Can I draw unemployment if I go out on a leave to have a baby? - Alabama

by Ty
(Lafayette, Alabama)

Can I draw unemployment if I go out on a leave to have a baby? My due date is like 2 months away.


Hi Ty,

Not likely. When a person takes leave to have a baby they may be entitled to family medical leave if the company employs enough people. FML protects your job, but does not require a company to pay you. Of course if they provide short term disability insurance to you...it's something you could check into.

The main reason that people can't collect unemployment while out on leave is because they cannot meet the requirement of being able and available for work. (I can think of only one state that has a provision applying to "authorized and approved voluntary leaves...and that is Colorado)and I'm sure there are conditions which must be met first.

Of course if one is lucky enough to live in New Jersey, New York, California, Rhode Island or Hawaii they will want to check into their states "Temporary Disability Program" to see if they might qualify for disability unemployment insurance.