My situation is that I am 13 weeks pregnant (finally, hooray!) with our second child. I was laid off from my job of 3 years in May, got a small severance, got a new job right away. Loved the new job, after 6 weeks got abruptly laid off. I work in tech. I have 2 weeks pay coming in so no tapping emergency fund until at least the end of the month.
We are due early March. My understanding of Quebec benefits is that I can start maternity benefits 16 weeks before due date (around mid-November), then after baby comes take 2 more weeks maternity leave plus our 52 weeks parental benefits. Is this right?
Now the fun part...I was planning to work until close to the due date, take my year or so, then go back to the job. Laid off, not happening now. I can do one of these things:
1) Hustle and try to get another full-time job that I can return to after baby and year of leave--not disclose pregnancy until I'm well in the door
2) Hustle and get some short-term work, preferably remote, that will carry me closer to due date--preferably not disclose right away but depends on employer
3) Apply for unemployment insurance to get me through to maternity benefits and having the baby; I can do some valuable job training and certs (can be done at home) that will help a lot at the other end of baby leave
Number 2 is sort of preferred option, except that I'm so exhausted and nauseous, I'm really showing, and I'm not feeling perky enough to hustle back out there.
Number 3: is this even possible? Will going on unemployment reduce the amount I receive for maternal/parental benefits. (I should qualify for unemployment from the first lay-off, and the second lay-off I was still in probation period so would likely count as "actively looking for work.")
Any and all feedback or suggestions appreciated. This is a prequel to going to Services Canada and asking these questions there, but MMM forum has always been helpful and I need all the encouragement I can get now.
