Glossary · UK
What is Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (SPBP)?
Paid leave and pay for employed parents whose child dies under 18, or who suffer a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Full Definition
Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay gives eligible employed parents up to 2 weeks of paid leave, at the same standard weekly rate as Statutory Paternity Pay (£194.32 a week, or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower, for 2026/27), following the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth after the 24th week of pregnancy. The leave (Parental Bereavement Leave) can be taken as one block of 2 weeks or as two separate blocks of 1 week, at any point in the 56 weeks following the death, giving grieving parents flexibility around funerals, inquests or simply needing time away from work later. It is a 'day one' right -- there is no minimum length of service needed to take the leave itself, though the statutory pay element requires at least 26 weeks' continuous employment and minimum average earnings, similar to Statutory Paternity Pay.