Statutory Paternity Pay
When your wife, partner or civil partner gives birth or adopts a child, you may be entitled to Statutory Paternity Pay. Find out more about your entitlement to receive Statutory Paternity Pay and how to claim it.
Eligibility
To qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay, all of the following must apply:
- you must be the biological father or adopter of the child or be the mother's (or adopter's) husband, partner or civil partner or have or expect to have responsibility for the child's upbringing
- you must have continued to work for the same employer without a break for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due, or employed up to and including the week your wife, partner or civil partner was matched with a child
- you must continue to work for that employer without a break up to the date the child is born or placed for adoption
- you must be earning an average of at least £125 a week (before tax)
You can get personalised help on what you qualify for by using the online paternity rights at work tool. The tool will give you a personalised statement of the Statutory Paternity Pay you may qualify for.
Use the following link to open the paternity rights at work tool.
How much you will get
If your average weekly earnings are £125 or more (before tax), Statutory Paternity Pay is paid for one or two consecutive weeks at £187.18 or 90 per cent of your average weekly earnings if this is less.
How it's paid
Your employer will pay Statutory Paternity Pay to you in the same way and at the same time as your normal wages.
Statutory Paternity Pay is treated as normal pay and so they'll also take off tax and National Insurance as usual.
How and when to claim Statutory Paternity Pay
To claim Statutory Paternity Pay you must tell your employer when you plan to take leave by the 15th week before your baby is due, or within seven days of your wife, partner or civil partner being told by the adoption agency that they've been matched with a child.
If you change your mind you must give 28 days' notice.
Your employer might ask you for self-certificate form SC3 (becoming a parent) that confirms you're entitled to the pay.
What else you need to know
You can choose when to start getting your Statutory Paternity Pay. Leave can start on any day of the week:
- on or following the child's birth, but must be completed within 56 days of the actual date of birth (or 56 days after the expected date of birth if the baby is born early)
- from the date of the child's placement, but must be completed within 56 days of the date of placement
You can take either one week or two consecutive weeks, but not odd days.
If you have more than one job, you may be able to get Statutory Paternity Pay from each employer.
Your employer can't pay you Statutory Paternity Pay for any week you're at work.
If you can't get Statutory Paternity Pay
If you can't get Statutory Paternity Pay your employer must complete and give you form SPP1 telling you why Statutory Paternity Pay has not been paid.
If you disagree with your employer's decision
If you think your employer's decision is wrong contact the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) employees enquiry line on 0300 200 3500. You can also tell HMRC if you're not getting the right amount of Statutory Paternity Pay.