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Maternity Leave, Unemployment & AFLAC?

My job doesn?t offer short term disability at all. And I was wondering if anybody knows if you can get unemployment during pregnancy?

Or if anybody knows about AFLAC, I know nothing about it. Is AFLAC worth it for maternity leave?

Thank you.

Cheeks!
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Re: Maternity Leave, Unemployment & AFLAC?

  • My work doesn't offer maternity leave or STD either.  Luckily, I was able to bank up 16 weeks of leave.

    You will not qualify for unemployment, unless you are laid off or let go from your job. 

    You can sign up for Aflac, but look into the costs per month and how long you need to sign up for (before and after pregnancy), and compare it to just saving enough to take off of work for a few months.  We looked into a program like this and we would have to sign up for XX months, and pay XX amount.  We just decided to put aside money every month, to cover the expenses of me being off. 

    FMLA will make sure that you can take up to 12 weeks unpaid time off and keep your job, as long as your employer qualifies.

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  • Mary pretty much covered what I was going to say.  My job didn't offer paid maternity leave or STD and as far as I know - you have to had AFLAC for at least a year before you cash in on it.

    I just cashed in my vacation time to get a few paychecks while I was out.  I only ended up being out of work for four weeks - two of those unpaid.  I couldn't afford to stay out longer.  If you can save up for that time off - try to do that.  My husband lost his job right when we found out we were expecting so saving money wasn't easy to do.  Hopefully the next time around we'll be able to.

    ETA my work also didn't quality for the FMLA either - so you do need to check to make sure yours does.

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  • imagemary811:

     

    FMLA will make sure that you can take up to 12 weeks unpaid time off and keep your job, as long as your employer qualifies.

    This =)  Make sure your employer qualifies though to ensure you will have a job when you come back.

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  • Ditto everything above.  I just wanted to add that I believe in order to qualify for Aflac's maternity coverage, you have to have had the policy for either 10 or 12 months (can't remember exactly).  So, basically, you'd have to sign up for the policy prior to getting pregnant.

    I am lucky enough to get 6 weeks STD at 60% pay, however, it sounds like I will have to pay my employer's portion of my health insurance during that time.  So, I'm not really counting on much take-home pay during that time. That may be another thing to look into as well, if you carry your own HI, when you're figuring out what kind of policies you might want.

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  • Technically you can't get unemployment.  I knew a girl who worked for a small company, so they pretty much laid her off and then rehired her in order for her to get unemployment.  Seemed shady

    Most STD plans require you be signed up for a year before using the maternity benefits, so you'd have to have the plan at least 3 months before you got pregnant.  USually STD policies have a waiting period of sorts (generally a week) before they begin paying out benefits .  So depending on how the policy is written, for a 6 week leave, you might only get paid for 5 weeks

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  • imagejennic22:

    I am lucky enough to get 6 weeks STD at 60% pay, however, it sounds like I will have to pay my employer's portion of my health insurance during that time.

    Another good point - my boss did cover my health insurance portion while I was out - so it was something at least.  Otherwise you do have to figure out how that works.

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  • KirssKirss member
    Third Anniversary

    Thank Ladies! I know that I am covered under the FLMA that?s one bonus.

    Now I?m thinking I should just put my baby fever on hold until I get more vacation time! 

    Cheeks!
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  • I had Aflac.  It needs to be in place 10 months before you deliver your child in order for it to cover.  For me, it was ABSOLUTELY worth every single penny.  I had hospitalization coverage and it cost $54 a month.  It paid me $5,000 in my situation because of my heart failure, coma and ICU stays, Ethan's NICU stay, etc...it helped tremendously because of my health issues, I was off of work for 5 months and am the main breadwinner in our family.  I signed up in December and had my baby in November, so barely squeeked in the 10 month window.
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  • Ditto what everyone else has said.  When we found out I was pregnant, we started saving XX amount each month to use while I was on leave, my STD only covered 50% for 4 weeks and I was off for 14 weeks.
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  • imagejennic22:

    Ditto everything above.  I just wanted to add that I believe in order to qualify for Aflac's maternity coverage, you have to have had the policy for either 10 or 12 months (can't remember exactly).  So, basically, you'd have to sign up for the policy prior to getting pregnant.

    I am lucky enough to get 6 weeks STD at 60% pay, however, it sounds like I will have to pay my employer's portion of my health insurance during that time.  So, I'm not really counting on much take-home pay during that time. That may be another thing to look into as well, if you carry your own HI, when you're figuring out what kind of policies you might want.

    FYI - if your employer qualifies for FMLA then they cannot make you pay the portion of premiums for health coverage outside of your current agreement. The law states they have to maintain health coverage under the terms and conditions as if you hadn't taken leave.

    LINK to US Dept of Labor page

    Just something to clarify with your HR or boss. Obviously if they are exempt from FMLA then it's up to the company.

    OP - ditto everyone else, all you 'get' under FMLA is unpaid leave.  What your employer offers in terms of STD or use of accrued time off is up to the company.

     

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  • imagemary811:

    My work doesn't offer maternity leave or STD either.  Luckily, I was able to bank up 16 weeks of leave.

    You will not qualify for unemployment, unless you are laid off or let go from your job. 

    You can sign up for Aflac, but look into the costs per month and how long you need to sign up for (before and after pregnancy), and compare it to just saving enough to take off of work for a few months.  We looked into a program like this and we would have to sign up for XX months, and pay XX amount.  We just decided to put aside money every month, to cover the expenses of me being off. 

    FMLA will make sure that you can take up to 12 weeks unpaid time off and keep your job, as long as your employer qualifies.

    I work within the same system as Mary, but thankfully we're able to save up our sick leave with no limits, and since it took us this long to conceive (and I've been here 8 years), I've built up a decent balance.

    I'm planning to use 9-10 weeks of leave, which will be fully paid, and I'll still have about that much left in my bank.

    imageimage
    A+S | Met 8/24/06 | Married 9/27/08
    Started TTC 12/2008 | dx PCOS 5/2009
    6 failed clomid/femara/TI cycles, 1 failed clomid/ovidrel/IUI cycle
    Successful Cycle: 5/12/11 - 1000mg Metformin + 100mg Clomid(late response) + TI = BFP
    ? 2/13/12 - We proudly welcomed our daughter, Hadley Teresa! ?
    ? Lots of Luck to all of 3T/IF ?

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Vacation
  • imagefirewife9278:
    imagemary811:

    My work doesn't offer maternity leave or STD either.  Luckily, I was able to bank up 16 weeks of leave.

    You will not qualify for unemployment, unless you are laid off or let go from your job. 

    You can sign up for Aflac, but look into the costs per month and how long you need to sign up for (before and after pregnancy), and compare it to just saving enough to take off of work for a few months.  We looked into a program like this and we would have to sign up for XX months, and pay XX amount.  We just decided to put aside money every month, to cover the expenses of me being off. 

    FMLA will make sure that you can take up to 12 weeks unpaid time off and keep your job, as long as your employer qualifies.

    I work within the same system as Mary, but thankfully we're able to save up our sick leave with no limits, and since it took us this long to conceive (and I've been here 8 years), I've built up a decent balance.

    I'm planning to use 9-10 weeks of leave, which will be fully paid, and I'll still have about that much left in my bank.

    Is firebaby coming to the school you rec'd me to?

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • imageKirss:

    Thank Ladies! I know that I am covered under the FLMA that?s one bonus.

    Now I?m thinking I should just put my baby fever on hold until I get more vacation time! 

    Good idea!! I did the same thing..... saved my vacation time and this way I am getting paid in full for the 2 weeks I saved AND I worked till the very very end  (I was 11 days late and worked until I was 7 days late)  ...it was hard but well worth it....so you get more time with baby =)  Also we used some of our tax refund to cover the difference of my STD policy ..... 

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  • imageBooger+Bear:
    imagejennic22:

    Ditto everything above.  I just wanted to add that I believe in order to qualify for Aflac's maternity coverage, you have to have had the policy for either 10 or 12 months (can't remember exactly).  So, basically, you'd have to sign up for the policy prior to getting pregnant.

    I am lucky enough to get 6 weeks STD at 60% pay, however, it sounds like I will have to pay my employer's portion of my health insurance during that time.  So, I'm not really counting on much take-home pay during that time. That may be another thing to look into as well, if you carry your own HI, when you're figuring out what kind of policies you might want.

    FYI - if your employer qualifies for FMLA then they cannot make you pay the portion of premiums for health coverage outside of your current agreement. The law states they have to maintain health coverage under the terms and conditions as if you hadn't taken leave.

    LINK to US Dept of Labor page

    Just something to clarify with your HR or boss. Obviously if they are exempt from FMLA then it's up to the company.

    OP - ditto everyone else, all you 'get' under FMLA is unpaid leave.  What your employer offers in terms of STD or use of accrued time off is up to the company.

     

    This is very interesting, because it is not what our HR manual says.  The manual is very vague, but it definitely says that the company reserves the right to collect the employer's portion of HI premiums - whether or not they actually will do it is the vague part.  I will definitely be looking into your link.  Thanks!

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  • imagemary811:
    imagefirewife9278:
    imagemary811:

    My work doesn't offer maternity leave or STD either.  Luckily, I was able to bank up 16 weeks of leave.

    You will not qualify for unemployment, unless you are laid off or let go from your job. 

    You can sign up for Aflac, but look into the costs per month and how long you need to sign up for (before and after pregnancy), and compare it to just saving enough to take off of work for a few months.  We looked into a program like this and we would have to sign up for XX months, and pay XX amount.  We just decided to put aside money every month, to cover the expenses of me being off. 

    FMLA will make sure that you can take up to 12 weeks unpaid time off and keep your job, as long as your employer qualifies.

    I work within the same system as Mary, but thankfully we're able to save up our sick leave with no limits, and since it took us this long to conceive (and I've been here 8 years), I've built up a decent balance.

    I'm planning to use 9-10 weeks of leave, which will be fully paid, and I'll still have about that much left in my bank.

    Is firebaby coming to the school you rec'd me to?

    Yes :)

    imageimage
    A+S | Met 8/24/06 | Married 9/27/08
    Started TTC 12/2008 | dx PCOS 5/2009
    6 failed clomid/femara/TI cycles, 1 failed clomid/ovidrel/IUI cycle
    Successful Cycle: 5/12/11 - 1000mg Metformin + 100mg Clomid(late response) + TI = BFP
    ? 2/13/12 - We proudly welcomed our daughter, Hadley Teresa! ?
    ? Lots of Luck to all of 3T/IF ?

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Vacation
  • Thank you so much for sharing this info about the insurance premiums! I was thinking that I would have to pay this while I was off work so this info will definately help out.
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