Self-employed: Electing coverage

As a self-employed Washingtonian, you’re not required to participate in Paid Family and Medical Leave. But if you elect coverage, you’ll have access to up to 12 weeks of paid time off a year to care for yourself or a family member—or 16 weeks for combined medical and family leave after giving birth, or 18 weeks if you experience pregnancy- or birth-related complications.

You can receive Paid Leave after you or a family member experience a qualifying event such as a major surgery, serious illness or injury, a new baby or child joining your family, or a family member’s military deployment.

• A sole proprietor

• A joint venturer or a member of a partnership
• A member of a limited liability company (LLC)
• An independent contractor (as described in RCW 50A.05.010 (8) (b) (iii). 
• Otherwise in business for yourself.

Note: Corporate officers are not self-employed.

• Create an elective coverage account, and
• Complete the opt-in process.

After you opt-in, your elective coverage takes effect at the start of the next quarter.

Learn more about creating your elective coverage account.

When you sign up for Paid Leave, you agree to pay the employee share of the Paid Family and Medical Leave premium for yourself for three years. After that, you can participate on an annual basis.

Report your wages/earnings every quarter.

To take leave after you sign up, you need to have met the requirement for hours worked and have a qualifying event. You must have worked a minimum of 820 hours in Washington during the qualifying period. The 820 hours can be from your self-employment or combined from multiple jobs.

For self-employed wages, the state determines your hours worked by dividing your reported wages by the state minimum wage.

LLC owners (members), partners, sole proprietors and other types of self-employed individuals are not required to participate. If you have employees, you must report their hours and wages, but you do not have to include yourself.