Unfortunately, the United States does not require paid maternity benefits for mothers or fathers.

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This makes surviving financially much more difficult for parents, as costs often rise when a new family member joins the household.

You have to know where to look, prepare in advance, and sometimes it just comes down to luck. State and federal government programs do provide limited forms of financial assistance to a small subset of families during maternity leave. Your ability to qualify depends on the state where you work, the size of your employer, and the number of hours you work.

Options for direct financial assistance are extremely limited. Only five states provide benefits for temporary disabilities while only six permit workers to collect unemployment if they voluntarily quit work due to their own medical condition. This means 39 states do not provide any form of monetary help!

This happens frequently when mom must stop working prior to delivery because of medical complications, or when her baby delivers early and requires extended care in the NICU. Comfortably repay the note by spreading payments over time once you return to work.

State temporary disability programs provide the primary means of financial aid during maternity leave for women lucky enough to work in one of the five states with a mandated program:. The state government programs replace a portion of income during the time that mom is unable to work while she recovers from her labor and delivery. The programs may also provide income support if mom needs to stop working prior to delivery because of pregnancy complications. File a state disability claim if you work one of the five states.

Families working in one of the forty-five states without a program will have a more difficult time coping financially. Collecting unemployment is an option that may provide financial help during maternity leave for certain families. Twenty-two states accepted these incentives. Each defines compelling family reasons differently. File to collect unemployment compensation if you work in one of these six states and you voluntarily left your job.

If you must care for a sick infant at home, more states allow you to collect. Federal government laws do not provide any direct form of financial help during maternity leave.

The Family Medical Leave Act FMLA provides for job protection rights and continued access to health insurance benefits for qualifying employers and employees. However, the protected time away is unpaid. Currently, only three states provide direct financial assistance during maternity leave:.

Each of these states provides paid family leave. Mothers can utilize the benefit to spend time bonding with her baby after she recovers from her labor and delivery. Fathers can take advantage to bond with his newborn baby, or care for his sick spouse before and after delivery.

In order to gain the maximum level of support, your financial planning needs to begin well before your maternity leave. One of the best ways to cope financially is to take advantage of common services associated with your life stage.

The Affordable Care Act allows couples to purchase or change policy elections while already pregnant.

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New policies must cover preexisting conditions with no waiting period. You may be eligible for premium and cost-sharing subsidies based upon your income. However, you can only make changes during an annual open enrollment period. Plan your changes accordingly. Begin by requesting an online quote. You may lose your existing health insurance during maternity leave.

Your Maternity Leave Budget: How to Save Up for Your Time Off

The loss of health insurance is a qualifying life event, which means you can make plan changes outside of open enrollment. Delivering a baby is an expensive medical event. Prepare by upgrading your coverage in advance.

Choose a policy with a healthy network, and make certain the closest level four NICU is in-network. Women in all fifty states can take advantage of this self-help private program. The policy pays a six-week benefit for vaginal delivery and an eight-week benefit for C-section birth. Many women miss this opportunity by waiting until after conception.

If you want to be financially prepared when you miss six to eight weeks of work, you must act before becoming pregnant. Policies contain a nine-month exclusion for normal childbirth. Pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare all generate significant amounts of qualifying expenses. Many couples overlook the impact of this savings option; you avoid three types of taxes: Once again, you must utilize financial planning to maximize the impact.

Becoming pregnant is not a qualifying event, but having a baby is. Make changes to your elections after giving birth, especially if you expect to utilize day care services for your newborn when you return to work.

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