FMLA paperwork?

ms12345

When do you all have to get your paperwork in for maternity leave? My employer gave me the forms and needs them in soon, but I went to drop off the forms at my OB's office today and they claimed it was WAY too soon... that they can't fill those out basically until I have the baby, because there's no way of saying "when the condition commenced" or how long I'll need off, as per the form's wording.

I'm so confused because I'm being told two different things! Another girl in the office who gave birth last year had her forms turned in by her sixth month, which is right about where I am now. I'm wondering if the receptionist at the OB's was just an idiot?

AudreyHpbrn

Our company requires 30 days prior.  But if your company is asking for it, than you need to do it no matter what the receptionist says.

Tell your Doc, HR is requiring it.  Are you taking the full 12 weeks?  If you are only taking the necessary for what you need to recover, than that may be where the receptionist is coming from because they do not know if you will need 6 or 8 weeks. 

Really no matter what the doc's office policy, your work policy trumps it because it is an effort to keep your job.  Just talk to your doc.

TempeWick

I just printed off this paperwork from the state website today. The rules page says: It is your responsibility to file this claim form promptly after you stop working and begin your family leave. Filing your claim before your last day of work will delay its processing. The law requires that claims must be filed within 30 days after the beginning of the family leave. Benefits may be denied or reduced if the claim is filed late. If your claim is filed beyond the 30-day period, please use the space provided on the reverse side of Part A to give your reasons for the late filing.

Perhaps that's what the OBs office was referring to?

Edit: This is for FMLA insurance coverage.

ms12345

Hmm. It's not for insurance coverage, it's just for the 12-week leave. I'm taking 12 weeks no matter what, the only difference will be if I'm permitted to use six weeks of my accrued sick time before my vacation time kicks in, or eight weeks of sick time before vacation time kicks in.

The only unknown as of right now is the exact day I'm starting leave. Ideally, I'd like to negotiate a work-from-home arrangement starting in January so I can work right up until I give birth. But I'd like to have my paperwork in hand as a starting point for negotiation in addition to being within my employer's regulations.

I was under the understanding that it had to be filed no later than 30 days before my leave, since my leave is something foreseen. And my employer had someone else hand it in at about this point in the pregnancy. So confused. But I'll email the HR director and request a meeting with him to find out exactly what the deal is and to mention the working at home thing.

AudreyHpbrn

You have to provide your employer notice before you can take leave, hence a minimum of 30 days prior to our delivery date.  I plan on working right up till I deliver.

I would suggest getting it in soon so HR knows you are planning on leaving and they can verify that you qualify for the leave.  In addition, if you wait right up until 30 days before your expected leave, you could go into labor early (this is what happened to my friend on their first baby) but she had already submitted so typically you have 2 days to inform HR of the date move.

So by submitting your paper work and putting the estimated date of departure, it is allowing the company to prepare.  If you have have baby early or get put on full time bed rest, than you will just need to inform HR that you had baby early or provide them with the doctor's note of required bed rest.  Then they will adjust the paperwork for the 12 weeks to start when it actually started.  Then the 12 weeks will start from that new day and your return date will move up.

 

bethybeach

I filled mine out already and the dr. took care of it, they should just put it around your scheduled due date.  Even if you get closer they don't know when you are going to deliver exactly.  My dr. only gave me the 6 or 8 weeks but my work says I am still eligible for the 12 and I start around the dates that the dr. provided on the schedule.  I think it makes more sense to do it early that way it is approved in situations where you may go early.

I have heard all sorts of situations with FMLA at other places like the dr has to fill out for the full 12 weeks and call it bonding time.  I didn't have any problems.

alli&pat

mine have to be in around my 7th month.  when i was pg with DS, my doc had no problem filling them out for me.  i gave them directly to her during the appt.  she said she writes the same thing for everyone and basically it's VERY vague.  did the trick for my HR! 

magdalina.h

I turned my papers in after I told work about Nugget. I wanted to make sure my job was protected with all the time I have to take off with having appointments every 2 weeks. With Aidan, I turned in my paper work about 2 weeks before I had him, without knowing I was going to have him so soon.

thatsmary

My employer told me that I just turn in the paperwork with my due date.  If the date changes then I need to contact them and they will change the date at that time.  That way they have the paperwork in advance, but the dates themselves are flexible.