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New here! What are my options with unpaid maternity leave?

sclark1189sclark1189 member
in Working Moms
So, I have realized now that I am pregnant that I never completed signing up for short term disability during summer enrollment and now its too late and we are 8 weeks pregnant. I have debated contacting outside insurance companies, but will I even be able to file a STD claim in less than 12 months when my baby is born in June? I work for the state of Texas and my unpaid leave is covered by FMLA. Its not really possible that I will be able to save up leave to pay for my leave. It is very upsetting to think I can't stay home with my first baby. Does anyone have any knowledge about signing up for STD after pregnant or other options for making it through unpaid maternity leave? Unfortunately we can't live off my husband's income alone. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!
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Re: New here! What are my options with unpaid maternity leave?

  • SmrBrd2012SmrBrd2012 member
    I think you need to have STD for an entire year before you can use it. Can't you use your vacation/sick time towards your unpaid leave?
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  • sclark1189sclark1189 member
    Yes I can use that leave towards my unpaid leave, but there is no way between now and then that I will save up enough for 3 months. I could save up two weeks of time between now and then, which doesn't give me much time home with a newborn.
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  • SmrBrd2012SmrBrd2012 member
    edited November 2015
    Ugh, that sucks. I had a similar situation but I was able to save up about 4 weeks and then took 6 weeks unpaid. We just made sure to save up enough $ and not spend anything unnecessary while I was pregnant. You have about 7 months to go. Can you and you H find a way to do something similar?

    Side note: Isn't FMLA just the best??? /sarcasm
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  • MusicEBA22MusicEBA22 member
    I was only able to save 3 weeks of sick and vacation. I was able to take another 3 weeks off because of a lawsuit I won after I became pregnant, but that was it for me. I had to go back to work 6 weeks pp. If it wasn't for that lawsuit, I would have been back 3 weeks pp. The US really blows. As it is, I usually have to pull over and take a nap on my way to and from work because I'm so exhausted and I'll fall asleep while driving :/
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  • SmrBrd2012SmrBrd2012 member
    MusicEBA22 said:
    I was only able to save 3 weeks of sick and vacation. I was able to take another 3 weeks off because of a lawsuit I won after I became pregnant, but that was it for me. I had to go back to work 6 weeks pp. If it wasn't for that lawsuit, I would have been back 3 weeks pp. The US really blows. As it is, I usually have to pull over and take a nap on my way to and from work because I'm so exhausted and I'll fall asleep while driving :/
    How did you not qualify for FMLA?? :(
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  • MusicEBA22MusicEBA22 member
    edited November 2015
    I did qualify for and use FMLA but FMLA is unpaid leave. It just says that they can't fire you for taking up to 12 weeks off, but it doesn't say they have to pay you.
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  • meggymemeggyme member
    Most US companies don't pay for maternity leave, even large companies. Your best bet is to use what vacation and sick leave you have and start saving for the rest. Very few STD policies will allow you to submit a claim after you are already pregnant. You might check if your state has STD insurance. You may be paying into it each paycheck without realizing it.
    DD1: June '16 DD2: March ‘19 :::: Married since 2011 :::: USN Wife ::::
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  • KtjennksKtjennks member
    edited December 2015
    I just signed up for STD last week and am able to use it when she comes in Feb. But last week was also when our open enrollment was.
    Pregnancy Ticker
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