Yes, Sun Life offers NY DBL and PFL administration. NY PFL is a rider to NY DBL.
The state of New York requires most employers to provide two important benefits to eligible employees – Disability Benefits Law (DBL) and Paid Family Leave (PFL). Through the DBL and PFL programs, workers in New York can receive wage replacement when they need to take time off from their jobs for qualifying medical or family reasons.
The DBL program provides benefits to employees for an off-the-job injury or illness. The PFL program allows employees to take paid leave to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or due to military exigency.
Coverage options: Employers can meet their DBL and PFL obligation by partnering with an insurance company or participating in the NY State Insurance Fund.
Sun Life Solutions: Sun Life offers solutions to meet your needs through a fully insured DBL policy with a rider for PFL.
Employers who choose private plan administration through Sun Life receive:
- A coordinated experience between PFML, Short-Term Disability and Absence Management Solutions, if applicable. This leads to a better experience for employees, with one claim submission and a single case manager handling the claim for these benefits
- Robust reporting
- Excellent claims management and access to return to work services
- Compliance guidance on PFML and other leave updates
Recent updates
The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) has announced that the maximum contribution rate for NY PFL in 2025 will increase from 0.373% to 0.388% of an employee's gross annualized wages. This means that the maximum annual employee contribution will rise from $333.25 in 2024 to $354.53 in 2025.
Also announced, the New York State Average Weekly Wage has increased to $1,757.19 for 2025. This means that the NY PFL maximum weekly benefit is increasing from $1,151.16 to $1,177.32.
More information from the state can be found here.
Frequently asked questions
Once an employer has contracted with an insurance carrier to provide DBL and PFL for their NY based employees, the insurance carrier will file the required materials with New York. It is important that ALL Employer Identification Numbers with NY employees are filed and compliant with the mandate, so be sure to list all entities that should be covered under the DBL/PFL policy.
Program highlights
Plan Name |
Disability Benefits Law (DBL) Paid Family Leave (NY PFL) |
|---|---|
Year benefits began |
DBL: 1949 NY PFL: 2018 |
Coverage options |
Private Plan, State Insurance Fund |
Types of private plans allowed |
Fully Insured, Self-insured (Fully Insured plans are offered by Sun Life) |
Employers covered |
Employers of 1 or more employees on each of at least 30 days in one calendar year |
Eligibility requirements |
DBL: 4 consecutive weeks of covered employment in NY (does not need to be with current employer) NY PFL: 26 consecutive weeks of full-time employment or 175 days of part-time employment with current employer |
Elimination period |
DBL: 7 days for accident and sickness NY PFL: 0 days for paid family leave |
Benefit duration |
DBL: 26 weeks NY PFL: 12 weeks Combined maximum: 26 weeks |
Benefit amount |
DBL: 50% of weekly wages NY PFL: 67% of average weekly wages |
State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) |
|
Maximum weekly benefit |
DBL: $170 (effective since 5/1/1989) NY PFL:
|
Minimum weekly benefit |
DBL: $20 NY PFL: None |
Maximum employee contributions |
DBL: 0.50% of employee wages to a maximum of $0.60 per week NY PFL:
|
Employer contributions |
DBL: Balance of cost (if any) NY PFL: None |
Post-employment period of coverage |
DBL: 4 weeks NY PFL: None |
State resource |
Additional resources
- New York State Paid Family Leave
- Workers’ Compensation Board
- Sun Life NY PFL claim form: Bonding with child
- Sun Life NY PFL claim form: Care for family member
- Sun Life NY PFL claim form: Military Duty
Questions?
Contact your Sun Life Employee Benefits Representative or your benefits broker to learn more.
* This checklist and suggested content are not to be considered legal advice. We recommend that Clients speak with legal counsel specializing in labor and employment law to ensure your organization has met all of the requirements under the New York Workers’ Compensation Laws.
In New York, Disability Benefit Law policies are underwritten by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, MI) under Policy Form Series 06P-NY-DBL.
PFMLWC-2194 #1480279985 08/24 (exp. 08/26)