Introduction
When you take time off because your partner’s having a baby, adopting a child or having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement you might be eligible for:
- 1 or 2 weeks paid Paternity Leave
- Paternity Pay
Amount of leave
If the baby is due before or on 6 April 2024, you can choose to take either 1 or 2 weeks’ leave. You must take your leave in one go. You get the same amount of leave even if you have more than one child (for example, twins).
If the baby is due after 6 April 2024, you can take either 1 or 2 weeks’ leave. If you choose to take 2 weeks, you can take them together or separately.
A week of leave is the same number of days that you normally work in a week. For example, if you only work on Mondays and Tuesdays, then a week of leave is 2 days.
Your leave cannot start before the birth. It must end within 56 days of the birth (or due date, if the baby is early) if baby born before 6 April 2024. If baby born after 6 April 2024 It must end within 52 weeks of the birth (or due date, if the baby is early).
You must give your employer 28 days’ notice if you want to change your start date.
SPP Pay
The statutory weekly rate of Paternity Pay is £172.48, or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower). Any money you get is paid in the same way as your wages, for example monthly or weekly. Tax and National Insurance will be deducted.
Eligibility
You must be taking time off to look after the child and be one of the following:
- the father.
- the husband or partner of the mother (or adopter) – this includes same-sex partners.
- the child’s adopter.
- the intended parent (if you’re having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement).
Additionally, you must:
- be on the payroll.
- give the correct notice.
- have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks up to any day in the ‘qualifying week’. The ‘qualifying week’ is the 15th week before the baby is due.
- be employed by your employer up to the date of birth.
- earn at least £123 a week (before tax).
If you lose your baby, you can still get Paternity Leave or Pay if your baby is:
- stillborn from 24 weeks of pregnancy.
- born alive at any point during the pregnancy.
