Does disability insurance cover maternity leave or does this come from your company?

My company is too small for FMLA or any paid leave but they may be offering disability insurance soon.

Public Comments

1. Like in my case my company doesn't pay maternity leave, they have short term desability that I can take but is something that I had to pay separated from my Insurance so...if you have that you'll be all set.
2. Disability will cover up to 12 weeks of maternity leave and if you take FMLA, you don't always get paid for it - it just guarantees your job when you come back. Many people save up their personal/sick/vacation days and take them first and THEN take the maternity leave which is often after they've delivered the baby to get the most paid time at home.
3. you can only claim disability insurance if your doctor orders you on bed rest. STD (short term disability) can be used once you have exhausted your vacation and sick leave balances. FMLA is an act, which means it is supported by law. Every employer should be following this act, which says that for 12 weeks, the employer mus keep your position open until your return (they can put someone else in your spot but only in a temporary basis). STD payouts will only represent about 60% of your salary.
4. FMLA is not a paid leave anyways-- it only requires your employer to hold yoru job for you. VERY few employers, even big ones, have paid "maternity leave". You need to save your sick time and vacation and save money to cover the rest. Disability insurance does not always work for maternity leave, although it kicks in if you're on bed rest. Sometiems for C-section recoveries it works too. Just dont depend on it.
5. If short term disability is available, I would encourage you to take it. Usually you will have the option of a 7 day wait (which is more expensive) or a 30 day wait. What this means is that you once you go on disability, you will either wait one week or 30 days before you will begin receiving payment. I'm not sure about others, but as it was explained to me, you do not need a doctor's referral for "bed rest" to take out the disability for maternity leave.
6. Disability is a legal right...if you were hurt, broke your arm or something....you would receive disability time off and a small check weekly. For a vaginal delivery its 6 weeks, for c-section its 8 weeks (i have no idea what it is for a broken arm!) and i think its about 1/3 of your salary. Your company (if its legit) pays into this disabilty program - same as it does Workers Compensation. You will get 6 weeks off and a small check, but thats it.