North Carolina Term Disability: Maternity Benefits in NC

North Carolina short term disability insurance is an important benefit for growing families. Expenses are often highest when couples are having children. This is not a good time to lose your income, but this is exactly what happens when mom takes her maternity leave.  

• Short Term Disability In NC – protects your income if hurt or sick
• Short Term Disability Pregnancy – create maternity leave pay, and gain security for complications
• North Carolina State Disability  – covers long term disabilities lasting one year or more
• North Carolina Maternity Leave Laws - job protection benefits

North Carolina short term disability insurance can safeguard your paycheck in the event an accident or illness makes it impossible to earn an income at your regular full time job. Many people think about only permanent disabilities: falling off of a horse and being permanently confined to a wheelchair. The reality is most couples have thin financial margins and even minor disruptions cause big problems.

First, you may have far more in debts than assets, and many of your assets are not liquid. Nobody want to sell their home to pay for food. Many couples are living check to check when they are healthy thinking they will repay the debts with future earnings.

Second, seemingly minor physical ailments can cause a disruption in earnings. Women in particular work in professions that require physical activity. Nurses, teachers, beauticians, hair stylists, and many other job roles require you to be on your feet all day. Dental hygienists and office workers need the use of their fingers. Imagine tripping on the sidewalk. Your throw your hands out to break your fall, only to break both wrists. 

For many couples this means a temporary cash squeeze making it hard to pay your mortgage, car payments, etc.  If any of these scenarios describe you, you may want to consider North Carolina short-term disability insurance.

Short term disability insurance in North Carolina can cover as much as sixty six percent of your earnings to a maximum of $5,000 monthly. You can select from of range of elimination periods to match your financial cushion. File a claim with your insurance carrier if the need arises.

Living expenses can be rough for a growing family. Most are just starting out, and not yet at peak earning years, but costs are often highest when couples decide to start having children.  There may be out of pocket costs for infertility treatments along with normal challenges of an expanding family. Cost of living may be higher for those living and working in or near Charlotte, and the research triangle.

If you are comtemplating pregnancy, think about the opportunity to buy a policy that pays benefits for something you influence: your normal pregnancy and healthy infant!  North Carolina short term disability for maternity leave pays a six week benefit for your vaginal delivery, and an eight week benefit for your c-section birth. Your maternity leave benefit may be several multiples of the premium you pay in advance.

25% of pregnancies will experience one or more complications. You may miss weeks or months of work prior to your delivery. Your temporary disability policy may continue to replace a portion of your income during this time and help you protect your family finances.

You may also experience some type of birth injury or postpartum complication that requires more time to heal than expected. Your doctor may ask you to stay away from work in order to properly recover. Your policy may continue to pay benefits during this time.

Coverage must begin before getting pregnant. There is a nine month exclusion for normal delivery. If you are already pregnant and without insurance there are a variety of government sponsored programs that may be able to help.

North Carolina does not have state mandated short term disability insurance for workers in private industry. You will need to purchase a policy for temporary work interruptions.

Teachers and state government workers do have state mandated coverage for off the job accidents and illnesses. Benefit payments last for up to 365 days or one year. The monthly benefit amount equates to fifty percent of income. Cash payments begin immediately after satisfying the elimination period. Only employees working for at least one full year are eligible. Souce: NC Gen Statutes 135-105

North Carolina state disability insurance consists only of Social Security Disability benefits.  Benefits are paid only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability. Your condition must also last or be expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. 

If you are medically unemployed and need help paying bills you should contact the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The Disability Determination unit administers Social Security Disability benefits.

North Carolina does not have state level laws addressing paternal leave. There are several federal laws that protect your rights and provide job protected leave including: Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).