
What is Immediate Family?
The family immediately after the death of the last natural parent is also called the immediate family. The immediate family consists of a group of relatives, who are legally defined according to state laws or rules to decide who among a person’s immediate family are legally affected by these laws. The immediate family can also be described as the people one meets at any time during his/her lifetime, the friends one makes while growing up and at the same time during the period when one is in school. People are usually grouped together based on the proximity they have to each other and sometimes based on the relation they have with other people.
The most important and basic characteristic of an immediate family is the relationship between the husband or wife, the husband’s spouse and another woman who are an existing or former spouse. A de facto partner is a woman who becomes an unpaid family member with the consent of the husband. In some states, an unpaid child is considered a member of the immediate family. In some states, a child that is left behind by a parent who died cannot be claimed as a member of the immediate family. Pregnant mothers, separated or divorced parents, orphaned children and those who became legally separated or divorced after the birth of their child can also be listed as members of the immediate family. If a child is adopted and later widows remarry, she can also claim herself to be a member of the immediate family.
An adopted child can also be considered a de facto partner in a couple, even if she has not acquired the status of an immediate family member. Adoption is legal in most states in United States. However, there are some states in United States that do not allow adoptions if the adoptive parents or the prospective adoptive parents are financially poor or dependent on other people for their welfare. This also applies to women who became pregnant out of wedlock but later got married or became widowed and are not allowed to claim for compassionate leave due to being in the household of an already existing abusive spouse.
An unpaid compassionate leave is defined as any unpaid leave taken by a spouse or an immediate family member because of the spouse’s or the immediate family member’s inability to work because of injury or illness or long-term health conditions. Employees may be eligible to take up unpaid compassionate leave under the Family Medical Leave Plan regardless of whether they have obtained any kind of employment. Under this plan, an employee is eligible to apply for an unpaid leave when he or she gets sick or injured while at work. Eligible employees are entitled to take up a maximum amount of unpaid leave during each year of service. An employee or his wife, or a dependent of the employee may also get up to 26 weeks of unpaid medical leave.
An employee who is entitled to get up to 26 weeks of unpaid medical leave is eligible to apply for disability benefits. In most cases, an employee needs to be receiving income support for at least one month before he or she can start applying for compassionate and unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Plan. Another important thing to note is that if your employing organization does not offer you any option for unpaid leaves, then it is best to look for another company that does offer such a leave. The benefits and coverage of your current employer will not apply to this leave and if there is a conflict between the terms of your employment contract and this leave, you may have to look into insurance plans offered by your current employer or seek legal advice regarding your rights to medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Plan.
What is immediate family? Your spouse or your child, your parent, your sibling, a parent or any person living with you are considering your immediate family. You may also include extended family members like your children’s nanny, a stepmother or a grandmother. If you become disabled or ill and cannot work, your spouse and any other person living with you are entitled to the income you earn even if he or she is not your immediate family member.