Overview
- DEED began early intake in December and reports 4,005 approvals and 2,044 denials or cancellations to date.
- The law allows up to 12 weeks of family leave and 12 weeks of medical leave, capped at 20 combined weeks with partial wage replacement up to about $1,423 per week.
- Long-term funding comes from a 0.88% payroll premium split between employers and employees after an $800 million startup allocation, with reduced rates for small employers.
- Administration includes identity verification, provider certification, employer notification on every claim, and integration with unemployment insurance data for integrity checks.
- Critics warn the system could be vulnerable to large-scale fraud, while DEED counters that safeguards are robust and encourages tips for investigation.