When Maryland paid leave benefits start: January 1, 2028 — and why FAMLI is on your paycheck from January 2027
Published Sep 19, 2026
Page updated Oct 10, 2026
Short answer, as of October 8, 2026: Maryland paid family and medical leave benefits start on January 1, 2028 (the law requires a start no later than January 3, 2028). The date is on the FAMLI Division's "About the program" page: "January 1, 2028: Benefits become available". Paycheck deductions start one year earlier. They apply to wages paid on or after January 1, 2027. The total rate is 0.9% of wages, and the employee share is no more than 0.45%.
The dates
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Registration opened to all employers | MD Labor news index |
| January 1, 2027 | Contributions begin, on wages paid on or after this date | About page; Contributions FAQ Q15 |
| Apr 30, 2027 | Employers send the first report and payment | FAMLI Division, reports page |
| July 2027 | Employers start the benefit notices, six months before benefits | FAMLI Division, Employers page |
| January 1, 2028 | "Benefits become available" | About page |
| January 3, 2028 | The last start day that the law allows | § 8.3-701(a)(1) |
All the employer dates are on the to-do list.
January 1 or January 3?
The statute says that claims begin on a date "not earlier than January 1, 2027, but not later than January 3, 2028, determined and announced by the Secretary" (§ 8.3-701, as amended by HB 102 of 2025, Chapter 363). January 3, 2028 is the outer limit. It is not the announced date. The official About page prints January 1, 2028. The Awareness Toolkit and the State's email templates also say "Starting January 1, 2028". By our calendar check, January 1, 2028 is a Saturday and January 3, 2028 is the first Monday. That is a likely reason why some summaries print January 3. The About page (read October 8, 2026) does not name the Secretary or an announcement.
Why FAMLI is on your paycheck from 2027
The State's About page says: "Payroll deductions begin January 1, 2027, but benefits don't start until January 1, 2028." Contributions start one year before benefits.
- The total rate is 0.9% of wages up to the Social Security wage base (FAMLI Division, contributions page).
- The split is 0.45% employer and 0.45% employee.
- The employee share is no more than 50% of the total rate (§ 8.3-601(e)(1)(ii)).
- An employer can pay the employee share for you. Then your paycheck shows no deduction.
- An employer with fewer than 15 employees remits the employee half only. It can withhold that half from pay.
- The deduction is tied to the pay date. A January 2027 paycheck for December 2026 work is covered.
- Your employer gives you written notice one pay period before the first deduction. That is December 2026.
Example arithmetic from the 0.45% rate: on $1,000 of wages the employee share is $4.50. The FAMLI tax calculator does this for each pay period and for the year.
As of September 18, 2026, the Social Security Administration had not announced the 2027 wage base. The 2026 base is $184,500. This site does not print a projection.
The rate can change in later years. The Secretary sets the next year's rate on or before November 1 each year, from 2027. The law's ceiling is 1.2% (§ 8.3-601).
What the benefits are from 2028
| Item | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks | Up to 12 weeks in a benefit year; 24 in one special case | § 8.3-702 |
| Weekly maximum | Up to $1,000 through December 31, 2028; indexed from January 1, 2029 | § 8.3-703 |
| Weekly minimum | $50 | § 8.3-703 |
| Formula | 90% of your average weekly wage up to 65% of the state average weekly wage, and 50% above it | § 8.3-703(b)(1) |
| Waiting period | "There is no waiting or elimination period." | Employees page |
| First payment | Within 5 business days after the State accepts the claim or the leave begins, whichever is later | § 8.3-703(d)(4) |
The special case: a person who gets benefits to bond with a new child and who also has a serious health condition of their own in the same year can get 12 more weeks (§ 8.3-702(a)(2)).
If you are an employer
Start with What is Maryland FAMLI? and the FAMLI tax: rate, who pays, when. The Maryland board has every dated rule with its source. The steps checker shows the steps for your size and payroll setup.
This is a private website, not a government site. General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Official site: paidleave.maryland.gov.
For employees: Maryland FAMLI for employees
Sources
- Maryland FAMLI Division — About the program (important dates) — checked Oct 8, 2026
- Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 8.3-701 — benefits start date — checked Oct 8, 2026
- Maryland FAMLI Division — Employees page (no waiting period, first payment) — checked Oct 8, 2026
- Maryland FAMLI Division — Make contributions (rate and split) — checked Oct 8, 2026
- Maryland FAMLI Division — Contributions FAQ, April 2026 (PDF) — checked Oct 8, 2026
- Chapter 363, Acts of 2025 (HB 102) — checked Oct 8, 2026
Frequently asked questions
›When does Maryland paid family leave start?
Benefits start on January 1, 2028, the date on the FAMLI Division's About the program page. The law, § 8.3-701, requires a start no later than January 3, 2028. Contributions start one year earlier, on wages paid on or after January 1, 2027.
›Why is FAMLI taken out of my paycheck in 2027 if I cannot use it until 2028?
The State's About page says: 'Payroll deductions begin January 1, 2027, but benefits don't start until January 1, 2028.' The law sets a contribution start on January 1, 2027, one year before the benefits start.
›How much is the Maryland FAMLI deduction?
The total rate is 0.9% of wages up to the Social Security wage base. The employee share is no more than half, which is 0.45%. On $1,000 of wages, 0.45% is $4.50. An employer can choose to pay the employee share.
›How much will Maryland paid leave pay each week?
Up to $1,000 a week through December 31, 2028, with a minimum of $50. The formula is 90% of your average weekly wage up to 65% of the state average weekly wage, and 50% above it.
›Is it January 1 or January 3, 2028?
The official About page prints January 1, 2028. January 3, 2028 is the last day that the law allows. Some summaries print January 3. This site follows the official page and shows the law's limit next to it.
Private website. Not affiliated with the State of Maryland, the Maryland Department of Labor or the FAMLI Division. Official site: paidleave.maryland.gov. General information with sources and check dates — not legal, tax or insurance advice. We are not a licensed insurance producer; we do not recommend any agent, insurer or plan, and we receive no commission or fee based on any insurance sale.