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FMLA Military Caregiver Leave

FMLA military caregiver leave provides up to 26 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a single 12-month period for an eligible employee who is the spouse, child, parent, or next of kin of a covered servicemember or recent veteran with a serious injury or illness.

Eligible employees may use up to 26 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected FMLA leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness. Covered servicemembers include current servicemembers and recent veterans. Eligible relationships include spouse, child, parent, or next of kin. FMLA generally requires 12 months of employment, 1,250 hours of service, and a covered employer/worksite.

Eligibility

  • Care recipient must have a qualifying disability
  • Care recipient must be a veteran
  • Employer must have 50+ employees
  • Must have worked 1250+ hours
  • Relationship: spouse, parent, child, other relative

Questions to ask the program

These are questions to ask the program, not a verdict on your eligibility. Confirm the current rules directly with the program.

  • Does your relationship to the person — spouse, parent, child, or other relative — count for this program?
  • What counts as a qualifying disability or level of care need, and what documentation shows it?
  • Does the veteran’s service history and discharge status fit this program’s rules?
  • Does your employer have at least 50 employees?
  • Do the work hours meet the minimum (our record lists 1250 hours)?
  • Is there a caregiver-specific department, coordinator, or support line? Ask for it by name. — Many agencies have one that isn’t advertised on the website.
  • What documents do you need from us to start an application?
  • Is there a waitlist right now, and how long is it?

Services

Eligible employees may use up to 26 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected FMLA leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness. Covered servicemembers include current servicemembers and recent veterans. Eligible relationships include spouse, child, parent, or next of kin. FMLA generally requires 12 months of employment, 1,250 hours of service, and a covered employer/worksite.

How to apply

Use the official program page for application details: official program page.

  • fmla (depends_on): Extends standard FMLA eligibility requirements and protections