How do i file for disibality?

Question

I'm 35 weeks pregnant with my first and I work full time. I plan on taking the 6 weeks paid and coming back to work after the baby is born. I'm not sure what legal documents I need to file/fill out. I called my insurance co and they couldn't give me details. They said i would have to contact my HR dept. Well I'm the first pregnancy here at work and no one really knows what they're doing. The head HR girl is waiting for our boss to come back from vac to see about details. They are a great co to work for but they are majorly lagging it. I can go into labor at any moment and then what. I need to make sure i have income coming in. Please help with any advice and or steps i need to take in order to get this done asap. Thanks =)

Answer 1

I looked at some of your previous questions and I am assuming you live in CA. It is one of the states that has disability on it's own. Here is a link to the page with info and an on-line application:

http://www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/DI_Form...

You will have to complete your part of the application. There is also a part of the application that the doctor MUST complete once he determines you are disabled. This part cannot be done ahead of time. Fill out your portion and  put postage on it. Put it with your hospital bag and if you go into the hospital, make sure you give it to your doctor to complete and send in. (Hospitals also have these forms if you ask for them.)

Generally, it takes 7-10 days after the form is completed for disability payments to be received.

Of course, if your employer pays anything toward your wages while on disability, you will still have to find out what you must do to receive those.

Answer 2

Are you disabled?  Many disability policies don't cover pregnancy, as it's not really a disability.  Many only cover, if something goes wrong, and you're put on bed rest.  Most, won't cover you for a maternity leave, unless you've had it a full year before getting pregnant.

Just because you have a baby, doesn't mean you get paid time off.  You really do have to talk to your HR department.  But the head HR girl should be able to call the company and get details.  My bet, is that you aren't going to get paid time off for this, and she doesn't want to tell you that, so that's why she's waiting for the boss.