Parental leave · Colorado
Paid maternity & paternity leave in Colorado
Colorado runs the FAMLI program. Here's what you'll actually receive — and how to combine it with FMLA, short-term disability, and employer top-ups.
Paid weeks
12
Wage replacement (up to)
90%
Max weekly benefit
$1,381
Job protection
Yes
Program details
Colorado FAMLI pays 90% of weekly wages up to 50% of state AWW, then 50% above. Max $1,381.45/wk for 2026. Up to 4 additional perinatal weeks for complications.
How the tier works: 90% on wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW), then 50% above — capped at $1,381/week.
How to stack the benefits in Colorado
- Federal FMLA — 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave at employers with 50+ employees. You must have worked there for 12 months and 1,250 hours. FMLA runs concurrently with state programs, so don't double-count weeks.
- FAMLI — apply through the state portal. Most programs require notice 30 days before your leave starts (sooner for unexpected medical events). Approval and first check typically take 2–4 weeks.
- Short-term disability (STD) — covers the birth parent's medical recovery (typically 6 weeks for vaginal delivery, 8 weeks for C-section). Check whether STD pays on top of state PFL or instead of it.
- Employer top-up — many employers add their own paid parental leave benefit. Some "top up" state benefits to 100% of salary. Check your benefits handbook for parental leave, paid time off, and salary continuation.
- Accrued PTO/vacation — use to extend total time off or to top up partially-paid state benefit weeks.
Common pitfalls
- Don't quit during leave — most state benefits stop the day employment ends, and you may owe back any unused FSA contributions.
- File for state benefits early — claims processed retroactively can take weeks; living off savings while waiting is the most common surprise.
- Plan the FMLA "12 weeks" carefully — it's measured by your employer's chosen method (calendar year, rolling, fiscal). Two consecutive babies in one rolling year can leave you short.
- Check insurance continuation — FMLA preserves group health coverage; state-only leave may not. Confirm with HR before you stop receiving paychecks.
Next decision
After leave: childcare in Colorado
Infant center daycare in Colorado typically runs $15,500–$21,500/year. Plan childcare alongside your return-to-work date — many programs have 3–6 month waitlists.
See Colorado childcare costsCompare
Other state leave programs
Programs with similar paid weeks and benefit caps.