What are my options?

Question

Here is the thing. I just found out I was pregnant. I also just started a new job. The thing is they don't offer maternity leave until a year of employment. What can I do to supplement my income while I take time off for the baby? I know I can't take the usual 3 months so I was thinking a month and a half. My boyfriend and I will have money but not alot if I don't work all that time with no pay at all. Is there some sort of short term disability not offered through work that I can get? Any answers will help.

Please keep immature answers to yourself. I am serious.

Thanks guys these are all really good ideas. Of course I never would have thought of them myself.....

Thanks Diamond. No that wasn't immature. I just don't want people to leave crude comments like get a job at a gentlemans club or something.
Thanks :)

Answer 1

Federal FMLA [Family Medical Leave Act] Laws don't cover you until you've worked full time for a year, but a LOT of states have laws that are less restrictive. For instance, Oregon FMLA kicks in after only 6 months at 25+ hours a week. Look into your state laws before you decide you can't get maternity leave. Obviously these are unpaid, but will at least guarnatee that your job is secure while you leave.

As for money, try saving a little bit every week. If you save $20 [$10 from you and $10 from your boyfriend] a week for 40 weeks that's $800 by the time you have the baby which would really come in handy when added to your boyfriend's income. Or perhaps consider working part time? I went back to work when my son was 12 days old, and I worked 3 12s [3am to 330 pm; 3 times a week] so that I had four days off to spend with our son. Talk to your boss as soon as you announce your pregnancy and go over what kind of options they have.

Good luck =)

Answer 2

where do you live? I'm from California and there is a 6 week period that you get disability once the baby is born (and if your doctor restricts you before that, you can get disability earlier) and then after that there is a 6 week parental leave period that you get paid for too. Disability is only 55% of your income from the past 12 months, they separate the last 12 months into 3 month sections and then take 55% of the highest quarter. This is what I have been living off of since I was 26 weeks pregnant bc I was put on bed rest. You can apply once your doctor tells you that you can no longer work, or right before the baby is born, whatever happens first. It usually takes about 2 weeks to get approved and to receive your first check, but once you do you'll be getting a check every 2 weeks until the 6 weeks are up. Hopefully that helped. If you're in california, this page answers the basic questions http://www.edd.ca.gov/direp/difaq1.htm

Answer 3

Look into the disability. I was teaching in public school when I had my daughter. Teachers don't get maternity leave (stupid, huh, since most teachers are women?). The way teachers do this is by getting their paychecks docked (unless they have sick days saved up) and getting paid from disability insurance. When I found out I was pregnant, it was at the end of the school year and I was changing districts...which meant new/different insurance, including disability. Well, by the time the insurance "officially" started I had already been to the OBGYN, so they considered it a pre-existing condition. BUT... I still got some money. I just did not get the full amount that I would have if I had timed it better.
Make some calls and do the research. It is worth it. Even if you only get part of the payout, it will allow you to stay home just that much longer.

Answer 4

I am not sure about disability (as I do not think it applies to pregnancy), but I do suggest that you try to save some money for this time that you plan to have off. I do not have maternity leave either, so I got a second job that is easy and doesn't use up too much of my energy. I had to quit working at my other job at 33 weeks because it was getting to be too much (12 hour nights with no time to rest). So my income has dropped about 1500 per month. I had been saving since I found out that I was pregnant, so it helps a lot. I will be broke for a bit, but this is how life goes sometimes. My boyfriend has been working 2 jobs, so this helps too.

Answer 5

Disability will only pay if there is a medical reason you can't work during or after the pregnancy. I would suggest maybe cutting out any expense you don't need. Like, if you eat out alot or if you use credit cards alot..things of that nature. Since you know, you can plan. You should be ok to return to work after 6 weeks but you may not feel very well..it's definatly something to think about.

Answer 6

Have you and your boyfriend thought about maybe getting a second job now and putting all of that pay check in savings. Some offices have people do paper work on a more or less contract basis off site. You can also check with temp agencies they may have some similar jobs available or suggestions about what you can do.
Good luck!

Answer 7

I hope you don't think I'm immature. I just know it's alot easier taking care of a baby when it's bottle fed. Maybe you could just cut back on your hours but keep your job while you are caring for your newborn and get a daycare or a family member to watch him at other times.

Answer 8

short term disability won't help either... you have to sign up for it before you know you are pregnant or else it's considered a pre-exisiting condition and so it won't be covered.

is there someone you could live with to save money? could your boyfriend get a second job just until the baby arrives?

Answer 9

Both of you save up as much money as you possibly can now. If your boyfriend doesnt make a lot of money, depending on where you live, you could probably get foodstamps to help once you have the baby.
Good luck and congrats

Answer 10

i would contact the HR department on matenity leaves. also check the state law on maternity leaves. getting fired or not getting ur job back after having a baby is against the law.