Maternity Benefits Workshop Information

I am pregnant. What do I need to do about taking time off?

1. If you have at least one year of service with UNC Health Care and have worked at least 1040 hours then you should apply for Family Medical Leave.
2. Review your benefits.
   • Will you add your newborn to your health insurance? If yes, then please click here for State Health Change Form. 
   • Will you add your newborn to your other benefits?
   • Changes should be made within 30 days of the baby’s birth.
3. Determine if you have enough leave (PTO/Long Term Sick Leave Bank or Sick/Vacation). 
   • If you have enough leave to cover your absence then your benefit deductions will continue to come out of your paycheck.
   • If you will not have enough leave to cover your absence then you have two choices—1) continue the benefits by writing checks to each benefit vendor or 2) cancel the benefits while you are on leave without pay then reinstate them when you return to work.
   • The Benefits Office will send you a letter about how to continue your benefits while you are out.
4. Update your beneficiaries.
   • Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System—download the form “State Retirement System Change of Beneficiary”
   • MetLife—“MetLife Change of Beneficiary” form
   • NCFlex Life (ING Life) and NCFlex UNUM—go to www.ncflexonline.org
5. Contact your Benefits Analyst.

I will be on a leave without pay while on maternity leave. What are my options?

1. Voluntary Shared Leave—allows co-workers to donate either vacation or PTO leave to an employee who has exhausted all of their leave has been out of work for at least 20 consecutive workdays, and has a serious medical condition.
   • In maternity cases, employees may receive up to 6 weeks after the baby’s birth.
   • Donors must submit Donor Forms.
   • To receive shared leave donations beyond the normal period of disability, the employee will need a physician’s note.
   • Immediate family members may donate sick leave and Long Term Sick Leave in addition to Vacation and PTO.
2. Leave without pay—
   • Continue the benefits by writing checks to each benefit vendor or
   • Cancel the benefits while you are on leave without pay then reinstate them when you return to work.

What resources will be available to me when I return to work?

1. Breastfeeding and Returning to Work brochure
2. Work/Life Program discount for Ameda Purely Yours breast pumps
3. Please visit www.childcareservices.org for more information about childcare.

WEB SITE RESOURCE INFORMATION
Benefit Web sites

1. UNC Health Care Benefits Department Web site http://www.unchcsbenefits.com
2. NC Flex Benefits Online (use to make changes in benefits) http://www.ncflexonline.org
3. NCFlex Benefits (download FSA and dental claim forms) http://www.ncflex.org

Childcare Web sites

1. NC Division of Child Development http://www.ncchildcare.net
2. Childcare Services http://www.childcareservices.org
3. Day Care Options

IRS Web sites

1. Publication 503 – Child and Dependent Care Expenses http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p503.pdf
2. Publication 596 – Earned Income Credit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p596.pdf
3. Publication 968 – Tax Benefits for Adoption http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p968.pdf
4. Publication 972 – Child Tax Credit http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html

NC Department of Revenue Web sites

1. Credit for Children on North Carolina Tax Filing http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/individual/kids.html
2. Credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/individual/child.html