Over 6,300 claims for paid benefits were submitted between March 30 and May 30 under the new Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) program. The rate of claims submitted has leveled off to about 100 per day, according to a report presented at the June 9 meeting of the PFML Benefits Authority.

Pending claims account for 40% of the total and approved claims represent 33%. Another 11% were filed erroneously by workers who are covered by private plans, not the state plan to which most employers belong. Denials, such as qualifying earnings too low of required documentation not submitted, accounted for 9%.

Claims paid totaled $2,864,115 as of May 30.

State officials advised waiting until at least 12 weeks of paid claims have occurred (late July) before usage trends become representative of the program.

Meanwhile, very little information has been provided regarding the amount money paid into the PFML Fund by employers and employees, for example, and how that compares with actuarial projections.

There also has been no written report yet about employer use of “undue hardship” to avoid leave scheduling complications.

For more information: https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/authority/index.shtml