Maine’s new paid family and medical leave program is set to start paying out benefits later this spring, and the Maine Department of Labor announced Friday that workers can begin the application process Monday.

The program, created in 2023, will provide up to 12 weeks of benefits to Mainers when life gets in the way of work.

That includes medical leave to treat serious health conditions for themselves or family members, parental leave after the birth of a child, military leave when a loved one is preparing to deploy, and safety leave when a worker needs to relocate as a result of abuse, violence or sexual assault.

“This program represents a major step forward for Maine’s workers, families, and businesses,” Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said in a news release. “Paid Family and Medical Leave gives people time to care for themselves and their loved ones with some financial support, reducing stress and making leave more possible.

“When families are supported, workplaces and communities across Maine are stronger.”

Benefits will start to be paid out May 1, though leave periods must take place on or after that date to be approved, the Labor Department said in its Friday announcement.

The program has already faced a number of hurdles before truly getting off the ground.

While the law that created the program went into effect in October 2023, it wasn’t until December 2024 that the state finalized the parameters.

In January 2025, Maine began collecting a 1% tax, split evenly between workers and employers, to generate the program’s pool of funding.

That month, Bath Iron Works and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce sued the state, arguing that Maine was unfairly taxing the company to help fund the leave program. (BIW has its own paid leave program for employees.) In August, Maine’s highest court rejected that challenge, ruling that businesses qualifying for an exemption from the program are not entitled to receive a refund.

Last year, Maine legislators also considered over a dozen bills that would have either amended, delayed or outright repealed the program.

Maine is one of 14 states, plus Washington, D.C., that have enacted similar paid leave programs, the Department of Labor said.

Workers and employers can find more information about the program at maine.gov/paidleave.