Paternity leave & pay: what is it and how does it work?

The arrival of your baby is worth planning for.

Maternity leave and maternity allowance are some of the options available to mothers, but what about expectant fathers?

Paternity leave and pay may be available to support you.  

What is Statutory Paternity Leave, and how does it work? 

Paternity leave is a government-funded benefit that entitles you, as a baby’s father or the mother’s partner, to one or two weeks of leave when the baby is born.

During this period, your employment rights are fully protected, meaning you are still entitled to pay rises, can accrue annual leave, and can return to work.

In addition to this leave, you also get time off to accompany your partner, or surrogate mother, to two antenatal appointments.  

Similarly, if you wish to adopt a child, the scheme also provides time off to attend adoption appointments after you and a child have been matched, which are again unpaid unless your employer provides this as a benefit.

How much is paternity pay?  

If you’re planning on taking one or two weeks of paternity leave, you’ll receive paternity pay from the government. This is either £184.03 per week (as of 2024) or 90% of your average weekly earnings, and is set to whichever is the lower amount.  

There is also the possibility that your employer has a company paternity scheme. In this instance, you may receive additional pay, but they cannot offer you anything less than the statutory amount.  

These figures should be understood when put into context of how much having a child may cost.

The average cost of a baby in the first month, according to MoneyHelper, is over £500. This takes into account things such as nappies, clothing, feeding equipment, and other things like toys and furniture.

Expand this to the first full year of a baby’s life, and Baby Centre UK calculates that you’ll be set back by £8,220, while The Right Broker estimates the average cost of having a child currently stands at £12,400 a year or £1,030 a month.

These figures are worth bearing in mind when you’re weighing up paternity leave, as you may be sacrificing some of your salary to take the time off. 

How much paternity leave are fathers entitled to in the UK? 

As either the baby’s father or the partner of the mother, you’re entitled to one or two weeks of paternity leave. With either option, this leave must be taken in one go, and a ‘week’ is your working week.

So, if you only work three days a week, you will get those three days as your week of paternity leave. 

When does paternity leave start?  

Unlike maternity leave, paternity leave cannot start before the baby arrives. It should end within 56 days of the birth, or within 56 days of the due date if the baby is early.

Unfortunately, twins won’t get you double the leave; you get the same amount if your partner or surrogate has a multiple birth.   

Before you claim paternity leave, you’ll need to tell your employer at least 15 weeks before the baby is due and let them know how much leave you want to take, as well as when you want it to start.  

If you want to change the start date of your leave, you’re required to give your employer 28 days’ notice.  

Can you get paternity pay if self-employed? 

Unfortunately, there is currently no form of statutory paternity pay for the self-employed.

If you are a self-employed father, you are also ineligible for shared parental leave or pay. However, there are other avenues, such as government benefits or using savings to allow for time off.   

How do you qualify for paternity leave? 

Paternity leave eligibility will doubtless be a big question on the minds of many soon-to-be fathers.

According to the government website, to be eligible for paternity leave you must:  

• Be an employee
• Give the correct notice (at least 15 weeks)
• Have been continuously working for 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.  

The leave itself should be taken if you are either: 

• The father
• The husband or partner of the mother (or adopter) - including same-sex partners
• The child’s adopter
• The intended parent (if you’re having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement) 

The eligibility criteria is slightly different if you are adopting.

The ‘matching week’ – the week you matched with your child – is important, as you need to have been continuously employed for at least 26 weeks by this point.

You must give your employer proof of adoption to qualify for paternity pay, which can be in the form of a letter from your adoption agency or the matching certificate.  

You can check your eligibility for paternity leave using the government’s maternity and paternity tracker. If your employer has found you to be ineligible, they are required to tell you within 28 days, using an SPP1 form.  

How do I claim paternity leave? 

Claiming paternity leave should be done through your employer, who you will have to inform with enough notice.

They will be asked to confirm your leave before you are paid, and if they ask for proof, you may have to sign a self-certification (form SC3), which confirms that you are both eligible and are taking the leave to care for your child.  

What are some alternatives to statutory paternity pay?  

Some people may not be eligible for paternity leave, while some people simply may not want to take it at all. Some employed parents may opt to get shared parental leave, which allows a couple to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between them.  

This must be taken within the first year of the child’s birth, and can offer parents more flexibility in taking turns to care for the baby.  

If you don’t qualify at all, your employer may still give you some time off – or you could take paid holiday. Alternatively, you may qualify for other government support.  

Get expert financial advice

If you are expecting the arrival of a new family member soon, you could be eligible to take advantage of paternity leave and pay.

This government benefit offers you one or two weeks of leave upon the birth of your child, and protects your employment rights while paying you £184.03 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lowest.

Let Unbiased match you with an expert financial adviser who can help you understand what you are entitled to as a new parent and how to manage your finances during this exciting time.