The Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, or FAMILY Act, establishes a comprehensive national paid family and medical leave program. This program will be administered by a new Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Social Security Administration. Its primary goal is to provide financial benefits to individuals who need to take time off from work for various caregiving and personal health reasons. To be eligible for benefits, individuals must have filed an application, be engaged in or anticipate qualified caregiving , and meet minimum wage or self-employment income thresholds. The definition of "qualified caregiving" is broad, encompassing reasons covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), such as caring for a new child or a family member with a serious health condition. It also extends to an individual's own serious health condition and situations arising from being a victim of a qualifying act of violence , including domestic violence or sexual assault. The bill significantly expands the definition of "qualified family member" beyond FMLA to include domestic partners, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and any individual related by blood or affinity whose association is equivalent to a family relationship. This broader scope ensures more individuals can receive support when caring for loved ones. The program aims to provide a safety net for a wider range of family care needs. Benefit amounts are calculated using a tiered wage replacement rate , providing 85% of average monthly earnings for lower incomes, 69% for middle incomes, and 50% for higher incomes, up to a maximum monthly benefit. A minimum monthly benefit is also established, and both maximum and minimum amounts are indexed to the national average wage. Benefits are proportional to the number of caregiving hours, with a minimum of four hours required per month to receive payment. The Act includes robust employment and benefits protections , making it unlawful for employers to interfere with, deny, or retaliate against individuals exercising their rights under the program. This includes guarantees of job restoration to the same or an equivalent position upon return from leave and maintenance of health benefits during the leave period. A rebuttable presumption of retaliation is established for adverse employment actions taken within 12 months of an employee taking leave. The bill also provides financial support to " legacy states " that have already established their own comprehensive paid family and medical leave programs. These grants will help cover the costs of state-administered benefits, provided the state's program meets certain federal standards for leave duration and wage replacement rates and agrees to data sharing with the federal government. This ensures that states with existing programs can continue to operate effectively while aligning with national goals. The Commissioner of Social Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, is tasked with issuing necessary regulations for the program's implementation. An advisory body of experts and state officials will provide input during this process. Applications for benefits will become available 18 months after the bill's enactment, allowing time for the establishment of the new office and regulatory framework. The Government Accountability Office will conduct periodic studies to assess the program's efficiency and impact.