Income During Maternity Leave

Hey Ladies,

I have a few questions hopefully you could help answer. Im 30 weeks pregnant right now and Im really starting to worry more about finances after the birth. Right now I work 40 hrs a week and I have an apartment and my bills aren't too heavy. My concern is what can I do for income during my leave, my job is offering 8 weeks off with no pay since I have not been employed over a year Im not covered for paid leave. Is it possible to be on maternity leave and file unemployement. If not are any other moms dealing with the same scenario?

Hmm, good question.

Because you are technically employed you can't go file for unemployment. They would have to let you go or terminate you. You may be eligible for short term disability though.

Quoting Mommy To Be061908:“ Hey Ladies, I have a few questions hopefully you could help answer. Im 30 weeks pregnant right now ... [snip!] ... Is it possible to be on maternity leave and file unemployement. If not are any other moms dealing with the same scenario?”

Do they have short term disability where you work? If so, you may qualify for that.

When you go on leave does your job offer FMLA or even a paid maternity? If not I would consider cashing in some vacation time or saving funds now.

Sorry I missed the part where you said you hadnt been with them long enough to get the paid leave..oops.

You cannot file for unemployment while on maternity leave, because you must be able to work and actively seeking work.

I just saved up a good chunk while I was pregnant and we just made cutbacks in other areas to get by on just my husband's income while I was out.

you might be able to file for disability

Quoting Mommy To Be061908:“ Hey Ladies, I have a few questions hopefully you could help answer. Im 30 weeks pregnant right now ... [snip!] ... Is it possible to be on maternity leave and file unemployement. If not are any other moms dealing with the same scenario?”

I am 34 weeks and I am going on Maternity Leave as of April 20th. My job has a FMLA paper for me to fill out and I also applied for State Disability in my state. You might want to call them up and fill out the paperwork and see if u qualify. Good luck and hope everything works out.

I filed for short-term disability through my job and I'm entitled to 12 weeks, 60% of my pay. But I've also been with them for 3 years, full-time...maybe you can try filing for short-term disability through the state because I got a paper stating that if there were any complications and needed more than 12 weeks off the state would pay up to 25 weeks, but only up to $170...It might be worth looking into.

I was told that I didn't qualify for short term disability becasue I was already pregnant so it wouldn't cover this pregnancy unless something went wrong or I was on bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy...who do ya'll have disability with?

well lucky for my my job is sesonal.... we have mid november threw beging feb. off and we colect unimployment andy the baby is due the 28th of november......
this is grate for us!
well i wish you luck with comming up and saving money for you and your lil one!!!

I think it varies state by state...in New York there is no such thing as "maternity leave", you have to file for "short-term disability". I'd look into the way it works with your state.

Quoting Mommy To Be061908:“ Hey Ladies, I have a few questions hopefully you could help answer. Im 30 weeks pregnant right now ... [snip!] ... Is it possible to be on maternity leave and file unemployement. If not are any other moms dealing with the same scenario?”

Like the others said, you can't file umemployement while on maternity leave. Since you haven't been there a yr and don't qualify for FMLA, do you get vacation time? Do you get paid days off or sick days? Have you talked to the human resources dept about short term disability? My company is letting me use all my vacation time, sick leave & paid days off (2 weeks, 4 days) & they offer 6 weeks short-term disability @ 60% salary. Anything after that, they said they are open to letting me take time off, but I wont get pay. I'd start cutting back now...maybe downsize some other expenses (cable, etc) anywhere you can if you're really worried. Just write out a budget and see how you'll fair at the end of the month w/out your income. You don't sound too concerned/stretched out though! I'm sure you'll make it =)

I promise I am in the same situation, my baby is due june 25th, and I have not been at my job for a year either, and they are giving me up to 6 weeks to come back, and thats unpaid time off!....I also have my own apt, and worried about the finances, I dont qualify for FMLA, or maternity leave, but through the county of denver, while I will be off they do offer aid , but when you report back to work you have to inform them!....I am not for sure where you live, but if you go down to your local office I am pretty sure you will be able to qualify for the same aid temporarily, until you go back to work!

im having the same concerns right now, i went down today and applied for temp assistance (food stamps & whatever else they can give me). thats the best advice i could give.. i dont care what people think neither , im young and need help! but good luck to you , i have no idea how i am not freaking out about finances yet i guess the babys just keepin my head up.