Colorado’s Paid Family Leave Program for Self-Employed Individuals

(last updated 08/23/22)

Is it Available?

Yes. Benefits begin Jan. 1, 2024.

Who’s Eligible?

Workers must have earned at least $2,500 during the base period. The base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters or the 4 most recently completed quarters.

Employee/Self-Employed Contribution

Initially, the total premium will be 0.9% of wages. Premiums do not apply to wages above the Social Security contribution base.

Contribution Period

More information coming soon.

Qualifying Life Events

To care for a family member with a serious health condition.
For parents to bond with a new child entering their life either by birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
To address certain military family needs.
For a worker’s own serious health condition.
To address certain medical and non- medical needs arising from domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault or abuse, also known as “safe” leave.

Wage Benefit

For an individual who makes less than 50% of the statewide average weekly wage (SAWW), they will qualify for 90% of their average weekly wage.

For an individual who makes more than 50% of the SAWW, they will qualify for the above benefit plus 50% of their average weekly wage for the portion of their income above the 50% of the SAWW.

Maximum benefit: $1,100 per week, adjusted annually.

Length of Benefit

Up to 12 weeks in an application year.

Website to Learn More and Apply

https://famli.colorado.gov/

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Glossary of Terms:

Employee/Self-employed Contribution:

The amount that a self-employed individual must pay into the program in order to qualify for benefits. Depending on your state this contribution may be quarterly or annually.

Employee’s/Self-employed Average Weekly Wage (AWW):

The total amount an employee/self-employed person earned in a 52-week period divided by 52

Ex: If you make $40,000 annually, your average weekly wage is $769.23, which is $40,000 divided by 52.
If the contribution is .27% of an employee’s/self-employed person’s average weekly wage, if you made $40,000 annually, your contribution would be $108, which is $40,000 times .0027 (which is .27%).

Contribution Period:

The amount of time you need to pay into the program before you are eligible to apply for PFL benefits.

Qualifying Life Events:

The type of life events that allow you to apply for PFL benefits.

Wage Benefit:

Amount of benefit to be paid to employee/self-employed person during their PFL.

Length of Benefit:

Length of time covered under PFL.

Social Security contribution base:

This is a set of criteria by Social Security’s Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program that caps the amount of earnings each year that are eligible for your social security contributions. Some state’s Paid Family Leave insurance funds use this same threshold to cap contributions into their programs. This cap changes annually. For 2022 the base is $147,000.

Note: The contents of the directory last updated day of 2/15/22. We try our best to have the most up to date information possible, however please double check all information with your state. This directory is for educational purposes only.

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