Statutory Paternity Pay
Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is money paid to
fathers by an employer to help them take time off of work
Who can claim?
In order 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 have been 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 £102 a week (before
tax)
How much will I receive?
If your average weekly earnings are £102 or
more (before tax), SPP is paid for one or two consecutive weeks at
£128.73. It will be paid at 90 per cent of your average weekly
earnings are less than £102.
Your employer will pay your SPP at the same
time as your normal wages. However, it is worth remembering that
SPP is treated as normal pay, so tax and National Insurance will be
deducted.
How and when to claim
If you wish to claim Statutory Paternity Pay,
you must tell your employer when you intend to take leave by the
15th week before your baby is due. If you are adopting,
you must tell your employer 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 are
entitled to the pay.
Back to
Financial Support page