Answers · UK 2025/26
What is Parental Bereavement Leave and how much pay do you get?
Parental Bereavement Leave gives employed parents who lose a child under 18, or suffer a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy, the right to 2 weeks of leave, which can be taken as one block or two separate weeks within 56 weeks of the loss. Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay is paid at the lower of £187.18 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings for 2026/27, for those who meet the qualifying employment and earnings conditions.
Full answer
Parental Bereavement Leave (sometimes called "Jack's Law") is a day-one employment right that entitles employed parents to take time off following the death of a child, recognising that bereaved parents need protected time away from work regardless of how long they have worked for their employer. **Who qualifies for the leave itself** Unlike most family leave rights, the RIGHT TO LEAVE (as opposed to the right to statutory PAY) applies from day one of employment -- there is no minimum service requirement. It covers the death of a child under 18, or a stillbirth after the 24th week of pregnancy. **How much leave** Eligible parents can take 2 weeks of leave, either as a single continuous 2-week block or as two separate 1-week periods, and this must be taken within 56 weeks of the child's death, giving families flexibility to use the leave around anniversaries, inquests, or other significant dates rather than only immediately after the loss. **Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (SPBP)** To receive statutory PAY (rather than just the day-one right to unpaid leave), you need to meet similar qualifying conditions to Statutory Paternity Pay: at least 26 weeks continuous employment with your employer, and average weekly earnings at or above the Lower Earnings Limit. If you meet these conditions, SPBP is paid at the lower of £187.18 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings for 2026/27. **Multiple children** If a parent tragically loses more than one child (for example in a multiple birth stillbirth, or separate incidents), they are entitled to 2 weeks of leave and pay for EACH child, not a single combined 2-week entitlement. **Worked example** James has worked for his employer for 3 years when his teenage daughter passes away unexpectedly. He is entitled to 2 weeks of Parental Bereavement Leave immediately (day-one right), and because he meets the 26-week service and earnings conditions, he also receives SPBP at the lower of £187.18/week or 90% of his average earnings for those 2 weeks. He later decides to take his second week around the date of the funeral service, several weeks after the first week, which is permitted within the 56-week window. **Interaction with other leave** Parental Bereavement Leave is separate from and in addition to compassionate leave or bereavement leave for other family members, which is not a statutory right in the same way and depends on individual employer policy or discretion.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.