Transparent calculator methodology
Build a leave schedule around the whole household
Two parents often have different employer leave, short-term disability, state benefits, PTO, and unpaid time. This planner turns those inputs into household schedules instead of calculating one employee in isolation.
What the estimate includes
- User-entered paid leave, disability or state benefits, PTO, and unpaid weeks for each parent
- Overlap-first, staggered, and income-first schedules
- Weekly household income, fixed expenses, and childcare cost
- Continuous parent-at-home coverage, return timing, and emergency-fund need
How the comparison works
The calculator assembles each parent’s entered benefit blocks, places them on several practical schedules, and calculates household cash flow week by week. It compares income retained, uncovered expenses, parent-at-home weeks, and the point when childcare begins.
Important limitation
This tool does not determine FMLA, state-program, disability, or employer-policy eligibility. Benefit stacking, concurrent leave, waiting periods, job protection, same-employer spouse rules, taxes, and claim dates must be verified with HR and the official program administrator.