FAQ

Eligible employees can take up to a maximum of 26 weeks of leave. Pregnant employees can take an additional 26 weeks of healthy pregnancy leave.

The bill covers any employee in Illinois who has earned a minimum of $1,600 in a 12-month period. Eligible employees may work for one or more employers. Self-employed workers can elect coverage. Most gig workers are also eligible.

Employers pay a premium contribution of 0.73% of wages for employees and/or individuals who contract for services as well as up to 0.05% for the administration of the program.

A person can use leave:

● For their own serious health condition;
● To care for an ill family member;
● To care for a new child, including a new adoption, foster care placement, or legal ward;
● For reasons related to military service;
● For reasons related to domestic or sexual violence; and
● Upon the declaration of a public health emergency or disaster, for reasons related to that emergency or disaster, including their own or a family member’s quarantine or isolation, resulting medical needs, or the care of a child who is learning remotely or whose school or child care is closed.

It depends on the average weekly wage of the eligible employee. If the employee makes 50% or less of the statewide average weekly wage, they receive 90% of their average weekly wage. If an employee earns more than 50% of the statewide average weekly wage, they receive 90% of their average weekly wage up to the statewide average weekly wage and 50% of their average weekly wage after, up to $1,200.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Family member includes: an employee's child, spouse or party to a civil union or legal guardianship, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or any other individual related by blood, marriage, or civil union or legal guardianship, or whose close relationship with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship as determined by the employee.

Paid family and medical leave has tremendous benefits to new parents, working women, small businesses, the Illinois economy, low-paid workers, and more. See more about the benefits on our Resources page.

Paid family and medical leave is usually measured in weeks, while paid sick leave is measured in days. Paid family and medical leave is meant to address longer-term, serious illnesses or to bond with a new child. Paid sick leave is for short-term sickness like the flu, colds, doctor’s appointments, and similar. Depending on the employer, an employee may be able to roll their paid sick leave over from year to year until it functions like paid family and medical leave, but it is not the same. Amassing enough sick leave requires careful planning, good health, and a tremendous amount of luck--but that’s not how life works. A paid family and medical leave insurance program allows people to take leave when they need it.