Family and Medical Leave and Short Term Disability: Can I Get Them Both at the Same Time If I Need to Miss Work Due to My Own Medical Condition?
Without question, this is an issue that confuses many employees and human resource personnel. But, the answer is very simple: YES! And you need them both, but for two separate reasons.
Family and Medical Leave Provides Job Security, but no Compensation for Lost Wages
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| Job Security but no $$$ |
Ahhh, but it gets better. If you go out on FMLA because of your own health condition, and your company provides short-term disability benefits, you don’t have to go without pay for 12 weeks because…
Short-Term Disability Insurance Provides Payment for Lost Wages While You Are Out on FMLA Leave
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| $$$ but no Job Security |
End of story – no debate.
How Do I Apply for FMLA Leave and Short Term Disability?
They are two separate applications.
Your request for FMLA leave is decided by your employer. Simply advise as to what your medical condition is, and provide a doctor’s note supporting your leave request (you don't need the note at the time of your initial notification to the employer of your need for leave; you will need it shortly thereafter). Once you have put the company on notice of your need for FMLA leave, your doctor will likely be required to complete and submit to your employer a completed FMLA Certification form.
Your request for STD is decided by the company’s disability insurance carrier. Tell the company’s HR Department that you want to also apply for STD benefits, and they or the insurance company will send you forms to get you started. Usually, the same medical information you provide from your doctor to support your FMLA claim will be used to substantiate your claim for STD benefits as well. That's pushing the Easy Button!
Questions about how FMLA, ADA, STD, Long-Term Disability and Workers' Compnsation fit together? Click Here.
John
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36 comments:
As of August 2011 i went on STD and not FML at all. Ive been having seizures and sleep apnea. The doc has me out until March 2012.My STD runs out in Feb 2012. Can i then use FML? I recieved a letter from my company telling me they filled my position and the will extend me FML until Aug 2012 and if i return they will try to find me a position. If i can get back before my short term disability runs out don't they have to give me my position back?
Sorry, I do not provide specific advice on specific questions on this Blog because the law is very fact specific....
What if I go on FMLA leave b/c I need to care for my spouse, do I still qualify to receive Short-Term Disability Benefits?
If a person does not have short term disability through their employer is there a program through the state or fed government that might also cover them?
If you go out on leave to care for a spouse, you cannot get STD benefits. STD insurance only covers an employee who has a condition requiring absence from work.
I am unaware of any type of government-sponsored short term disability insurance program in Pennsylvania. Of course, the Social security Administration provides benefits for long-term illnesses or conditions.
I have applied for short term disability due to suffering from a back injury that was unrelated to my job. I am currently on FMLA. Can I switch doctors before I'm approved for the STD or after I'm approved without it affecting my STD benifits?
I am currently on FMLA from a back injury sustained from something not related to my job. I have applied for STD and am waiting on my doctor to fill out the papers. Can I switch doctors either before or after I'm approved for STD without it affecting my STD or do I have to keep the same doctor?
I'm going back to work after 10 weeks off on FMLA/Short Term Disability. How long to I have to work (I had hoped to be retired by now) so that I don't owe anything back to the company or insurance company?
I was out on sickleave, and got paid , I do have fmla , I was out @ 45 days on sickleave.my company took my unpaid fmla hours away from me, when I was on sickleave , can they do this ,take fmla unpaid when I was getting paid??? If. They can't what can I do??? Because they did .
Can work take my unpaid fmla time , when I am out on paid sickleave , they are saying they can take and use both at same time. They have done this to many where I work , fmla for stress, sickleave for maternity leave, and many other situations where fmla reason was not why they were on sickleave?????
June 6,2012
Can I get fired while i'm on FMLA?
Can my job hire someone to take me place while i'm out on FMLA
Dear Anon:
You can be fired even if you are out on FMLA under one of the following scenarios (there may be others, but these are the most common): 1) the company was going to fire you before you went out on FMLA (obviously a question of proof); 2) the company discovered for the first time while you were out on FMLA something bad that you had done that justified your termination (proof, again); or, 3) the company did a reduction in force or mass layoff that included you while you were out on FMLA.
Hope this helps.
John A. Gallagher
If you have short term disability can it be taken away when you are 7 month pregnant and have had it for several years?
Thanks for all the tips. This info will be really helpful in my search.
Hello,
Am I able to leave the state while on STD if my living arrangements have changed in a negative way? I am out for stress related issues and may not have a choice for a brief period of time.
Hi, I am on STD and FMLA leave. My specialist says my FMLA exhausts on the 24th of August and right now my dr has me returning the 27th which the work specialist said that is fine. He finally, after many anxious emails, told me that even if my FMLA exhaust as long as I don't go into LTD I will be fine. They administratively terminate those on LTD but pay their percentage of pay which is 50%. I love my job and don't want to lose it. I am just not tell right now.
I have been trying to report to my supv who has not emailed me back. My specialist has, but supv had not after 3 emails and one VM. We spoke on her cell phone and she prayed with me and everything. Then she called me back an hour or so later on the work phone on speaker phone and kept telling me that I should not be inquiring about a supervisors whereabouts and such. She said this 6-7 times. I apologized 6-7 times. I was also crying bc I was so upset bc our convo went so well before then on her work recorded line she changed her demeanor and undermined me. Then said she needed to have this conversation if/when it comes back up again adn this place will continue to run without me. And because I was caught off guard, I was crying. She asked me if I had taken my medicine. What are your thoughts or suggestions and can I get fired for this? I was getting better and hoped to return on the 27th of Aug now because of the conversation with her I have now relapsed. What can you tell me about this? Thanks!
Anonymous: no matter what the work specialist said, if you do not return from FMLA leave within 12 weeks, you lose your federally protected right to job reinstatement. If you want guaranteed reinstatement, get a new doctor's note returning you on 24th. In order to address the balance of your issues, we would need to discuss in detail.
Anonymous: I don't see why you cannot leave the state while on STD. Just have your mail forwarded.
Anonymous: one cannot be on STD for several years, so I do not fully understand your inquiry. I am not sure where the pregnancy fits in...you need to talk to an attorney to explain further and get answers. See my Post on pregnancy discrimination.
Can one use std twice in one year for surgeries?
I've been out on STD due to stress related illness. I don't want to return to my present employer because of the stressful environment. My question is "can I accept employment with another company while on STD?"
Just a note there are currently four employees out on STD and or FMLA for various health related problems. Is it possible that there is a potential problem at work that may be causing all of these conditions?
Just wondering if you can tell me if i qualify for STD on intermittent FMLA. i only need to take off when i have episodes not for a continuous period of time. thank you
niesorrAI'm unemployed and due to medical reasons I cant work at this time. Can I get short term medical disability until I have further work up done by MD's? Or do I have to have a job before I can do this? I live in Califronia. Kathy
I'm unemployed and due to medical reasons I can't work at this time, can I get short term disability until I have further work up done by MD's? Or do I have to have a job before I can do this? Kathy
Anonymous 2~~
Does my employer have to give me my full time shift and hours back when i return from short term disability i was under my 90 day's ?
Does my employer have to give me my full time shift and hours back when i return from short term disability i was under my 90 day's ?
Does my employer have to give me my full time shift and hours back when i return from short term disability i was under my 90 day's ?
Is there a law which states how long the employer has to provide you with short term disability paperwork after you give your supervisor a DR note saying you have to out due to medical reasons? i'm going on 2 weeks still waiting on paperwork for my DR to fill out....
Anonymous said...
Is there a law which states how long the employer has to provide you with short term disability paperwork after you give your supervisor a DR note saying you have to out due to medical reasons? i'm going on 2 weeks still waiting on paperwork for my DR to fill out....
ANSWER: No. Best thing to do is follow up, in writing (i.e. e-mail), and be persistent (without being obnoxious).
Anonymous said...
Does my employer have to give me my full time shift and hours back when i return from short term disability i was under my 90 day's ?
ANSWER: Only if you were out on FMLA Leave. Otherwise, no.
Kathy Crawford said...
I'm unemployed and due to medical reasons I can't work at this time, can I get short term disability until I have further work up done by MD's? Or do I have to have a job before I can do this? Kathy
ANSWER: There is no such thing as government provided short-term disability. There is "long-term disability" available through Social Security. So, if you are unemployed, there is no where for you to go and get STD benefits.
Ok I have a question I have been with the same company for 12yrs and I know the company isn't doing to well at the moment and I'm pregnant and going to take my fmla to be off for 8 weeks. There has been things said that they will not take me back afterwards but no dm or regional has said this to me. They are just planning on not inviting me back. Is this even allowed?
"Your request for FMLA leave is decided by your employer".
Decided by your employer and not your doctor who knows/has your medical history? That sounds completely ridiculous. So if my doctor agrees I need to be off and I present that to my employer, they can say no?
I was on FMLA for 2 weeks in Feb. Im back at work but my check was nothing can I still file for STD?
I had foot surgery back in February 2012 due to an infection I had to stay off work one month past my FMLA return date. My company did not ask for an updated FMLA but now a year later they are wanting to penalize me for the additional leave which I was under a the surgeon care. Is this legal?
Anonymous:
If your employer penalizes you for taking FMLA leave, it has violated FMLA. You should seek counsel to discuss.
Regards,
John A. Gallagher
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