Use short term disability or just max out my PTO?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you use short term disability for maternity leave? What would be the medical condition/ disability you would show to qualify? I get using it at the end of pregnancy when a doctor is likely willing to write up a note for you to get off your feet, but how do I show a medical condition after the birth if I really just want to use it to spend time with the baby? Very interested in this as I am looking for ways to use SPD to extend time with baby.

The standard recovery period from birth is 6 weeks for vaginal birth or 8 weeks for c section or if you have complications. The paperwork to submit to the insurer was straightforward and your doctors office is very accustomed to completing the paperwork.

Thanks. My office gives me 12 weeks off for parental leave but it has to be taken immediately after the birth. I am looking to use additional STD time to extend this 12 week period. Is there any way to do that?

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you use short term disability for maternity leave? What would be the medical condition/ disability you would show to qualify? I get using it at the end of pregnancy when a doctor is likely willing to write up a note for you to get off your feet, but how do I show a medical condition after the birth if I really just want to use it to spend time with the baby? Very interested in this as I am looking for ways to use SPD to extend time with baby.

The standard recovery period from birth is 6 weeks for vaginal birth or 8 weeks for c section or if you have complications. The paperwork to submit to the insurer was straightforward and your doctors office is very accustomed to completing the paperwork.

Thanks. My office gives me 12 weeks off for parental leave but it has to be taken immediately after the birth. I am looking to use additional STD time to extend this 12 week period. Is there any way to do that?

Is that 12 weeks paid? If you are covered by FMLA (but if....lots of us are not), you are legally allowed to take that 12 weeks whenever you want during baby's first year. But of course FMLA is unpaid. Your employer may only pay for 12 weeks immediately after birth, but, again, if you're FMLA-eligible, you can take those legally protected 12 weeks whenever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you use short term disability for maternity leave? What would be the medical condition/ disability you would show to qualify? I get using it at the end of pregnancy when a doctor is likely willing to write up a note for you to get off your feet, but how do I show a medical condition after the birth if I really just want to use it to spend time with the baby? Very interested in this as I am looking for ways to use SPD to extend time with baby.

The standard recovery period from birth is 6 weeks for vaginal birth or 8 weeks for c section or if you have complications. The paperwork to submit to the insurer was straightforward and your doctors office is very accustomed to completing the paperwork.

Thanks. My office gives me 12 weeks off for parental leave but it has to be taken immediately after the birth. I am looking to use additional STD time to extend this 12 week period. Is there any way to do that?

No

Your employer and the insurer are different. Your employer gives you leave. The insurer sends you a check in the mail.

[Anonymous]

FMLA= job protection

STD= paycheck protection

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you use short term disability for maternity leave? What would be the medical condition/ disability you would show to qualify? I get using it at the end of pregnancy when a doctor is likely willing to write up a note for you to get off your feet, but how do I show a medical condition after the birth if I really just want to use it to spend time with the baby? Very interested in this as I am looking for ways to use SPD to extend time with baby.

The standard recovery period from birth is 6 weeks for vaginal birth or 8 weeks for c section or if you have complications. The paperwork to submit to the insurer was straightforward and your doctors office is very accustomed to completing the paperwork.

Thanks. My office gives me 12 weeks off for parental leave but it has to be taken immediately after the birth. I am looking to use additional STD time to extend this 12 week period. Is there any way to do that?

No

What about for PPD for instance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you use short term disability for maternity leave? What would be the medical condition/ disability you would show to qualify? I get using it at the end of pregnancy when a doctor is likely willing to write up a note for you to get off your feet, but how do I show a medical condition after the birth if I really just want to use it to spend time with the baby? Very interested in this as I am looking for ways to use SPD to extend time with baby.

The standard recovery period from birth is 6 weeks for vaginal birth or 8 weeks for c section or if you have complications. The paperwork to submit to the insurer was straightforward and your doctors office is very accustomed to completing the paperwork.

Thanks. My office gives me 12 weeks off for parental leave but it has to be taken immediately after the birth. I am looking to use additional STD time to extend this 12 week period. Is there any way to do that?

No

What about for PPD for instance?

If you get a separate medical diagnosis that allows you to claim STD and you do it after your 12 weeks of parental leave is up, then maybe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a third option where you go back before the end of the year but have a little more cushion? You'll need days off available for when baby/you are sick especially if little one will be starting daycare.

Yes, this is an option. I was targeting about 4 months off but I could go back sooner. I worry that I won’t feel ready after a shorter leave, but I don’t know for sure if that’s true. I’d be interested how other women felt about going back after less than 4 months.

Come on, like 99% of the country goes back after less than 4 months... FMLA only protects you for 12 weeks, regardless of the type of leave you’re taking. Better hope you aren’t too replaceable if you ask to take more than that.

Not OP but nearly all white collar professional jobs will allow you to take more time off, it'll just probably be unpaid. And certainly feds are getting dinged for asking to take off longer than 12 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I would do 3 months using SL/AL and then go back part time in December so you don't eat up ALL your leave, and will continue to accrue at the regular rate per payperiod. Also assuming you're still teleworking the 20 hrs for childcare admin leave may still be available to you in December.

[Anonymous]

I’m a fed currently on maternity leave and my agency offers SDT so I’m using 8 weeks for c-section and then will use my annual / sick leave until I return to work in December but I will still have leave when I return so I def would not exhaust leave because you will need it for Dr. appointments.

[Anonymous]

It depends:

1) can you afford to go on STD?
2) how much leave does your spouse have?
3) are you planning on getting a nanny or daycare?

[Anonymous]

I would take off as much time as you possibly can. The first year goes by very fast and you never get that time back. I went back after four months and my MIL and DH watched the baby; it was too soon and I cried almost daily. Within weeks I switched to a part-time WFH position. I know there will be people here who say that’s ridiculous and who loved getting out and back to work. But I would recommend getting as much time as possible.

[Anonymous]

PP currently on STD forgot to add that even though it’s 60% of our salary the payment is larger than your paycheck since no taxes or other deductions are taken out so it’s based on gross not net pay and then you just need to set aside the extra to pay the health insurance premiums if you don’t want them taken out once you are in pay status + set aside for taxes.