Having a baby is the fulfillment of a dream for many. As you enter the final weeks of pregnancy, you may start to wonder how you will pay your bills while you are recovering on maternity leave. Some companies may allow you to work part-time from home, while others may offer short-term disability to help hold you over.
Federal law states that employees can have 12 weeks of leave without pay for maternity leave, along with the guarantee that they can return to work. The time off is great, but being off work with no source of income can be difficult for the newest parents. Short-term disability is one option they can rely on.
Both short- and long-term disability offers pay while you are off work. Long-term disability can remain in place for several years and is primarily requested if a person experiences a devastating injury and can no longer work. Since maternity leave normally lasts less than 90 days, short-term disability is the better choice.
The first step is to find out what disability benefits your employer offers. You will need to know how long you will be off before payments start and how much you will receive each week. You will also want to know how long your benefits will last.
Most short-term disability policies cover from 90 to 180 days. Anything longer than that will be considered a long-term disability.
You will need to read your benefits package. Some will require you to use all of your paid time off before disability starts. Other companies may begin the payments right away. Most policies will pay for the final two weeks of pregnancy and then up to six weeks after you deliver the baby.
If something changes, you need to notify your employer right away. They will be able to make any adjustments that are needed to accommodate the new time frame.
If for any reason, your recovery takes longer than originally anticipated, you will need to notify your employer. You may be required to shift from short-term disability to long-term in order to cover the additional time off. You will need to provide medical documentation from your physician to verify the findings that you will still require time off to heal appropriately.
In several states, your work-related benefits will be reduced if you receive any type of disability benefits from the state. You will have to report your income from the state to your employer, so your benefits will be calculated accurately.
If you have questions about maternity leave and whether you are eligible for short-term disability, contact the agents at Kneller Insurance ency. We know everything you will need to have before you file for short-term disability insurance coverage during maternity leave.
