| 10 min read Financial Assistance
For many, overcoming the hardships of unpaid maternity leave in the United States is a big challenge. Despite decades of advocacy and 82% of Americans voicing their support for some form of paid parental leave, the US remains one of only six countries in the world without a national paid leave program. When it comes to maternity leave specifically, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has revealed that the United States is the only developed country in the world that provides no guarantee of paid time off for new moms.
While the current situation for mothers and pregnant people can seem dire, it’s important to remember that you’re never alone. Thanks to government assistance programs available in some states and modern crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe, finding support to help you through unpaid maternity leave has never been more achievable.
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Why new moms seek financial help during maternity leave
There is no nationwide scheme which provides paid parental leave in America, and even unpaid leave can be difficult to access for many. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 is a federal US law which entitles workers to a maximum of 12 weeks’ unpaid time off for maternity leave and other family or medical reasons. However, the eligibility criteria to qualify for leave under the FMLA is strict, and does not apply to a great deal of today’s employees.
Recent research estimates that only 56% of American workers can receive unpaid leave from the FMLA. Those who work fewer than 1,250 hours per year or work for a company with fewer than 50 employees do not qualify for the program—leaving almost half of American mothers without any entitlement to even unpaid maternity leave.
When it comes to the state level, however, the outlook is slightly more optimistic. A total of 23 states and the District of Columbia currently offer some form of paid maternity leave program. These state schemes range from mandatory to voluntary, and involve a mix of social and private insurance options.
If you want to know more about the paid parental leave program in your area, the Bipartisan Policy Centre (BPC) has compiled an in-depth table of paid family leave programs by state.
How to survive unpaid maternity leave
With limited options at the state or federal level, it’s often up to expectant moms to find maternity leave help for themselves. Some may be able to seek help from family or rely on their partner’s salary during a period of unpaid leave, but this is far from the reality for many.
From creating a solid plan to availing of financial assistance in your state and using modern fundraising solutions like crowdfunding—here are our best solutions for navigating the difficulties of unpaid maternity leave in America.
1. Plan ahead
Just like anything else in life, creating a solid plan will go a long way in ensuring that your unpaid maternity leave goes by as smoothly as possible. There are many hidden costs and unexpected issues that can come about during a pregnancy, so being as thorough as possible in your planning is vital. Once you’ve figured out how much maternity leave you’re entitled to and when you want to take it, making concrete plans becomes a lot easier.
Start by creating a list of all the costs you’re going to encounter throughout your pregnancy. Try to be as detailed as possible, accounting for everything from diapers, clothes and baby food to medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses. Baby formula is an important added cost to consider if you won’t be breastfeeding your child for medical or personal reasons. When it comes to giving birth, remember that procedures like c-sections and episiotomies may be needed on the day and result in added expenses.
2. Create a baby registry
We all know that the cost of having and raising a baby is incredibly high, which is why it’s become a valued tradition for friends and family to lend a hand. Creating a baby registry enables expectant parents to claim back some childbirth and baby-raising costs by requesting specific items to be gifted by family and friends. Whether it’s essentials for your nursery, feeding and diapering products or travel equipment—creating a comprehensive baby registry is a useful way to start ticking some expenses off your list.
If you don’t have friends and family who are in a position to help or simply need some additional support with buying baby essentials, try looking for affordable items on websites like OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. Just make sure to meet anonymous sellers in secure public locations like police station parking lots, and always bring a friend along with you. If you’re still struggling to find affordable baby gear, try reaching out to local charity stores and non-profit organizations who may be willing to help.
3. Look into disability insurance
While you may not be eligible to receive paid maternity leave directly from your employer, certain insurance policies may be able to reimburse a proportion of your lost income. One possibility is to consider taking out a short-term disability policy. Short-term disability insurance will pay a percentage of your salary during a multi-week period.
That’s right: giving birth counts as a short-term disability to most insurance companies. Just make sure not to buy insurance once you are already pregnant, as pregnancy is considered to be a pre-existing condition.
4. Negotiate for paid maternity leave with your employer
Another way to seek financial help for maternity leave is by negotiating with your employer for some form of support. Even negotiating for a few extra days of sick leave can make a big difference, especially if you’ve already exhausted all other opportunities. Read over your employment contract to ensure that you fully understand your company’s maternity leave policy, and contact your HR department if you need clarification in any key areas.
You’ll need to do some calculations to gauge the financial impact of your absence on the company, as this will ensure that your requests are reasonable and your overall proposal has the best chance of being approved. Look into non-financial benefits that would have a positive impact on you and your family, like reduced hours, flexible working or remote working.
5. Start crowdfunding for support
Online fundraising has become an increasingly popular choice for those struggling with unpaid parental leave or seeking maternity leave help. If you’re raising money because your employer doesn’t have a paid maternity leave policy, creating a fundraiser and sharing your personal story in an authentic way can be incredibly impactful. Asking for help can be tough, but GoFundMe enables thousands of people to find assistance with bills and medical expenses every single day.
Whether you’re looking for a little bit of help to cover minor costs or you’re in need of emergency financial assistance, setting up a GoFundMe page allows you to quickly and securely find assistance from donors across the world. All you need to do is create a page, write a compelling campaign story and share your fundraiser on social media to get the word out.
Ready to receive financial help for a period of unpaid maternity leave? Check out our detailed guide on how GoFundMe works to give your fundraiser the best possible start. You can also consider asking a close friend or family member to start the fundraiser on your behalf.
6. Seek help from charities and nonprofits
If you have exhausted every avenue and still feel like unpaid maternity leave will be a financial struggle, start researching some local charities and nonprofit organizations that might be of assistance. Help a Mother Out, for example, helps new and expectant mothers by providing clean diapers in a variety of locations throughout the greater Bay Area. Every Mother Counts strives to combat the United States’ maternal health crisis by advocating for and expanding access to quality, comprehensive and culturally-appropriate maternal care.
Other considerations for your maternity leave budget
While the resources listed above can go a long way in providing financial help for maternity leave, there are always some extra actions that you can take to make the process as stress-free as it should be.
- If your job offers paid time off, try to maximize your vacation days before the baby arrives. That way, you can count on at least a few paid days if your employer doesn’t offer paid maternity leave.
- Look into part-time work during your pregnancy. Just keep in mind that as you get closer to your due date, some types of physical labor may be medically inadvisable.
- Rearrange your paycheck deductions. If you are contributing the max amount to your 401(k) for example, you may want to temporarily freeze this in order to receive a more substantial wage.
- Find a support group. Friends with little ones who have outgrown their baby supplies might be able to offer second hand cribs or car seats, cutting down on costs.
Look out for hidden costs
As you continue to seek financial help for unpaid maternity leave, keep in mind that you’re likely to encounter some hidden costs that you might not be aware of. If you plan on using your company’s short-term disability policy to help with maternity expenses, for example, keep in mind that your employer may end up passing the bill to you. Similarly, don’t forget to account for any lost income and pension contributions that you might experience while on unpaid maternity leave.
As well as leading to lower levels of financial stress for expectant parents, paid maternity leave programs also produce a positive impact on the lives of babies, who need their highest level of care during the first few crucial weeks of life. Following California’s historic introduction of its paid family leave policy, researchers discovered a 12% reduction in postneonatal mortality as a result.
Paid maternity programs are also better for new moms, who have been proven to be significantly more likely to return to the workforce after receiving payment while having a child.
Start your unpaid maternity leave fundraiser today
The benefits of paid maternity leave are supported by evidence and hard to argue against, but federal US policy still has a lot of catching up to do. In the meantime, new mothers and parents will have to continue finding creative ways to get financial support for maternity leave. Crowdfunding to raise money for a period of unpaid maternity leave is a free, quick and effective way to alleviate costs through the power of generosity.
Start your own fundraiser today, and see how friends, family and anonymous donors from across the world can help you on your crowdfunding journey.
For additional information around childcare funding and to find answers to all your fundraising questions, read our guides to The Cost of Raising a Child, Finding Financial Help for Single Parents, and How to Raise Money for a Family in Need.
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