| Collecting state maternity leave benefits is a hit or miss | | | | The New York state disability program replaces up to |
| proposition. Many women assume that the federal or | | | | fifty percent of income, and caps out at $170 per |
| state government will automatically provide at least | | | | week. The $170 per week cap represents fifty |
| some level of maternity leave pay when they deliver | | | | percent income replacement for a woman earning |
| their baby. In the U.S. government sponsored maternity | | | | $17,680 annually. |
| leave benefits are the exception rather than the rule. | | | | For a state with very high incomes, the NY level of |
| There is no federal government program, and only five | | | | income replacement is nominal. A couple might be able |
| states have mandated short term disability programs in | | | | to get by as long as everyone is healthy, and mom |
| place. And some of those programs fall woefully short. | | | | can return to work right away. But what will happen if |
| Women working in one of the forty five states with no | | | | mom needs to leave work before her delivery, or |
| mandated state programs have to plan ahead, and | | | | experiences delivery complications, or has an accident, |
| find the right coverage before getting pregnant. | | | | or get sick? |
| Many European countries mandate a significant level | | | | And what about the women in the forty five states |
| of paid maternity leave benefits. Not so in the United | | | | with no mandated state coverage at all? The same |
| States. There is the Federal Family Medical Leave Act | | | | questions apply as well. If they work for an employer |
| (FMLA), which provides unpaid job leave protection for | | | | who provides paid maternity benefits - great. But this |
| women during maternity leave. But of course "unpaid" | | | | represents a very small minority. Some may be lucky |
| means there is no income replacement whatsoever. | | | | enough to work where there is a company subsidized |
| Five states have state mandated short term disability | | | | group short term disability program that will protect |
| insurance which pays a benefit for a normal maternity | | | | them while they work for that particular employer. |
| leave: California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and | | | | Others may be lucky enough to have a voluntary |
| Rhode Island. That leaves forty five states with no | | | | short term disability option which they can pay by |
| paid maternity leave coverage at all. | | | | payroll deduction, and take with them if they leave the |
| If you live in one of the states with mandated | | | | employer. |
| coverage consider yourself lucky - up to a point. The | | | | The largest segment has none of these options. |
| state programs provide a minimal amount of coverage, | | | | Fortunately, they can purchase individual short term |
| and it may not suffice for many women. The New | | | | disability that covers pregnancy and maternity leave. |
| York state disability program illustrates this best. New | | | | Provided they purchase a policy before getting |
| York has one of the country's highest cost of living, | | | | pregnant, an individual short term disability insurance |
| and along with that comes the highest per capita | | | | policy will cover their normal labor and delivery - |
| income level. This is especially true in New York City. | | | | creating maternity leave pay. |