OT - Does PA offer disability for...

having a baby? I am pretty sure that in NJ you can collect short term disability when you go out to have a baby - does PA offer that too? Pam's post got me thinking that if I am going to have a baby I am going to be out of work and therefor not getting paid - we can't make it without both of our checks - so I either have to save up what I would make in the 2+/- months I would be out of work or seek another alternative... unless money starts sprouting out of the trees in my yard...

Thanks all!

Liz

Hey Liz.  I think it depends on your employer, but I'm not positive.  My employer offers it.  We get 6 weeks for regular delivery, 8 weeks for C Sections.  And remember you get 12 (or is it 13) weeks for FMLA...no matter what.  Now FMLA isn't usually paid, but they have to keep your position for you (or one identical to yours).  The number of weeks that are paid in our STD depends on how long you've worked there.  I'd call your HR department.  But I would think you are entitled to something! 

PS-if money starts sprouting....please cut off a branch, I'll be right over to get it!! I'd love to plant that in my backyard!!!

Thanks Jackie! see that's the thing... I work for a family owned small business, now I am sure that they would hold my job, but there won't be anything paid and I'll loose my health insurance. Which is fine, we plan to pick up hubby's insurance in the spring. I'll have to do some research though. I was really wondering if the state does anything?

Thanks!

Liz,

You need to look on your paystub and see if they deduct for STD. My company actually pays my STD premiums, but some make the employees contribute. Otherwise just ask someone at the office if you guys have STD. It doesn't matter if it a baby or any other illness so you don't have to suggest it's because you want to get preggo.

Thanks Melanie! I will ask someone in the office that I trust today!

I checked my stub and they withhold for FICA, FED WT, PA ST, PA UC, and Horsham tax. No STD. I'll have to look into it - might have to buy some disability insurance...

Thanks!

Liz

It's definately about what your employer has options of. I am currently preggo and I can have 6 weeks off with my STD. (STD>>>>that doesn't sound too good, but you know what I mean!)

My STD pays me 66% of my regular pay. So look into that also. I am saving a few bucks here and there to cover the difference in my pay for the month and a half.

Definately check with your HR people to get details. Each company is different.

Thanks everyone - see the catch is- my company has less then 25 employees, we don't have an actual HR department and I think that the person I would have to ask is the mother of the 2 owners (she is also an owner) so it is a touchy subject. I am going to obtain a copy of the handbook today (i've been here 5 years and haven't a clue where mine is!) and see what I cna come up with.

Is there anything offered through the state? Or only if they are taking it out of my check?

Thanks ladies!

Liz

Hi Liz,

I worked for BCBS and was a short term disability specialist for 10 years. There are 2 types of short term disability plans - state mandated which is only in 5 states and is actually paid to you by the state and then private plans offered thru your employer. Unfortunately PA is not a mandated state so the only chance of you being eligible for benefits is if you worked in NY or NJ which are both mandated states or you have coverage thru your employer but unfortunately not all employers offer the coverage. It's an optional benefit. Check with your employer to see if they offer the coverage and if you're already signed up for it. Many times people are covered without knowing it. If you're not signed up and they offer it then you want to sign up asap during the next open enrollment period which is normally Nov/Dec to be eligible effective Jan 1. Here's the catch - make sure you ask your employer about the policy having a pre-existing condition clause because if it does then this would mean any claim you file could possibly be rejected as a pre-existing condition if you were treated for it even once within a certain time frame until you have 12 months of continous coverage under the plan. Pregnancy is included in that clause. One visit to the OB/GYN and the claim gets rejected. So depending on when you get pregnant, when your doctor takes you out of work and the time frame of the pre-existing condition clause will determine if you're eligble for benefits under the employers plan. If your HR rep doesn't know, they can give the insurance company a call and they can tell them if there is a clause or not and what the time frame is.

I hope I was able to help. It's kind of difficult to explain all the details in a message but if you have any questions, I'm pretty sure you have my number so just give me a call and I'll answer any other questions you have.

Have a great day!

Wow! Thanks Valerie!! I will ask today if we have disability insurance - I will play it off that I can get it through Chris' work or something like that. If not I will look into getting  some privately ASAP. I am not pregnant yet so I would be safe - and don't intend on becoming pregnant until I have this all worked out. I am too much of a planner! lol Everything has to be in order before I stop taking the BC pills!

Thanks agian!

Liz

Not a problem! But just a heads up - don't play it off about getting coverage thru Chris job cause HR knows or should know that you can't. Disability is only a individual plan and only covers the employee. They'll think you've gone bonkers or that Chris' job is trying to pull a quick one over on you by selling you a policy you can't use..lol. If you're not covered thru your employer but plan on signing up and you do call the insurance co, don't be surprised if they don't give you any information. Many times they are not able to because without actually being enrolled there is no way to tell what your benefits would actually be since there are exceptions to every rule. That's why I say it would be best to have your employer call. There are group #'s and employee class #'s that your employer would need to give them so they can verify what the benefit would be.

Pregnancy is a covered disability under almost every policy but be careful with the private ones because if any then those would be the ones where it could be excluded. Also, what most insurance companies keep hush hush but it's normally the standard rule is that your doctor can take you out of work up to 4 weeks before your due date without having to provide medical records. Anthing more than that and they will have to submit your records for review to see why you're being taken out of work sooner. The standard disability period after the baby is born is 6 weeks if you had a normal delivery and 8 weeks if you had to have a c-section, no records or proof required for that either but as before, anything longer than that and the doc will need to show a reason for keeping you out of work such as a complication by sending them your records.

I'm sorry I keep rambling but it's not always just as simple as call the insurance company. There are soooooooo many ins and outs and behind the scenes type things that are invloved with disability benefits and the insurance co is not going to give you any more info than what you're asking for so unless you know what to specifially ask about, you could end up getting screwed over.