Tips for Maternity Leave in California
I had the WORST time figuring out what/if I would be getting paid anything for my leave with my first baby. I drove an hour for a seminar at my work, only to leave more confused than before the seminar. Before my first baby, I was per diem and had NO benefits through my work.
If I can impart one golden nugget, it’s that you will NEVER get through to anyone on the phone by calling EDD (Employment Development Department) for any questions/issues. On my third maternity leave, I hadn’t been paid for over a month and we were in Maui with my in-laws for Christmas. I was stressed out of my gourd because I had also just been diagnosed with heart failure, among other things. I tried calling the EDD over 50 times to no avail. Finally I found a news article that explained that you can have the EDD call you! You use this website to find your local representative. Once you do, call and leave a message asking for a call from your local EDD contact and say you are having trouble getting through. I received a call and was paid in full within 48 hours of reading this article! I also had a friend who hadn’t been paid for 9 months, used this, and was paid in full!
https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
How to know if you will get any money from the state before/after having a baby?
You qualify for “partial wage replacement” if your employer takes wages from your paychecks towards these government programs, usually shown as “CASDI” on your paystub.
Whatever money you are going to get from the government, the amount is the same each week whether you are on Disability or Paid Family Leave. You get a weekly amount of wages that equal 60-70% of your pre tax wages, so it’s actually a decent amount. You can figure out an estimate of what your payments will be with this:
https://edd.ca.gov/en/Disability/PFL_Calculator
These funds were paid to a special Bank of America debit card, then I could transfer to my bank account.
If you have PTO, you can supplement the disability payments with PTO hours from your work so that your paychecks are the same as while you were working.
Note: I was scammed and entered ALL of my information when a text came through asking me to confirm details. I do not know how my internet was hacked so that they knew I had just filed a claim. ONLY enter your info directly into the SDI/EDD website that YOU type into your browser!
Here is what I qualified for as a NON benefitted employee who worked about 1,000 hours (per diem) and you do too if you are charged CASDI on your paystub.
THE STEP BY STEP PROCESS:
(Step 1: To have your job protected) Your first step is always going to be to report your leave to your HR/whoever they farm this process out to. They should be able to help answer questions. Be sure to write down their fax number and your assigned leave number. The Hartford is one of the businesses that handle this.
I highly suggest keeping a note open on your phone to keep track of your assigned leave number, the last date you worked, etc.
A note about Kaiser: they do not and will not EVER fill out ANY paperwork or you. Your HR can request this, but don’t waste your time or stress. What Kaiser WILL do is send a letter on your behalf with your due date. Ask your doctor for the email to their Release of Information (ROI) department. Email ROI your name, date of birth, due date and phone number and ask them to fax their letter to your HR.
(Step 2: To get money from the government) Then you are going to report your leave online through the SDI website. Create an account and follow the steps. VERY important to note your receipt number (starts with an R). You need to copy and paste that to your doctor and ask your doctor to fill out the provider portion online. Provide your receipt number, the last date you worked and your due date.
DISABILITY:
You get 4 weeks of “use it or lose it” disability prior to your due date (not scheduled c section date). However, whenever you do go on leave, you are NEVER paid for the first 7 days (“mandatory waiting period”). Payments start on the 8th day.
-BIRTH-
After you have the baby, you will receive 6 weeks of your weekly rate for a vaginal birth or 8 weeks for a C section. Your OB can extend your disability if you have medical complications.
BABY BONDING (PFL)
Once you have exhausted your 6-8 weeks of your postpartum disability leave, the state will send you a note through the portal asking if you want to transition directly into Baby Bonding, also known as Paid Family Leave (PFL) time. This is eight weeks of the same weekly amount you have been getting for disability. However, you can split up this bonding however you would like before your baby’s first birthday. I did 6 weeks right after my disability leave, then returned to work and saved 2 weeks for Christmas. If you do want to use it intermittently, you have to request the time off from your manager but I think generally they do everything they can to honor your specific dates requested.
You have now exhausted all of the money you will get from the state and you’re on your own financially!
Ok, now this is for my full time girlies:
FMLA: this is 12 additional weeks of UNPAID job protection. Basically, if you have worked over 1,250 hours at the same job within the last 12 months, you qualify to use this. It is unpaid, but you can extend your leave and keep your job protected. If you have PTO left, you can use it for wages during this time.
You will only ever be able to stay out of work for 6 months, then your employer is able to release your job.
I hope that simplified an overly complicated process!! Having a baby is wonderful, but the financial aspect of it can be bitterly overwhelming.
