Can I use remaining FMLA weeks after being laid off? Having trouble accessing my account too.
Hey everyone, I just got laid off from my job and I'm trying to figure out how to use my remaining FMLA benefits. I had a baby last year and only used 6 weeks out of the 8 weeks available. Now I'm wondering if I can still use those last 2 weeks even though I'm not employed anymore. Has anyone been in a similar situation or know how this works? Also, I'm having trouble logging into my account to check on this. Any advice would be really appreciated!
21 comments


Freya Ross
Sorry to hear about your job loss. Unfortunately, FMLA benefits are tied to your employment, so once you're no longer employed, you can't use those remaining weeks. However, you might be eligible for state disability or paid family leave depending on your location. I'd suggest contacting your state's labor department for more info on your options.
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Butch Sledgehammer
ā¢Thanks for the info. That's disappointing about FMLA. I'll look into state options. Do you know if there's a time limit on applying for those after losing a job?
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Freya Ross
ā¢It varies by state, but usually there's a window of a few weeks to a couple months. Don't wait too long tho! Call your state office ASAP to get the ball rolling.
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Leslie Parker
ā¢This is why the system is so messed up. You earn those weeks and then poof, they're gone when u need them most. š¤¬
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Sergio Neal
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone about this stuff. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/DOLxZQb92wM
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Savanna Franklin
ā¢Sounds sketchy. Is this legit? Has anyone else tried it?
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Sergio Neal
ā¢Yeah, it's totally legit. I was skeptical at first too, but it saved me hours of hold time. Worth every penny imo.
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Juan Moreno
ā¢20 bucks to skip the hold time? Sign me up! š The gov should be ashamed we have to pay extra just to talk to someone
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Amy Fleming
OP, forget FMLA and look into your state's Paid Family Leave (PFL) program if you have one. In some states, you don't need to be currently employed to claim PFL benefits. Check if you're still within the eligibility window based on your child's birth date.
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Alice Pierce
Have you tried calling the FMLA helpline? They might be able to give you more specific advice for your situation. Also, double check your former employer's policies. Some companies offer extended leave benefits beyond FMLA.
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Butch Sledgehammer
ā¢I've been trying to call but can never get through. It's so frustrating! š« I'll keep trying tho. Good idea about checking my old company's policies, I'll do that too.
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Esteban Tate
This is why america is a joke. Other countries give you PAID parental leave for like a year. Here we're begging for scraps and still getting denied. System's rigged, man.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
ā¢Preach! š My cousin in Canada got 18 months off. EIGHTEEN MONTHS! Meanwhile we're over here fighting for a couple weeks. It's a clown show š¤”
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Elin Robinson
ā¢lets not turn this into a political debate guys. OP needs actual help, not a rant about the system
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Atticus Domingo
About your login issues - try clearing your browser cache and cookies. If that doesn't work, use the 'forgot password' option. If you're still stuck, you might need to call their tech support (good luck with that lol). Pro tip: write down your new password somewhere safe this time!
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Beth Ford
Hey OP, I've been through something similar. Here's what I learned: ⢠FMLA doesn't apply once you're not employed, BUT ⢠You might be eligible for state benefits ⢠Some states have programs that don't require current employment ⢠There are usually strict deadlines, so act fast ⢠Document everything - dates, who you talked to, etc. ⢠If you can't get through on the phone, try email or even snail mail ⢠Look for legal aid organizations in your area, they might be able to help for free Hang in there! The system's a maze but you'll figure it out. šŖ
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Butch Sledgehammer
ā¢Wow, thank you so much for this detailed response! This is super helpful. I'm definitely going to follow your advice, especially about documenting everything. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!
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Morita Montoya
ā¢This is gold š Saving this for future reference!
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Kingston Bellamy
have u tried turning it off and on again? š jk jk. but for real, sometimes the websites for this stuff are so old and buggy. try a different browser or even ur phone if the login still isnt working
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Joy Olmedo
Guys I just saw on the news that they're changing some rules about post-employment benefits. Might be worth looking into for OP's situation. Anyone know more about this?
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Isaiah Cross
ā¢I think that's only for unemployment benefits, not FMLA or family leave stuff. But I could be wrong, the rules change so often it's hard to keep up š¤·āāļø
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