Aa
No maternity leave
I know this is going to vary from state to state. I do not receive any maternity leave from my employer so I am wondering if I can qualify for unemployment when I am no longer able to work. Since my job demands a lot physically (waitressing) I am nervous that I will not be able to work up until delivery, I may be be able to hostess since that is less demanding but we will have to see. One of the questions they ask you every time you call in your unemployment is if you are able to work, my answer will obviously be no and I am not being laid off so that mean I will not qualify?
Has anyone else been in this situation? If so how did you deal with it?
Has anyone else been in this situation? If so how did you deal with it?
armyprincess: on the other post, she was talking about short term disability that you buy into...not real state benefit disability...that is why I posted on that other post because I was afraid people would misinterpret it...it is not a disability in the actual sense...
Check it out. I don't know what state you are in but there was another girl who posted that women are considered disable after giving birh so I don't see why you wouldn't qualify. Good luck!
In regards to WIC try and brush off what you think are people staring at you. If they are judging you they should be ashamed and get over themselves. We do foster parenting so any child under 5 comes with WIC. Just goes to show people can't assume only a certain income class etc. are using wic as there's no way to know why they are turning tickets in. Also it's a program based on healthier eating for moms and children which I think is quite different then food stamps etc. not being in any way judgmental of those on food stamps. When I look back to when we were on WIC for our own family there's NO WAY we would have been giving our kids as much milk/cheese/healthy cereals etc without it as it just wouldn't have worked in our budget. Hang in there! Do what's good for you and your baby!
Good for you GRose...sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders...with the tax refund and possibly another stimulus check, hopefully you can stretch it out AND maybe you will get sympathy tips you can save up =)
I might qualify for WIC checks but I used to get those and I would get such horrible looks using them I don't think I ever want to do it again. Plus, it was our choice to get pregnant again and I don't think it is fair for me to get assistance when I made the decision.
tired- I know what you mean, we don't qualify for food stamps or welfare, the only thing I get is state insurance. I swear we are worse off being in the middle because if you are in the lower end of the spectrum you get lots of help.
findinghumility- I don't qualify for FMLA, an employer has to have 50 full time employees to be required to cover you, I already looked into it. I work in a small restaurant and we only have about 30 employees, most are part time. I know I will get my job back as soon as I am ready, I'm not worried about that.
Sweetangel- I didn't think about the tax money, I will just have to hoard most of that and really watch our spending for a while. I think we are all supposed to get another stimulus check too so that should help a little. ****, I feel like such an idiot that I just assumed that I would get unemployment.
I will call around and see if I can find anything but as tired said WI ***** when it comes to this sort of thing.
Maybe I will start getting sympathy tips once I am more noticeably pregnant LOL
Thanks for the help ladies.
Sweetangel- I didn't think about the tax money, I will just have to hoard most of that and really watch our spending for a while. I think we are all supposed to get another stimulus check too so that should help a little. ****, I feel like such an idiot that I just assumed that I would get unemployment.
I will call around and see if I can find anything but as tired said WI ***** when it comes to this sort of thing.
Maybe I will start getting sympathy tips once I am more noticeably pregnant LOL
Thanks for the help ladies.
"...out of 168 nations in a Harvard University study last year, 163 had some form of paid maternity leave, leaving the United States in the company of Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland." (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-07-26-maternity-leave_x.htm)
the only reason 6 weeks passed in NJ was because our governor was dumb enough to not wear a seatbelt and get seriously injured. he realized what a toll it can take on a family when someone has to stay home as a caregiver. it's not specifically a maternity leave policy- it's a family leave policy that includes maternity. it's not sufficient but a starting point.
we never would've qualified for food stamps or any gov't benefits... doesn't mean we would've been able to pay the mortgage. i suspect many people are in a similar situation. we were lucky that DH saved in advance specifically for my leave.
the only reason 6 weeks passed in NJ was because our governor was dumb enough to not wear a seatbelt and get seriously injured. he realized what a toll it can take on a family when someone has to stay home as a caregiver. it's not specifically a maternity leave policy- it's a family leave policy that includes maternity. it's not sufficient but a starting point.
we never would've qualified for food stamps or any gov't benefits... doesn't mean we would've been able to pay the mortgage. i suspect many people are in a similar situation. we were lucky that DH saved in advance specifically for my leave.
** I just wanted to add, this is exactly why dh and I waited so long (26 years old) to start a family...Financially it is just not easy!!!!! We will be using some of our tax refund money to help supplement while I am not working...
Never mind maternity leave benefits stinking in Wisonsin, they stink across the country! I won't get going but this is my peeve!
Unfortunately, you cannot get unemployment because you have to be laid off AND every week you have to fill out paperwork saying where you applied for jobs (at least in MA you do).
Short term disability is something that you would have had to bought into MONTHS before even becoming pregnant for it to cover your pregnancy AND some of them are VERY sneaky and do not cover pregnancy/post pregnancy...I bought an AFLAC one and cancelled it within a week after reading horrid reviews on consumer watchdog sites and even more carefully reading the fine print which I guess can be read either way (coverage or not). Very manipulative.
State disability won't cover pregnancy/post pregnancy.
It seems that the only way for a woman without short term disability or some awesome company that actually provides benefits for its workers is to save your money to pay your bills and put food on the table while you are not working.
The plus side is though, if you are not working, you should be able to qualify for some benefits such as WIC, possibly food stamps...and I don't know what else is out there...I am not familiar with 'benefits'.
Unfortunately, you cannot get unemployment because you have to be laid off AND every week you have to fill out paperwork saying where you applied for jobs (at least in MA you do).
Short term disability is something that you would have had to bought into MONTHS before even becoming pregnant for it to cover your pregnancy AND some of them are VERY sneaky and do not cover pregnancy/post pregnancy...I bought an AFLAC one and cancelled it within a week after reading horrid reviews on consumer watchdog sites and even more carefully reading the fine print which I guess can be read either way (coverage or not). Very manipulative.
State disability won't cover pregnancy/post pregnancy.
It seems that the only way for a woman without short term disability or some awesome company that actually provides benefits for its workers is to save your money to pay your bills and put food on the table while you are not working.
The plus side is though, if you are not working, you should be able to qualify for some benefits such as WIC, possibly food stamps...and I don't know what else is out there...I am not familiar with 'benefits'.
i agree- look in to your state's disability laws. wisconsin, right?
i found this: http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/ER/discrimination_civil_rights/publication_erd_7550_pweb.htm
it looks like your state s*cks big time as far a maternity leave. i am sorry. it does sound like that if your doctor says you can't waitress, they should try to accomodate you as a hostess. i find it absolutely disgusting that most states have such terrible policies and no support for working mothers. in NJ, up until now, maternity was covered by short term disability, although for some reason, public schools were exempt so my last leave was unpaid. NJ just became the 3rd state in the country to require up to 6 weeks paid family leave, and it takes effect July 1. works well since i'm due in august. only a percentage of my salary, and only 6 weeks, but it's better than nothing.
anyways, here's a quote from that site.
"Q. What is an employer’s obligation to an employee who is temporarily unable to perform her job because of pregnancy?
A. An employer is required to treat an employee unable to perform her job because of her pregnancy in the same manner as it treats other temporarily disabled employees, whether by providing modified tasks, alternative assignments, disability leave or leave without pay.
The employer should provide the same benefits to employees disabled by pregnancy as it provides to other temporarily disabled persons.
Additionally, employers with 50 or more permanent employees must allow covered employees up to six weeks of family leave in a 12-month period, without pay, for the birth of the employee’s child if the leave begins within 16 weeks of the child’s birth."
i found this: http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/ER/discrimination_civil_rights/publication_erd_7550_pweb.htm
it looks like your state s*cks big time as far a maternity leave. i am sorry. it does sound like that if your doctor says you can't waitress, they should try to accomodate you as a hostess. i find it absolutely disgusting that most states have such terrible policies and no support for working mothers. in NJ, up until now, maternity was covered by short term disability, although for some reason, public schools were exempt so my last leave was unpaid. NJ just became the 3rd state in the country to require up to 6 weeks paid family leave, and it takes effect July 1. works well since i'm due in august. only a percentage of my salary, and only 6 weeks, but it's better than nothing.
anyways, here's a quote from that site.
"Q. What is an employer’s obligation to an employee who is temporarily unable to perform her job because of pregnancy?
A. An employer is required to treat an employee unable to perform her job because of her pregnancy in the same manner as it treats other temporarily disabled employees, whether by providing modified tasks, alternative assignments, disability leave or leave without pay.
The employer should provide the same benefits to employees disabled by pregnancy as it provides to other temporarily disabled persons.
Additionally, employers with 50 or more permanent employees must allow covered employees up to six weeks of family leave in a 12-month period, without pay, for the birth of the employee’s child if the leave begins within 16 weeks of the child’s birth."
Yes, I would think it'd be more like state disability, but I'm not sure either. I'm sorry honey that you have to deal with this stress ontop of everything. Good luck!
I think a good place to start might be your local county health department or WIC type office. If they don't know the info they should most certainly know where to send you.
I don't know if it's universal but like nsrchofbaby said regarding short term disability. I'm not sure if everyone is eligible for a certain amount, but where I worked once you were on FMLA for a certain amount of time I did get a certain percentage of my normal pay from short term disability. It wasn't much but it was better then nothing.
I don't know if it's universal but like nsrchofbaby said regarding short term disability. I'm not sure if everyone is eligible for a certain amount, but where I worked once you were on FMLA for a certain amount of time I did get a certain percentage of my normal pay from short term disability. It wasn't much but it was better then nothing.
While I don't think you'd qualify for unemployment benefits, I know that some circumstances during pregnancy may warrant compensation for short term disability. Maybe that's something you can look into. I'm not an expert on these things but I looked it up really quickly for you and hopefully it'll get you on the right path. Take care. :)
Look into FMLA or family medical leave act. They are required to give you 12 weeks a year unpaid leave. See here: http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/
This of course doesn't provide any sort of payment or income, but they are required by law to give you this leave and your job has to be there for you to return to after the 12 weeks is up if you want it. They are also required to continue your insurance etc if you have insurance through them while you are on leave. Also this would cover you at any point if you should have trouble in your pregnancy, but whatever time you used is taken off of the 12 weeks per year. Good luck.
This of course doesn't provide any sort of payment or income, but they are required by law to give you this leave and your job has to be there for you to return to after the 12 weeks is up if you want it. They are also required to continue your insurance etc if you have insurance through them while you are on leave. Also this would cover you at any point if you should have trouble in your pregnancy, but whatever time you used is taken off of the 12 weeks per year. Good luck.
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