Paternity leave

New dads, or partners responsible with the mother for bringing up the baby, are entitled to take either one or two weeks off to be with their family, as long as they’ve been with their employer for at least 26 weeks before the 15th week of their child’s due date.

This time is paid by their employer at a statutory weekly flat rate of £124.88, or 90% of their average weekly earnings if they earn less than the weekly flat rate.  The amount of statutory pay is worked out from their gross pay.  However, bear in mind that this is the statutory amount and their employer may be more generous than this and pay more money or give more time off.

Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is not a state benefit, and therefore is subject to tax because it is viewed as replacement earnings for an employment income. Therefore, it is treated as normal pay, so their employer will also deduct tax and National Insurance as usual. Your partner should give their employer 28 days notice of the date they wish their SPP to start.

When paternity leave can be taken
Paternity leave has to be taken in one go – not spread over different weeks – and it must be taken within 56 days of the baby being born.

If your partner wishes to take paternity leave they must tell their employer in writing at least 15 weeks before the beginning of the week when the baby is due. This should include details of when the baby is due, whether one or two weeks leave is required, and when the leave will start. A simple way to give notice is to fill in a 'self-certificate'. You can download Form SC3 "Becoming a parent", which works as a self-certificate, from the Government website by clicking here.