Short Term Disability and Multiples

Palan · May 2014

I understand that the average Short Term Disability (STD) pay is 6 weeks for vaginal and 8 weeks for C-section. Did any of the MoMs get extra time since it was twins? Trying to get the most out of my insurance and have fewest weeks without pay.

carrotcake06 · May 2014

I did not. I was eligible for STD through the state in which I am employed. You have to check w your employer to see if you have to exhaust all of your PTO prior to STD kicking in or not. For me, I had my STD begin when I gave birth (the date the "disability" began) and it ended 8w after that bc I had a c/s. After that, I was able to get 4 addl wks but I don't remember how - MH did all the paperwork for me - and then at the very end, I took PTO days.

So even though I didn't get addl STD, I was able to get paid (not my full wage, but something) for most of my leave.

Reilly626 · May 2014

Due to complications my doctor wrote me out of work which enabled me to use sick days accumulated- that may work for you.

Palan · May 2014

What gets me is that I have the STD for 90 days, but from what I have read the norm is to allow the 6 or 8 weeks. I be able to use vaca and sick as well, but would like to use all of my 4 months of Tn FMLA with something coming in. We really need to work on having some sort of paid time off for maternity, truthfully I can't see myself being productive until these 2 are sleeping through the night. We pay for the STD, we should be able to use all of it.

SV917 · May 2014

Check your summary plan description. If you don't have that, ask your plan administrator for a copy. It should be in there. Unlike FMLA which takes into consideration bonding, a STD is probably only going to look at your physical ability to work, but check the plan documents.

Also, we're not sleeping through the night here at 7 months. You learn to deal with the sleep deprivation. Even if you got 3 months of STD there's a chance you'll still be getting up in the middle of the night when you go back to work.

24karat · May 2014

The one instance where you get extra time for having multiples is if your state specifically has a law in place (unpaid and completely separate from FMLA and STD) that allows for it. MA is one state that offers longer unpaid job protection for MoMs. FMLA's 12wks usually runs concurrently with whatever leave your employer and state may allow. As far as STD extras for multiples, I highly doubt they'd allow it and if they did, it would be an individual policy provision. The 90 days is probably your annual max, of which L&D recovery is limited to 6 or 8 weeks depending on the type of delivery. STD only pays out for your time recovering from childbirth and, barring major complications, most women are physically able to work before the 6 or 8 weeks is over.

I hate to break it to you, but I wouldn't count on them sleeping through the night by the time you have to go back to work even with extra time off. Mine didn't STTN consistently till 7.5mos (which actually isn't too bad) so it was pretty far past the typical maternity leave time frame.

pillowass · May 2014

My policy included the standard 6 weeks for vaginal/8 weeks for c-section. One thing to consider is taking a few weeks of STD before your twins are born, which your doctor will probably recommend anyway if you make it to 33+ weeks. You will still get the 6/8 weeks after they are born, but will be able to get more out of your policy.

The other thing that sucks about these policies is that many of them require you to exhaust your vacation/sick time before collecting on them. I had enough PTO to get me through a couple of months of leave after my twins were born and so was not able to collect on my STD at all. Make sure you look into all of this because you don't want to be blindsided after the fact!

Palan · May 2014

Was really hoping special conditions applied, guess it will be longer without pay for us.

TREDgirl · May 2014

I got pulled out of work prior to delivery and my STD did not cover that portion as pregnancy complications didn't fall under the allowable 'sick' explanations. So be sure to check into that to see what your policy covers.

4legsRbest · May 2014

Palan said:

What gets me is that I have the STD for 90 days, but from what I have read the norm is to allow the 6 or 8 weeks. I be able to use vaca and sick as well, but would like to use all of my 4 months of Tn FMLA with something coming in. We really need to work on having some sort of paid time off for maternity, truthfully I can't see myself being productive until these 2 are sleeping through the night. We pay for the STD, we should be able to use all of it.

Are you in Tennessee? I think I gathered this in your post, but sorry if I mis-read. Tennessee has a maternity leave act, which protects you for 16 weeks. This however runs concurrent with your company's FMLA and STD. Unfortunately it doesn't pay either. I am in TN and work for a 500+ employee firm and by benefits are as follows: 6w for vaginal 8w for c-section covered by STD at 90% of my pay. This runs with my FMLA and the TN MLA time. I then use what PTO I have left for the remainder (I hope to have 3 weeks saved). The rest I take off with no pay, but my position is protected. Unfortunately there really isn't a way to maximize pay with maternity leave unless you can use PTO hours but in TN you can take off 4 months and be protected under the law.

Palan · May 2014

Yep in Tn, so I was told about the 4 months vs 12 weeks so that is good. I was just hoping to extend the STD coverage due to multiples. My STD is 60% of salary for 90 days, but it seems I will only be able to use 42 to 56 days of that, poo. It just sucks that we pay for this benefit and can't apply it to "bonding" time.

Aurora1181 · May 2014

@palan and @4legsRbest I'm in TN too! West TN/Memphis here. I'm checking into this same information right now with my employer..

4legsRbest · May 2014

@Aurora1181 - I am from Memphis (still have family in Jackson, Senatobia, MS and Cordova) and some spread as far as Nashville, but I am currenlty residing in Knoxville. I love TN - all of it!!!

4legsRbest · May 2014

Palan said:

Yep in Tn, so I was told about the 4 months vs 12 weeks so that is good. I was just hoping to extend the STD coverage due to multiples. My STD is 60% of salary for 90 days, but it seems I will only be able to use 42 to 56 days of that, poo. It just sucks that we pay for this benefit and can't apply it to "bonding" time.

So much about maternity care and maternity leave is wrong in this country... I even have to fight to keep a personal fridge to store pumped breast milk in and for a private comfortable place to pump in. Excuse me? Put my child's only source of nutrition in a community fridge??? Yeah, not gonna happen.

Aurora1181 · May 2014

4legsRbest said:

@Aurora1181 - I am from Memphis (still have family in Jackson, Senatobia, MS and Cordova) and some spread as far as Nashville, but I am currenlty residing in Knoxville. I love TN - all of it!!!

Oh neat!! I lived in Knoxville for 5 years (bachelors and Masters from UTK) and LOVED it. I miss it!

Doubletrouble12 · May 2014

I had to use STD at work because I had been at my job less than one year, so I did not qualify for FMLA. I was really down about that because I wanted as much time off as possible with my babies. I ended up talking to my doctor at my 6 week appt. and he gave me two more weeks off. My girls were in the NICU for 3 wks, I hated the thought of only have 3 weeks at home with them.

Good Luck!

foodieforlife · May 2014

we have STD which kicks in the day your doctor puts you out if needed. You get 2/3 pay and then once the babies are born you get 2/3 pay for 6 weeks for vaginal and 8 for c-section. You do not have to use your vacation or sick time prior to the std. i'm in a tough spot since my twins are due at the end of november. my sick time rolls over but vacation does not. so if i go out in October i have had to use all my vacation time by then or lose it. which stinks since i get 2/3 and lose my 100% paid days off. My sick time can roll over to the next year. i'm in NJ if that helps.

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