Delaware Paid Leave Calculator 2026

The Delaware Healthy Delaware Families Act (Delaware Paid Leave) provides paid time off for medical, family caregiving, and parental bonding. For 2026, the total contribution is 0.8% of wages, split equally between employer and employee at 0.4% each. Coverage scales by employer size, with the smallest workplaces fully exempt.

2026 Delaware Paid Leave Rate Structure

Delaware uses a three-tier system based on headcount: fewer than 10 employees are fully exempt; 10 to 24 employees must cover medical leave only (employer + employee 0.4% each on medical portion); 25 or more employees participate in the full program covering medical, family caregiving, and parental leave. Contributions cap at the Social Security taxable wage base of $176,100 in 2026, making the maximum employee contribution approximately $704 per year.

How the Weekly Benefit Works

Delaware Paid Leave pays 80% of your average weekly wage up to a statutory maximum of $900 per week in 2026. The benefit cap is tied to the state average weekly wage and adjusts annually. There is a one-week waiting period for most claims, except for new-parent bonding leave which begins immediately upon the qualifying event.

Leave Duration and Eligibility

Workers can take up to 6 weeks of parental leave for bonding with a newborn or newly adopted child, plus up to 6 weeks of medical or family caregiving leave in a 24-month period. The combined maximum is 12 weeks per 24-month period. To qualify, employees must have worked at least 12 months with at least 1,250 hours during the prior 12 months. Delaware's Department of Labor administers claims through its Paid Leave Division.

Last updated May 2026. Source: Delaware Department of Labor — Paid Leave Division.