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THE MAINE GUIDE

Parental leave
in Maine.

Maine has a paid bonding benefit for eligible covered workers. Check the payment rules and the protection for your time away separately.

Reviewed October 7, 2026 · Birth, adoption & foster placement
Paid program activeUp to 12 weeks

Maximum bonding duration for eligible workers; other leave used can reduce the balance.

Official program / source ↗

What could you be paid?

Weekly benefits depend on past Maine earnings and the program’s tiered formula. Use the Maine benefit estimator for the applicable maximum and your expected weekly amount.

Who may qualify?

Generally, covered base-period earnings must total at least six times Maine’s state average weekly wage. The base period uses the first four of the last five completed quarters. Self-employed elections and excluded employment have separate conditions.

What protects your job?

Restoration generally applies after 120 consecutive days with the employer. Pay eligibility and the service requirement for restoration are different checks.

Recovery leave and bonding

Up to 12 total weeks of family and medical leave in a benefit year. Recovery and bonding usually draw from that shared bank. Medical claims need appropriate certification.

Notice, dates, and deadlines

Benefits began May 1, 2026. Tell the employer as early as practical about foreseeable leave. Consult the current worker guide for notice, application and intermittent-leave requirements.

How to apply

Begin at Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave’s worker portal. Verify whether an approved private plan handles your employer’s claims; prepare wage information, dates and proof of birth or placement.

Before you choose your dates

Ask for one written timeline showing the source of pay and the protection for each part of your absence. Include prior leave used, any waiting period, employer top-up rules, health-premium payments, and the first scheduled workday after leave. The maximum listed above is not a personal approval.

Your application folder

  • Employer contact, work location, hire date, wage records and schedule.
  • Proof of birth or placement accepted by the program.
  • Medical certification only when the requested leave reason requires it.
  • Proposed dates, any split schedule, and the employer’s notice confirmation.
  • Submitted forms, receipt numbers, decisions, and appeal deadlines.

After approval, check whether continuing certifications or weekly claims are required. Report work, other payments and date changes accurately. A state payment approval does not automatically update the employer’s absence record.

Official sources & further reading

Source review: October 7, 2026. Rules can change; the administrator makes the final determination.