What this planner does
The Maternity Leave Financial Planner helps expecting parents understand exactly how much income they will receive during their leave. By combining all available income sources — employer-provided paid leave, short-term disability insurance, accrued PTO, and state paid family leave programs — it calculates your total income and income replacement rate for the full duration of your leave.
This tool gives you a clear picture of your financial situation before your baby arrives, so you can plan savings, adjust spending, or negotiate additional leave with your employer.
Understanding maternity leave income sources
Most parents piece together income from several sources during leave:
**Employer-paid leave:** Some employers offer fully paid maternity leave as a benefit, ranging from a few days to several months. This is the most straightforward income source since it pays your full salary.
**Short-term disability (STD) insurance:** Many employers offer short-term disability coverage that pays a percentage of your salary (commonly 60–70%) for a set number of weeks after childbirth. The benefit period typically covers 6 weeks for a vaginal delivery or 8 weeks for a cesarean section, but policy terms vary. Check your specific policy for your benefit percentage and duration.
**PTO and vacation days:** Accrued paid time off can be used to bridge gaps between paid leave and unpaid periods. Some employers require you to exhaust PTO before using unpaid FMLA leave.
**State paid family leave programs:** A growing number of states offer paid family leave programs that are funded through payroll contributions. These programs typically pay 60–90% of wages for 6–16 weeks and may run concurrently with or after employer-provided leave.
**Unpaid FMLA leave:** The federal Family and Medical Leave Act guarantees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Many parents exhaust all paid options before using the unpaid FMLA weeks.
How FMLA works
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for qualifying events, including the birth of a child.
Key points about FMLA:
- Your job is protected during FMLA leave. Your employer must restore you to your same or equivalent position when you return. - FMLA does not require your employer to pay you. Income during FMLA depends on other benefits you have. - To be eligible, you must have worked for your employer for at least 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours in the past year, and work at a location with 50 or more employees within 75 miles. - FMLA runs concurrently with other paid leave. If your employer offers paid leave, it typically counts against your 12-week FMLA entitlement. - Both parents are eligible for FMLA leave for the birth of a child.
State paid family leave programs
As of 2025, the following states and jurisdictions have paid family leave programs:
- **California:** Up to 8 weeks at 60–70% of wages - **Colorado:** Up to 12 weeks at up to 90% of wages - **Connecticut:** Up to 12 weeks at up to 95% of wages - **District of Columbia:** Up to 12 weeks at up to 90% of wages - **Hawaii:** Up to 26 weeks of temporary disability at 58% of wages - **Maryland:** Up to 12 weeks at up to 90% of wages - **Massachusetts:** Up to 12 weeks at up to 80% of wages - **New Jersey:** Up to 12 weeks at up to 85% of wages - **New York:** Up to 12 weeks at 67% of the statewide average weekly wage - **Oregon:** Up to 12 weeks at up to 100% of minimum wage - **Rhode Island:** Up to 6 weeks at 60% of wages - **Washington:** Up to 12 weeks at 60–90% of wages
Delaware, Maine, and Minnesota have programs launching in 2026. If your state is listed, you may be eligible to receive state benefits in addition to any employer benefits — significantly boosting your income replacement rate.
How to plan financially for leave
Once you know your income replacement rate, you can build a practical financial plan:
1. **Calculate your income gap.** Subtract your projected leave income from your normal monthly expenses. This is the shortfall you need to cover with savings.
2. **Build a leave fund.** Aim to save 1–3 months of expenses before your due date. Even modest savings can eliminate financial stress during unpaid weeks.
3. **Check your STD enrollment window.** Short-term disability benefits often cannot be added after pregnancy is confirmed. Verify your enrollment status and open enrollment dates early.
4. **Understand your employer's policy.** Review your employee handbook or speak with HR. Some employers require you to use PTO concurrently with paid leave; others let you stack them.
5. **Apply for state benefits.** If you live in a state with a paid family leave program, file your claim as soon as you are eligible. Delays in filing can result in missed payments.
6. **Negotiate if possible.** Many employers are open to negotiating additional unpaid leave beyond FMLA, especially if you have a strong tenure and performance history.
FAQs
Q: Does FMLA require my employer to pay me during leave? A: No. FMLA only guarantees job protection for up to 12 weeks of leave. Whether you receive income during that time depends on your employer's paid leave policy, short-term disability insurance, PTO balance, and any applicable state paid family leave program.
Q: Can I use PTO and short-term disability at the same time? A: This depends on your employer's policy. Some employers prohibit using PTO concurrently with STD benefits; others allow it to top up your pay to 100%. Check your employee handbook or ask HR directly.
Q: When does short-term disability coverage start for maternity leave? A: Most STD policies have an elimination period (typically 1–7 days) before benefits begin. For maternity leave, benefits usually start on the delivery date or the day after. Cesarean deliveries may qualify for a longer benefit period than vaginal deliveries.
Q: What if I live in a state without a paid family leave program? A: Your income during leave will depend entirely on your employer's paid leave policy, your STD coverage, and your PTO balance. Federal FMLA only protects your job — it does not provide pay. Building personal savings before your leave is especially important in states without state programs.
Q: Can my partner also take FMLA leave? A: Yes. Both parents are eligible for up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave for the birth of a child, provided each meets the eligibility requirements. Partners can take leave simultaneously or at different times within the first year after the birth.
Q: Does paid leave from my employer count against my FMLA entitlement? A: Typically yes. Employer-provided paid maternity leave generally runs concurrently with FMLA leave, not in addition to it. This means you may not get 12 additional weeks of unpaid FMLA leave on top of employer paid leave.
Q: Can I work part-time during leave? A: FMLA allows for intermittent or reduced-schedule leave in some circumstances. However, working while receiving short-term disability benefits may affect your benefit eligibility. Check with your employer and insurer before making any arrangements.
How to use this planner
1. Enter your annual salary in the salary field. 2. Select how often you are paid (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly). 3. Use the slider to set your total planned leave duration in weeks. 4. Enter the number of fully paid weeks your employer provides. 5. Enter the number of weeks your short-term disability policy covers, then set the pay rate percentage. 6. Enter how many PTO or vacation days you plan to use during leave. 7. Select your state to see relevant paid family leave program information. 8. Click "Calculate Leave Income" to see your total income, breakdown by source, unpaid weeks, and income replacement rate.
Explore Similar Tools
Explore more tools like this one:
- Financial Stability Planner — AI-powered analysis to define what financially stable... - Divorce Financial Impact Simulator — Model how splitting assets, alimony, child support,... - Emergency Fund Target and Timeline Planner — Calculate your ideal emergency fund size and create a... - What Is My Financial Complexity Level? — AI-powered tool that rates how hard your finances are to... - Financial Security Calculator — AI-powered analysis to determine how much money you need...