Upcoming changes to Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay in GB

Eligible fathers and partners can claim both Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Paternity Leave.

Statutory Paternity Pay is currently paid at £172.48 per week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower). From April 2024 Statutory Paternity Pay will rise to £184.03 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower). Statutory Paternity Leave can be taken as one block of either one or two weeks and must have ended within 56 days of the birth. This leave must be applied for at least 15 weeks before the due date.

The changes to Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay which come into effect in Great Britain only (this change has not been confirmed for Northern Ireland) from 8 March 2024 will:

• allow fathers and partners to take their Paternity Leave as two non-consecutive weeks
• allow fathers and partners to take their leave and pay at any point in the first year after the birth or adoption of their child
• will require fathers and partners to give their employer only four weeks’ notice prior to each period of leave.

These changes give fathers and partners more flexibility to take their Paternity Leave at a time that works for their family and also means that they can make a decision on when to take their leave at shorter notice to accommodate their family’s changing needs.

Fathers and partners will be eligible to claim Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay under the new rules if the expected date of birth of their baby is after 6 April 2024.

They will also be able to claim their Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay under the new rules if the child is born early and before this date. Fathers and partners can begin taking Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay as soon as their baby is born. This means that fathers and partners will be able to take two non-consecutive weeks of leave before 6 April 2024 for babies who were expected after 6 April 2024.

Further information

Further information on Statutory Paternity or Maternity Lave or Pay, or Maternity Allowance including the eligibility criteria is available here. The Family Benefits Advice Service can advise on any other support you may be entitled to due to the birth or adoption of a child or changes in income or working hours. Our team of advisors can be contacted on 028 9267 8200 or hello@employersforchildcare.org.