The FAMILY Act creates a new federal paid family and medical leave insurance program administered by the Social Security Administration, providing monthly cash benefits to workers who take time off to care for seriously ill family members, address their own serious health conditions, or deal with domestic violence or sexual assault. To qualify, individuals must have recent work income above a minimum threshold (starting at $2,000 in 2026) and engage in qualifying caregiving within a 120-day window, with benefits calculated as 50–85 percent of average monthly earnings (capped at $4,000 monthly) based on income level. The program grants workers up to 12 times their regular weekly hours of caregiving leave per benefit period and explicitly prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who use these benefits, with workers able to sue for lost wages and damages if violated. States that already have their own paid leave programs will receive federal grants beginning in 2027 to help cover program costs, provided they share data with federal authorities. The Social Security Administration will develop implementing regulations with input from an advisory board, and the Government Accountability Office will conduct comprehensive reviews every five years to evaluate program administration and identify any delays or disparities.
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