Colorado’s state-run FAMLI program is already cutting checks for workers who have to step away from their jobs for serious health and family reasons. The program pays partial wages to people who need time off for serious medical conditions, childbirth or to care for sick family members, and the state has been mailing benefits since January 2024. Most eligible workers can receive up to 12 weeks of paid FAMLI per benefit year, and those with pregnancy or childbirth complications may qualify for additional weeks. What lands in your bank account depends on your pay compared with the state average and is capped at a weekly maximum.
Since the rollout, the state has received more than 440,000 claims and paid roughly $1.8 billion in benefits, according to The Colorado Sun. The volume of applications and payouts shows how quickly Coloradans have turned to the program to replace lost wages during longer absences from work.
How FAMLI works
Approved by voters in 2020, FAMLI started paying benefits on Jan. 1, 2024, after the state began collecting premiums in 2023, according to the FAMLI Division. Covered reasons include bonding with a new child, dealing with a serious personal health condition, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, certain military-related needs, and safe leave for victims of domestic violence. The division also posts user guides, checklists and other tools to help claimants, health-care providers and employers understand eligibility and file correctly.
How much you’ll get
Benefits are calculated on a sliding scale, so lower-wage workers receive a higher percentage of their average weekly wage while higher earners are more likely to hit the cap, a structure outlined in payroll and insurance guides. The weekly FAMLI cap for the 2025–26 period is $1,381.45, a figure used by payroll providers when they estimate potential payouts. For a quick ballpark on what you might receive, you can plug your numbers into the state Premium & Benefits calculator or employer payroll tools.
New NICU benefits and recent law changes
Lawmakers refined the program with Senate Bill 25-144, passed in 2025, which adds up to an additional 12 weeks of FAMLI for parents whose newborns are receiving inpatient care in a neonatal intensive care unit and adjusts how future premiums are set. Separately, the existing rules already allow extra weeks for pregnancy or childbirth complications, which can extend the time some new parents are paid while caring for a sick or hospitalized infant. The bill also builds in guardrails that are intended to keep premium swings in check in the years ahead.
How to apply
Coloradans apply for benefits through the state’s My FAMLI+ portal, where health-care providers can electronically verify medical certifications to help speed up processing, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The department offers user guides, webinars, and a customer-care phone line to walk applicants through documentation, appeals, and account questions. Employers and providers have separate portals to handle filings, certifications, and status updates.
Premiums and employer rules
The program is funded with a payroll premium that workers and employers share, totaling roughly 0.9% of wages in recent years, with adjustments scheduled annually based on the fund’s balance. Employers with fewer than ten employees are not required to pay the employer share, although they still must collect and remit the employee portion, according to employer guidance. Businesses that already provide private paid-leave plans can ask the state to approve an opt-out, but only if their plans meet or beat the benefits offered by the state program.
Bottom line, if you are facing a medical leave in Colorado, FAMLI can replace part of your paycheck, but the size of the check depends on your wages, the state average weekly wage and whether you bump up against the weekly cap. For a concise rundown of early program totals and examples, see The Colorado Sun, and for your own estimate, use the state’s Premium & Benefits calculator.
