What Every Expecting Mom Needs to Know About Short-Term Disability for Parental Leave

If short-term disability insurance and I were in a relationship, I’d definitely be checking “it’s complicated” on my Facebook profile.

As one of the only four ways new moms can get paid during parental leave, short-term disability (STD) is an amazing benefit to have access to. In most cases, it provides 40% to 80% wage replacement for at least six weeks. In many cases, STD can cover even more time if you experience postpartum complications—from a C-section incision infection to postpartum depression to carpal tunnel.

But as with most insurance policies, STD is not all rainbows and butterflies. There are forms to fill out, red tape to navigate, and claim admins that don’t call you back. I wouldn’t blame a mom with a newborn for throwing up her hands and saying, “Forget it.”

That’s why understanding your policy before you give birth is key. Knowing when to push back, how to file a claim correctly, and what you're entitled to can make a major difference in how much paid time off you actually get.

Here are 8 of the most important questions you need answers to when it comes to using short-term disability for parental leave:

1. Are you eligible?
   Check in with your HR or insurance provider to make sure you’re covered. If not, find out if you can still enroll or if you have any options.

2. How many weeks are you covered for?
   Most plans offer 6 weeks for a vaginal delivery and 8 for a C-section, but this can vary. 

3. How much will you get paid?
   STD  usually provides between 40% and 100% of your income. Find out exactly what your policy offers. 

4. Does your plan have a cap?
   Many policies have a weekly or monthly max, so even if your policy offers 60, 80 or 100% of your salary you may hit the max well before that.
   
   And then, there’s the logistics side of things. 
   

5. How do you file a claim?
   Find out what paperwork is required and when you can submit it. Get this squared away before your baby arrives. The last thing you want is to be calling HR from your hospital bed like Laura did!

6. Is there a waiting period?
   Most policies don’t kick in right away, so check how long it’ll take before your first payment shows up. A one-week waiting period is most common, but we’ve seen two- and even four-week waiting periods. 

7. How long can you receive benefits?
   It’s usually 6 or 8 weeks depending on your delivery type—but if you have postpartum complications, you might qualify for a disability extension up to 12, 18 or 20 weeks or more and continue to get paid, as long as you have a certification from your doctor.

8. What about taxes?
   Make sure you talk to a tax advisor, but as a general guideline: if your employer pays the STD premium, your benefits are probably taxable. If you pay your monthly premium, they’re usually not. And if you’re splitting between you and your employer, you only have to pay a portion of it. 

Feeling overwhelmed? You don’t have to figure this out alone.

At Hello, Bundle, we help expecting parents make the most of their parental leave, including navigating short-term disability policies. Whether you need help understanding what policies you qualify for, creating your leave timeline, or making sure you don’t miss out on a single paid day, we've got you.

You don’t need to be a parental leave expert—that’s what we’re here for. And we’ll even read all the fine print in your company’s handbook so you don’t have to (unless you really want to—but we don’t recommend it!).

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Hello, Bundle helps new and expecting parents navigate parental leave so they can take the maximum amount of paid parental leave possible when they welcome a child into their family. We provide daily parental leave tips and tricks on TikTok and Instagram, and offer personalized support across the U.S. through consulting calls, custom parental leave calendars, and PDF parental leave guides. Get support in your state here.