There is often confusion about which kinds of health conditions qualify for CT Paid Leave benefits. CT Paid Leave is meant for serious health conditions, in which the person is incapacitated and is receiving treatment from a healthcare provider or would be incapacitated if they did not receive such treatment. CT Paid Leave should not be confused with Connecticut’s paid sick days law, which was amended in 2024 and currently applies to employers with 25 or more workers.

Paid sick days can be used to recover from any illness, injury, or health condition or to receive preventative care or diagnosis for mental or physical health. Paid sick days may also be used to care for a family member under the same circumstances. Think of having a cold or the flu or needing to take your child to the doctor when they are sick. These are the kinds of circumstances that would qualify for paid sick days.

CT Paid Leave, on the other hand, is for an injury or illness (mental or physical) that includes inpatient care or continuing treatment. Think about things like recovery from surgery, cancer treatment, or ongoing treatment for a chronic condition like diabetes. In addition to serious health conditions, CT Paid Leave can also be used to bond with a new child or take care of a family member who has a serious health condition. It can also be used for military family leave and for safe leave for those experiencing family violence or sexual assault.

Here are some things that are serious health conditions and would therefore likely qualify for CT Paid Leave.

• Inpatient care: Inpatient care refers to an overnight stay in a hospital, hospice, or residential care facility
• Chronic conditions requiring treatment: Examples include asthma, migraine headaches
• Permanent or long term conditions: In this case, the patient may no longer be receiving treatment but is still under the supervision of a healthcare provider. Examples of this include Alzheimer’s disease, the terminal stages of cancer, or a severe stroke.
• Multiple treatments for non-chronic conditions, such as physical therapy after orthopedic surgery
• Organ or bone marrow donation: A worker may receive benefits for the pre-donation appointments, the surgery, and recovery after the surgery.
• Pregnancy: CT Paid Leave can be used for the time needed for pre-natal appointments, as well as the time needed for recovery after childbirth.

In its most simplified explanation, if your doctor would tell you to stay home, rest, and take some over the counter medication, your condition is likely not a serious health condition and is not something that would qualify for CT Paid Leave benefits. If the condition is something for which you need care from a healthcare provider, it may well be a serious health condition and therefore something for which you can receive CT Paid Leave benefits.

For more information on CT Paid Leave, or to start an application, visit ctpaidleave.org.

This article was written by Jessica Vargas, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at CT Paid Leave.