CSU FAMLI

This information will help you navigate the CSU FAMLI process. If any part of your leave started prior December 31, 2025, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] for next steps. Do not apply through the State of Colorado.

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The University has received approval from the state of Colorado to operate its own self-funded private FAMLI plan in lieu of participation in the state’s FAMLI plan.

Beginning January 1, 2026, administration of the University’s self-funded private plan will transition from CSU Human Resources to Sun Life Assurance of Canada. Employees will submit benefits claims directly to Sun Life for any new claims starting on or after January 1. Sun Life will manage eligibility, process benefit payments, and handle year-end tax reporting.

CSU’s FAMLI plan provides for a portion of an employee’s weekly salary for up to 12 weeks of leave per year to care for themselves or a family member. Employees are eligible to apply for FAMLI upon employment, and receive job-protection through FAMLI after 180 days.

FAMLI income replacement benefits are primary to any other leave program, like parental leave and short term disability and runs concurrently with Family Medical Leave (FML) and any other leave program to mitigate duplication of income replacement benefits.

Apply for CSU FAMLI through Sun Life

Applying through Sun Life

How do I apply for FAMLI through Sun Life? (Effective January 1, 2026)

Employees can start a claim:

While Sun Life manages the claim, it is the employee’s responsibility to keep their department informed about their leave plans and timeline.

What should I expect once I apply through Sun Life?

Once the claim has been initiated through Sun Life, employees should:

  • Receive an Acknowledgement email within one business day confirming receipt of your application and summarizing the leave requested.
  • Expect a Care Call from a Sun Life claims examiner (1-833-408-4598) within 3–5 business days to review or request claim details.
  • After the application is complete, a Decision letter is typically issued within one business day outlining the approved leave, duration, and any FAMLI wage information.
  • See the Applying for Leave section below for guidance on determining which plans you may be eligible for.
  • FAMLI payments are issued by Sun Life within 24–48 hours. Checks are mailed unless direct deposit is set up during the application.
  • Any approved top-off pay is processed through CSU payroll on the employee’s regular pay cycle.
    • To elect using sick or annual leave for FAMLI top-off, contact Human Resources at [email protected].
    • For parental leave claims, a top-off election is not required unless you are a state-classified employee or graduate student planning to use available leave accruals after parental leave ends.
My leave started in 2025 but continues into 2026, where do I apply?

If any portion of your leave begins on or before December 31, 2025, the claim must be submitted through CSU, even if your application date or part of your leave falls in 2026.

Any leave that begins on or after January 1, 2026 will be applied for, processed, and paid through Sun Life. Sun Life also handles all forms, documentation, decisions, and payments for these claims.

Any subsequent claims filed for leave starting on or after January 1, 2026 will be submitted through Sun Life.

No. The plan rules, qualifying reasons, benefit structure, and employee rights remain the same.

After You've Applied: What to Expect

How do I understand the leave plans offered by Sun Life?

Some plan names in Sun Life may look different from CSU’s naming structure. The summary below shows how Sun Life plan names correspond to CSU leave programs and how they work together.

CSU FAMLI (CO-PFML)

Corresponds to CSU’s FAMLI program. Plan descriptions may includ:

  • Employee
  • Family
  • Pregnancy

Federal Family Medical Leave (FML)

Employees must have worked at least 12 months and 1,040 hours. Non-temporary employees are not required to meet the 1,040-hour requirement.

Plan types

  • Fed FML: For employees who meet federal FML eligibility criteria
  • CSU FML – Fac/AP: Non-temporary employees who have worked 12 months but not 1,040 hours
    • Will show as Denied if “Fed FML” eligibility is met
  • CSU FML-Temp/ Hourly: For temporary or hourly employees required to meet the 1,040-hour requirement
  • CSU FML-SC: Federal FML for state classified employees
      • Will show as Denied if the “Fed FML” eligibility is met 
    • CSU State FML: Provides one additional week of State FML
    • CO Family Care Act: Provides FML protections for care of a domestic partner or civil union partner

Parental Leave Programs

For faculty and administrative professionals, combined parental leave benefits do not exceed 18 weeks.

  • CSU Birth Recovery: 6 or 8 weeks for medical recovery following birth
  • CSU Parental Leave: Leave for care and bonding for faculty, admin pros and post docs
  • CSU Parental Pre/Post (9-month faculty only):  Flexible 6 weeks used before or after birth
  • CSU Parental SC — 3 weeks parental leave
  • CSU Parental Grads — 6 weeks parental leave
Do I apply for Family Medical Leave (FML) at the same time as FAMLI?

Yes. FML (federal job protection) will be reviewed at the same time as your FAMLI application, if you meet FML eligibility requirements. If you want to apply for FML only, please call Sun Life to initiate your claim.

Certification depends on the qualifying reason and typically includes medical or supporting documentation. Sun Life will provide the documentation that is needed.

No documentaion is required for claims related to parental leave / care & bonding.

Most claims are processed within 3–5 business days, and payment amounts are typically calculated within 48 hours after processing.

You should receive an acknowledgment email within 24 hours of submitting your claim. This email includes a summary of your request.

Processing time may vary if the claim is incomplete or if required documentation has not yet been received.

This estimate could differ dependent upon whether the claim is complete and documentation is received.

Yes. You must keep your department (manager or Absence Partner) informed about your leave plans and expected timelines. This helps ensure scheduling, coverage, and pay coordination are handled correctly. Employees should give notice as soon as they become aware of the need for leave. Advance notice helps avoid pay disruption and ensures timely review.

You should not contact Sun Life directly to initiate a claim without first notifying your department and communicating to them your leave needs.

When your claim is for both FAMLI (CO-PFML) and FML, neither you nor your department need to enter leave in Workday for “top off.” The CSU Benefits team applies on your behalf.

If your FAMLI leave is not for parental leave:

  • You must make an election to use your sick and annual leave accruals to top off your FAMLI payments.
  • State classified employees: State Paid FML (PFML) is applied automatically when available.
  • To elect “top off” for non-parental leave reasons, email [email protected] or submit a Workday Help ticket indicating whether or not you elect to use your accruals.

If your FAMLI leave is for parental leave:

  • 9-month employees: Parental leave is applied for 18 weeks automatically (12-weeks as top off, 6 weeks full parental leave).
  • 12-month employees: Parental leave and additional sick and annual leave accruals are applied for the 18 weeks of paid leave automatically (12-weeks as top off, 6 weeks full parental leave/accruals).
  • State Classified: A top-off election is needed if you are planning to use accrued leave following your 3 weeks of parental leave.
  • Graduate Students: A top-off election is needed if you are planning to use available HFWA sick leave accruals following parental leave.

Pay, Benefits and Payroll Coordination

Photo of mountains and trees reflected in a blue lake

Once FAMLI is approved, benefit payments are issued weekly by Sun Life via paper check and mailed by postal mail. Any parental leave pay or approved use of accrued leave to supplement benefits will be processed through CSU Payroll. As a result, your CSU paycheck will reflect only the portion paid by the university, since the FAMLI benefit is issued separately by Sun Life. More information on “top off” can be found below.

How much will my FAMLI benefits be?

FAMLI benefits are based on a sliding scale, up to a weekly maximum of $1,381.45 (as of 7/1/25).

FAMLI uses a base period of the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of the employee’s benefit year, in relation to the average weekly wage for the State of Colorado.

Employees receive 90% of their average weekly wage up to 50% of the state’s average weekly wage, and 50% of any remaining wages above that amount, up to the weekly maximum. The state’s average weekly wage is updated annually.

Payments are made directly from Sun Life within 48 hours of an application being approved, then every week throughout the duration of the claim. 

Employees will receive a paper check via postal mail until direct deposit information is updated through the Sun Life portal.

FAMLI benefits are partial income replacement and is not in addition to regular pay.

When the FAMLI leave reason is entered into Workday, it stops regular CSU wages for the period of leave. FAMLI payments will come directly from Sun Life. Timely submission of forms helps minimize any pay gaps and decreases the possibility of an overpayment.

Yes. FAMLI benefits can be supplemented with accrued leave to bring your income closer to your regular pay. “Top off” income will be paid in the frequency of your normal payroll cycle, either bi-weekly or monthly through CSU payroll.

Top-off income is subject to taxation, along with benefit premiums and retirement contributions.

Holidays or well-being days cannot be used as top-off.

When your claim is for both FAMLI (CO-PFML) and FML, neither you nor your department need to enter leave in Workday for “top off.” The CSU Benefits team applies on your behalf.

If your FAMLI leave is not for parental leave:

  • You must make an election to use your sick and annual leave accruals to top off your FAMLI payments.
  • State classified employees: State Paid FML (PFML) is applied automatically when available.
  • To elect “top off” for non-parental leave reasons, email [email protected] or submit a Workday Help ticket indicating whether or not you elect to use your accruals.

If your FAMLI leave is for parental leave:

  • 9-month employees: Parental leave is applied for 18 weeks automatically (12-weeks as top off, 6 weeks full parental leave).
  • 12-month employees: Parental leave and additional sick and annual leave accruals are applied for the 18 weeks of paid leave automatically (12-weeks as top off, 6 weeks full parental leave/accruals).
  • State Classified: A top-off election is needed if you are planning to use accrued leave following your 3 weeks of parental leave.
  • Graduate Students: A top-off election is needed if you are planning to use available HFWA sick leave accruals following parental leave.

  • If you’re on continuous leave, each day counts as FAMLI and you will receive FAMLI income replacement, including weeks with holidays or university breaks.

  • If you’re taking FAMLI intermittently, holidays or breaks do not count as FAMLI time, and you will not receive FAMLI wage replacement for those days.

Sun Life will pay FAMLI benefits directly and provide you any year-end tax forms. Employees who receive FAMLI benefits for:

  • their own health condition – will receive a W2 from Sun Life with federal and Medicare taxation withheld. State tax cannot be withheld.
  • a family member – will receive a 1099 from Sun Life with no taxes withheld.

Please keep in mind the tax liability on your next tax return when applying for benefits.

You must be an active employee in paid status to apply for CSU’s FAMLI program. If you are on a reduced work schedule or intermittent leave, FAMLI leave ends upon termination or the end of the contract period and a new application can be submitted upon rehire or the beginning of the next contract period.

Employees on continuous FAMLI leave are eligible for FAMLI payments through the duration of the approved leave (paid in a lump sum at the time your employment ends.)

Eligibility & Plan Rules

Who is eligible for FAMLI?

  • All employees who reside in Colorado may apply for FAMLI. Wage replacement is available from the first day of employment; job protection begins after 180 days.

  • Out-of-state employees do not pay the FAMLI premium and must follow their state’s leave programs or use other CSU leaves.

  • FAMLI provides wage replacement. Job protection may come from FMLA or CSU leave policies, depending on eligibility.

an adult's hands holding a child's hand's holding a baby's feet
What reasons can FAMLI be used?

12 weeks of FAMLI can be used for the following reasons:

  • Care and bonding with a new child after birth, adoption, or foster care placement
  • Serious health condition of the employee
  • Serious health condition of the employee’s family member
  • Arrangements for a family member’s military deployment
  • Address immediate safety needs and impact of domestic violence or sexual assault
  • Child receiving in-patient neonatal care
  • FMLA has a narrower definition, limited to a parent, spouse/partner, and children under 18 (or adult children with a permanent disability).
  • FAMLI uses a broader definition that includes children, parents, spouses, domestic partners, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and individuals with close, family-like relationships.

Employees on 12-month contracts may apply for FAMLI at any point during the year. Employees on 9-month contracts, can only apply when they are in a paid contract period. FAMLI benefits cannot begin during summer months or any other period when a 9-month employee is not in active, paid status.

Yes. FAMLI runs at the same time as other CSU leave programs:

  • FMLA: Provides job protection and runs concurrently when eligibility is met.
  • Parental Leave: Required to run concurrently with FAMLI and FMLA.
  • Short-Term Disability: Coordinates with FAMLI and FMLA for overlapping coverage.
  • Sick and Annual Leave: Can be used to supplement (“top off”) FAMLI benefits.

State Classified Employees

How does Short Term Disability (STD) coordinate with FAMLI?

STD and FAMLI may overlap depending on your situation. FAMLI typically pays first, with STD potentially offsetting benefits depending on eligibility and policy.

How does Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) apply to CSU’s FAMLI?

A state classified employee may choose to use or not use PFML with FAMLI as determined by the State of Colorado. 

You must have an FML entitlement available to use PFML.

Safe leave allows use of PFML even if FML has already been exhausted. 

CSU's Private Plan

Why does CSU have a private plan?

According to state law, employers can present their own self-funded family leave program that matches or goes beyond the state’s FAMLI program, instead of joining the state insurance program.

The self-funded FAMLI plan is administered by Sun Life. Since FAMLI coverage only partially replaces an employee’s wages, claimants will have the option to use paid sick or annual leave and other types of leave or insurance coverage to bridge the financial gap and must denote as “top off” during the application process.

How is CSU FAMLI funded?

Premiums are calculated and collected through CSU payroll for our self-funded plan.

  • Effective January 1, 2026, the employee share of FAMLI premiums is set at 0.44% of employee wages.
  • Employers with ten or more employees must also contribute an additional 0.44% of wages for a total of 0.88%.
  • CSU may deduct up to 50 percent of the total premium from an employee’s wages, up to the limit established by the FAMLI Division.

Other FAMLI Forms or Resources