follow their normal leave request procedures
Employers cannot:
• Deny leave that meets program requirements
• Retaliate against you for taking leave
• Require you to find your own replacement
Reference: Minnesota Statutes §268B.09
Process Questions
You
How do I apply for bonding leave after my baby is born?
AI Assistant
Here's the process for applying for bonding leave:
1. Notify your employer
Give at least 30 days advance notice if the leave is foreseeable (like a due date). For unexpected situations, notify as soon as practicable.
2. Submit your application
Apply through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) PFML portal. You'll need:
• Proof of the child's birth, adoption, or foster placement
• Your employment information
• Requested leave dates
3. Wait for approval
DEED reviews your application and determines eligibility. Once approved, benefit payments begin.
4. Receive benefits
Weekly benefit payments are deposited directly or mailed to you.
Reference: Minnesota Statutes §268B.06, §268B.07
Rights Questions
You
What happens to my health insurance while I'm on PFML leave?
AI Assistant
Great question! Your employer must maintain your health insurance coverage during PFML leave under the same terms as if you were still working.
What this means:
• If your employer paid 80% of your premium before leave, they continue paying 80%
• You're still responsible for your portion of premiums
• Your employer cannot drop you from the plan
• Coverage continues for your dependents too
Your responsibility:
You must continue paying your share of premiums. Your employer may set up a payment arrangement or deduct it from your PFML benefits (if you agree).
Reference: Minnesota Statutes §268B.09(b)
More Question Examples
💼 Employment Questions
- • "Can I be fired while on PFML leave?"
- • "Will I get my same job back after leave?"
- • "What if my employer goes out of business?"
💰 Benefit Questions
- • "Are PFML benefits taxable?"
- • "Can I work part-time while on leave?"
- • "How often are benefits paid?"
📋 Documentation Questions
- • "What medical certification do I need?"
- • "Who needs to sign my leave forms?"
- • "How long are approvals valid?"
👨👩👧 Family Questions
- • "Can both parents take bonding leave?"
- • "Who counts as a 'family member'?"
- • "Can I take leave for my step-child?"
How Credits Work for Questions
- Trial users: 10 detailed questions with statute citations
- Premium users: Unlimited questions
- Each question uses 1 credit when it requires statute research
- General clarifications don't use credits — asking follow-ups about the same topic is free
The Leave Tracker helps you monitor your PFML usage throughout the year. Know exactly how many weeks you've used, how many remain, and plan future leave with confidence.
Calendar View
Your leave is displayed visually on a calendar with color-coded status:
Planned (scheduled, not started)
Active (currently on leave)
Completed (leave finished)
Summary Cards
Quick-view cards show your leave status at a glance:
📊 Total Used
How many weeks you've taken this year across all leave types.
✅ Remaining
How many of your 20 annual weeks are still available.
📅 Upcoming
Any planned or approved leave that hasn't started yet.
Filtering Your Leave
Narrow down what you see using filters:
- By leave type — Show only Bonding, Medical, Family Care, or Safety leave
- By status — Show only planned, active, completed, or denied leave
- By date range — Focus on specific time periods
Leave Entry Details
Each leave period in your tracker shows:
- Leave type — With icon (👶 Bonding, 🏥 Medical, ❤️ Family Care, 🛡️ Safety)
- Start and end dates — When the leave begins and ends
- Duration — Total weeks/days
- Status badge — Current status (Planned, Active, Completed, etc.)
- Notes — Any details you've added
How Tracking Helps You
🔄 Calculator Integration
Your tracked leave automatically syncs with the benefit calculator. When calculating new leave, your prior usage is pre-filled — no manual entry needed.
⚠️ Limit Warnings
If you're approaching your 20-week annual limit, you'll see warnings before you accidentally plan more leave than you have available.
The Request Leave feature helps you plan and document your leave requests. While official PFML applications go through the state system, this tool helps you prepare and keep records.
Creating a Leave Request
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Select your leave type
Choose from Bonding, Medical, Family Care, or Safety leave based on your situation.
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Choose your start date
When do you plan to begin your leave? Select from the calendar picker.
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Choose your end date
When will you return? The system automatically calculates the duration in weeks.
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Add reason/notes
Describe your situation. This helps you remember details later and can be useful when talking to HR.
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Upload supporting documents (optional)
Attach medical certifications, birth certificates, or other relevant documents to keep everything in one place.
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Submit your request
Save the request to your tracker. This creates a record you can reference when applying officially.
Request Statuses
| Status |
What It Means |
| Planned (Gray) |
Leave is scheduled for the future but hasn't started yet |
| Active (Green) |
You're currently on this leave period |
| Completed (Blue) |
This leave period has ended and you've returned to work |
| Denied (Red) |
The request was not approved (if tracked from official application) |
| Canceled (Orange) |
You canceled this planned leave |
Using Requests for Planning
💡 Planning vs. Official Application
The Request Leave feature in Navitize is for your personal planning and record-keeping. To actually receive PFML benefits, you must submit an official application through the Minnesota DEED system. Think of Navitize requests as your "draft" that helps you prepare — not the official submission.
Good uses for the Request feature:
- Planning ahead — Map out when you'll take leave and see how it affects your annual balance
- Documenting conversations — Keep notes about discussions with your employer
- Gathering documents — Store relevant files before you need to submit them officially
- Tracking actual leave — Once approved, update your request to track real usage
Your PFML History
Everything you do in the PFML Navigator is saved for future reference:
- Benefit calculations — All your past calculations with the inputs and results
- Questions asked — Your questions and the AI's answers with statute citations
- Leave requests — All leave you've planned or taken
- Exported reports — PDFs you've downloaded
Filtering History
Find what you need quickly:
- By type — Show only calculations, questions, requests, or reports
- By date — Focus on specific time periods
- Search — Find specific topics or keywords
Exporting Reports
Generate professional documents for various purposes:
Available Reports
📄 Leave Summary Report
Overview of all your leave usage — great for tax records or employer discussions.
💰 Benefit Calculation Summary
Detailed breakdown of your benefit calculations — useful for budgeting or HR submissions.
❓ Question History Document
All your questions and answers with statute references — helpful for understanding your rights.
📊 Combined PFML Activity Report
Everything in one document — calculations, questions, leave history.
Export Options
- Format — Choose PDF or Excel
- Date range — Export specific time periods or everything
- Content selection — Choose what to include in the report
- Delivery — Download immediately or email to yourself
Why Keep Records?
- Tax purposes — PFML benefits may be taxable; good records help at tax time
- Employer communication — Share calculations or leave plans with HR
- Personal planning — Reference past leave when planning future time off
- Dispute resolution — If issues arise, documentation helps
Account Options
🎁 Free Trial
$0
14 days
- 3 benefit calculations
- 10 PFML questions
- Basic leave tracking
- 2 PDF exports
- No credit card required
⭐ Premium
$9.99
per month
- Unlimited calculations
- Unlimited questions
- Full leave tracking
- Unlimited exports
- Priority support
🚀 Premium Plus
$19.99
per month
- Everything in Premium
- Advanced scenario planning
- Family member accounts
- Direct support channel
What Uses Credits (Trial)
- Benefit calculations (saved) — 1 credit per calculation you save
- PFML questions — 1 credit per question with statute citations
- PDF exports — 1 credit per report generated
What's Always Free
- Quick calculations (not saved) — Use the calculator without saving
- Viewing your history — Access past calculations and conversations
- Basic leave tracking — Log your leave usage
- Learning about PFML — Access general program information
When to Upgrade
Premium Makes Sense If...
• You're actively planning leave and need multiple scenario calculations
• You have lots of questions about your specific situation
• You want to track leave for yourself and family members
• You need professional reports for your employer
• You want peace of mind with unlimited access