Maternity Time Off & Resources
After a Pinellas County employee gives birth, time is needed for recuperating, bonding with the baby, looking for the right daycare, and preparing to return to work. There are two options for leave time: Short Term Disability (STD) which is partially paid and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) which is unpaid. If you are eligible for FMLA, it must be used concurrently with STD.
Short Term Disability replaces a percentage of your income for a maximum of 6 to 8 weeks. FMLA provides a guarantee of job security and continuation of employee benefits during the approved leave for a maximum of 12 weeks per rolling 12-month look-back period. Note that the total leave is 12 weeks since the Short Term Disability time is deducted from the FMLA time.
Side-by-Side Summary
Short Term Disability (STD)
- Time Available: Partially paid leave up to 6 to 8 weeks.
- Pay: If approved by UnitedHealthcare, you will be paid up to 66 2/3% of your base pay rate (e.g. if you earn $15/hour, you receive $10/hour while on STD). To get a full paycheck, you need to supplement 1/3 of your time not worked with annual leave hours (e.g. to be fully paid for an 8-hour day, you supplement 2.67 hours of annual leave).
- Medical benefits: Your premium contributions will be deducted from your disability pay, as usual. You do not need to make these payments, as required during FMLA.
- Eligibility: Employees working at least 20 hours per week are eligible on the first day of the month after 30 days of service.
- For details, see Short Term Disability.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Time Available: Unpaid leave up to 12 weeks (continuous or intermittent).
- Pay: The leave time is unpaid. To receive a paycheck, use your leave time (annual, personal, floating holidays, or comp time).
- Medical benefits: To continue coverage, you must pay the employee portion of your premiums as the automatic deductions stop during FMLA.
- Eligibility: You must be employed for at least 12 months and work at least 1,250 hours prior to your leave.
- Calculation: FMLA leave is calculated on a 12-month rolling look-back period (not a calendar year).
- For details, see FMLA.
FAQs
How do I request Short Term Disability and FMLA?
At least 2 to 3 months ahead of your anticipated due date, advise your supervisor of your due date and call UnitedHealthcare at (866) 556-8298 to initiate a leave request for Short Term Disability and FMLA.
Who is eligible for Short Term Disability?
Employees (excluding temporary employees) working at least 20 hours per week are eligible on the first day of the month after 30 days of service for Short Term Disability.
How much Short Term Disability will I receive?
Most doctors will prescribe 6 weeks of Short Term Disability for a regular birth, and 8 weeks for a C-section. If you have been with Pinellas County for less than one year, you are entitled to a maximum of 6 weeks. If you have more than one year of service, you are eligible for 6 to 8 weeks unless your doctor certifies a longer recovery period for the mother.
Classified employees are subject to a one week waiting period before paid benefits begin. Your maximum benefit period may be reduced by the benefit waiting period. See the Short Term Disability Policy for more information.
Does Short Term Disability count toward my annual Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitlement?
Yes. If you are eligible and your absence qualifies for FMLA, then your 6-to-8 week Short Term Disability absence will be deducted from your 12-week FMLA entitlement.
Who is eligible for FMLA?
To be eligible for FMLA, you must have been employed with Pinellas County for at least one year (consecutive or non-consecutive) and have worked 1,250 hours prior to the commencement of your leave. If you do not meet these requirements, then you are not eligible for FMLA while you are out on leave. You are still entitled to receive Short Term Disability. Please work with your supervisor to receive approval on your leave.
How much FMLA am I entitled to?
A mother who gives birth is entitled to 6 weeks of pregnancy leave and another 6 weeks of bonding leave (to bond with the child) under FMLA for a total of 12 weeks. UnitedHealthcare will not automatically grant the 6 weeks of bonding time; it must be specifically requested by the employee.
What happens if I do not meet the FMLA eligibility requirements?
If you do not meet the requirements, then you are not eligible for FMLA while you are out on leave. You are still entitled to receive Short Term Disability. Please work with your supervisor to receive approval on your leave.
How soon will I receive the approval notices?
UnitedHealthcare will typically approve FMLA as soon as they receive and review the physician’s paperwork. They will not approve Short Term Disability until they know the baby has been born. It is the employee’s responsibility to notify UnitedHealthcare of their last day worked and the baby’s actual birth date.
What happens if my due date changes?
Notify UnitedHealthcare and your supervisor if you need to go out on leave earlier or later than anticipated.
What happens if I choose not to return to work after giving birth?
We ask that you let your supervisor know as soon as possible of your decision not to return to work. Please contact Employee Benefits at (727) 464-3367, option 1 to discuss your medical benefits premiums.
What about adoption or foster care?
FMLA benefits are available for bonding or placement of a child for adoption or foster care. Short Term Disability is not available for adoption or foster care.
What about benefits for a father?
FMLA benefits are available to fathers as well as mothers for birth, adoption, or foster care. If both parents work for Pinellas County and are married, they share a total of 12 weeks of bonding leave. Each parent can take 6 weeks, or they can split the time unevenly (for example, parent #1 can take 4 weeks and parent #2 can take 8 weeks), provided they have that much FMLA time available.
If both the parents both work for Pinellas County and are not married, they are each eligible for 12 weeks of FMLA time.
Mothers are also eligible for up to an additional 6 weeks of pregnancy leave under FMLA.
What maternity resources are available?
Cigna offers a maternity support program in which you will work with a dedicated maternity specialist throughout your pregnancy. You can earn Wellness Incentive Program rewards for enrolling. To enroll, call Cigna at (800) 862-3557, option 1 to speak with a nurse. For the greatest benefit to you and your baby, it is best to enroll in the first trimester of your pregnancy, although enrollment is open during the second trimester.
What if I have additional questions?
Please contact the Benefits team at (727) 464-3367, option 1 or by email at employee.benefits@pinellas.gov.
Contact
Call UnitedHealthcare (UHC) toll-free at (866) 556-8298 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday, to start the claims process.
7/5/24