Apply now
Apply now
Submit your application within 30 days after your qualifying event happens.
Answer a few quick questions to see if now is the right time to apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave.
You can use Paid Leave when:
- A serious health condition prevents you from working (medical leave)
- You are caring for a family member with a serious health condition (family leave)
- You are pregnant or have given birth (medical leave then combine with family leave to bond with your baby, for a total of 16 weeks of leave. An additional 2 weeks can be approved for complications due to pregnancy or delivery.
- You are bonding with a new child born to you or who you are adopting or fostering (family leave)
- You are spending time with a family member in the military who is home on leave or who is soon to be deployed (family leave).
Note: If you use all of your Paid Leave benefits for your claim year, you must until after your claim year expires to apply for benefits again.
After you notify your employer and gather the documents needed, start your application process:
1. Create or log into your account.
Visit our Technical Support page for instructions on creating a SAW account and adding Paid Leave as a service.
2. Fill out the online application.
You’ll provide basic information and verify your employment history. If you don’t have a Social Security Number (SSN), contact us for a paper application.
If you plan to take medical leave for pregnancy or after giving birth and then family leave to bond with your baby, you’ll fill out both one application for medical leave and a separate application for family leave. See our benefit guide for more information.
Note: If you apply using a paper benefit application or chose U.S. Bank ReliaCard as your preferred payment method, you will receive a card in the mail after submitting your application. If your application is approved, you will then file weekly claims, and your payments for approved weekly claims will be automatically loaded to this card. Learn more on the ReliaCard Visa Flyer.
3. Upload your documents.
To apply, you will need to provide documents that prove your identity and your eligibility for leave.
Proof of ID: This can include a driver’s license, passport, utility bills and more.
For medical leave and for family leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, you must provide ONE of the following:
- Certification form filled out by you and your health care provider.
- Your Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) form
- A doctor’s note. Just make sure it includes the same information as the certification form.
Once you request documentation for taking Paid Leave from your health care provider, they will have 7 calendar days to complete the documentation and give it back to you directly. Your health care provider can bill for the appointment but cannot charge you a fee for filling out the form.
For medical leave related to pregnancy and childbirth or for family leave to bond with a child who was born into your family:
Both parents can use our Certification of Birth form for bonding leave, and birthing parents can use this form for medical leave during the postnatal period, 6 weeks after the birth of your child. If you give birth to a child and apply for medical leave before family leave because of complications during delivery or for prenatal care, you will need to use the Medical Certification for Birth Complications or Medical Certification for Prenatal Care.
For family leave to bond with a child who was adopted or placed in your family: You will need to provide court documents to show the adoption or placement date, like court documents or a letter from a social worker or agency.
For military family leave: Documentation that shows your family member’s deployment dates and the time and dates you’ll need leave to take part in certain activities arising from a family member who is overseas on federal active duty or has been notified of an impending call or order to federal active duty overseas or international waters in the armed forces.
Be sure to submit a complete and accurate application within 30 days after your qualifying event happens
Your paperwork and proof of ID will help us process your application. We’ll have to contact you if your application is incomplete or unclear.
Employer notifications
We will notify your employer by mail when you apply for Paid Leave. They’ll have 18 days to contest your application if they don’t think you’re eligible for the program. We’ll also notify them when your leave is approved or denied.
While you wait
Your employer cannot require you to use Paid Leave before or after other paid or unpaid time off you might have, like paid sick days or vacation leave. Taking Paid Leave is entirely up to you. Keep in mind that once your application is approved, you will be able to file weekly claims and request payment for each week of your approved leave. That means you’ll be able to submit weekly claims retroactively to receive your back pay.
Learn more about our processing times and how you can help.