FMLA for Caregivers: Can You Take Leave To Care for a Parent?
If you work and care for a parent, spouse or child with a serious health condition, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may let you take job-protected time off. It's unpaid, but your job and group health insurance are protected.
Who is eligible
Generally, you're eligible if:
- you work for a covered employer (private employers with 50 or more employees, and public agencies and schools),
- you've worked there at least 12 months,
- you've worked at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months, and
- you work at a location where the employer has 50 or more employees within 75 miles.
What you get
- Up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period
- To care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition (parents-in-law are not covered under federal FMLA)
- Continued group health insurance on the same terms
- Return to the same or an equivalent job
Intermittent leave
You don't have to take the leave all at once. When medically necessary, FMLA can be taken intermittently (for example, a day here and there for appointments or treatment) or as a reduced schedule.
What to do
- Talk to HR and ask for the FMLA paperwork.
- Give notice: 30 days when the need is foreseeable, or as soon as practicable.
- Get the certification form completed by your parent's health care provider.
- Ask about paid options: some states have paid family leave programs, and your employer may let you use paid time off.
Help
The US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division explains FMLA and handles questions (dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla; 1-866-487-9243).
General information, not legal advice. State laws may provide more protection.
The Family Caregiver Binder includes a work and leave page to track FMLA dates, paperwork and who you spoke to.
Family Caregiver Binder — $14
19-page caregiver binder: medical summary, medication list and log, appointment log, discharge checklist, legal documents and a care tracker spreadsheet. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the Family Caregiver BinderFamily Paperwork Bundle — $34More guides
- Caregiver Binder: What To Include (Printable Checklist)
- Medication List for an Elderly Parent: Free Template and Tips
- Questions To Ask the Doctor as a Caregiver
- Hospital Discharge Checklist for Caregivers
- HIPAA Authorization vs. Health Care Power of Attorney: What Caregivers Need
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs To Watch For and What Helps
- How To Share Caregiving With Siblings (Without Fighting)
- The Medicare Hospice Benefit, Explained for Families
- What To Bring to the ER for an Elderly Parent (Grab-and-Go List)