Before You Apply
The District of Columbia’s Paid Family Leave program provides employees with benefits when they are out on leave from work to bond with a new child, attend doctor’s appointments related to their pregnancy, take care of a family member, or take care of their own serious health condition.
Click to download our PFL Employee Handbook for additional information on your rights and responsibilities as a claimant and what to expect during the claims process.
Important Eligibility Information
Checklist for
Benefits Application
Ready to Apply?
When you are ready to apply for benefits, you can do so online by visiting our benefits portal. There, you will be able to create an account and submit a claim for benefits.
Create an Account:
- Select “not registered” to set up your new account.
- Under Option 2, select “create an account” and agree to the privacy agreement.
- Proceed to enter the necessary information to register and file a claim.
We encourage you to use our benefits application portal to file a claim. If you are unable to apply online, please call our contact center at (202) 899-3700.
Click to download our PFL Employee Handbook for additional information about qualifying events and the program.
What Happens After You Apply
- OPFL will contact you within 10 business days. During those 10 days, OPFL staff will review your application and notify your employer that you have filed a claim. After OPFL has made a decision on your claim, OPFL will notify you about your claim via the portal and in the preferred method you selected in your application (by email or postal mail).
- If you are approved, you will receive benefit payments on a biweekly basis, either by direct deposit or prepaid debit card, depending on the method you selected while filing a claim. You can find information regarding the prepaid debit card here.
- Please note that any system-generated PFL correspondence will initially be sent in English. If you have indicated that you require assistance in another language, translated versions of these documents will be provided within 2-3 business days in your preferred language
View benefit forms to learn more.
