Guide · Family
UK Paternity Leave & Shared Parental Leave Explained (2025/26)
UK partners get up to 2 weeks of Statutory Paternity Leave, plus the option to convert unused Maternity/Adoption leave into Shared Parental Leave — up to 50 weeks of leave (37 of them paid) that mum and other parent can split however they like. From 6 April 2024 paternity leave is much more flexible: you can take it as two separate weeks any time in the first 52 weeks, not just one block in the first 8 weeks.
- Paternity: 2 weeks leave + £187.18/wk pay (or 90% of avg earnings if lower)
- Shared Parental Leave (SPL): up to 50 weeks split between both parents
- Shared Parental Pay (ShPP): up to 37 weeks at SPP/SMP standard rate
- Eligibility: 26+ weeks employed by 15th week before due date, average earnings ≥ £125/wk
- Notify: 8 weeks written notice for each block
Statutory Paternity Leave & Pay (SPP)
Statutory Paternity Leave gives partners of expectant mothers, adopters and intended parents (surrogacy) up to 2 weeks of paid leave when a child arrives. You qualify if you are an employee with 26+ weeks of continuous service by the 15th week before the expected date of birth or placement.
What changed in April 2024
Before April 2024, SPP had to be taken as a single block within 56 days of birth. From 6 April 2024 you can:
- Take it as two separate one-week blocks
- Take blocks any time in the first 52 weeks after birth or placement
- Give only 28 days' notice per block (down from 15 weeks)
The pay rate is the lower of £187.18 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings — same as Statutory Maternity Pay standard rate. The two rates always move together each April under uprating regulations.
Who qualifies for SPP
- Biological father of the child (or partner of the mother, including same-sex partner)
- Or partner of the main adopter
- Or intended parent in a surrogacy arrangement
- Employed (not self-employed) by the same employer for 26+ weeks ending the 15th week before the EWC/placement
- Average weekly earnings ≥ Lower Earnings Limit (£125/week in 2025/26)
- Will have main responsibility (alongside the mother/adopter) for the child's upbringing
Shared Parental Leave (SPL)
SPL is the "big sibling" of Paternity Leave. Rather than just 2 weeks, both parents together can share up to 50 weeks of leave in the first year after birth or placement, and up to 37 weeks of pay. The catch: every week of SPL/ShPP is sliced from the mother's 52-week statutory Maternity Leave entitlement (or the main adopter's statutory Adoption Leave).
So a typical pattern is: mother takes the compulsory 2 weeks post-birth Maternity Leave, then both parents share the remaining 50 weeks (with up to 37 weeks paid).
SPL eligibility
Both parents must independently meet the conditions:
- Employee (not self-employed) for 26+ weeks by the 15th week before EWC
- Still employed when each SPL block is taken
- The other parent must also have worked in 26 of the 66 weeks before the EWC and earned £30+/week on average for 13 of those weeks (the "employment and earnings test")
Two employed parents on PAYE will typically both qualify. If one is self-employed, only the employed parent can take SPL — the self-employed parent must satisfy the employment-and-earnings test to unlock SPL for the employed parent, but cannot take SPL themselves.
How SPL works in practice
- Mother triggers SPL by giving back some of her Maternity Leave (curtailment notice)
- Both parents file a "notice of entitlement and intention" with their respective employers
- Each parent gives 8 weeks' written notice for each leave block (max 3 blocks each)
- Blocks can run simultaneously, sequentially, or any pattern
- Minimum block = 1 week
Worked example
Couple with a baby due July 2026 — typical SPL pattern
Mother takes 13 weeks at SMP first 6 weeks (90% earnings) then 7 weeks at standard rate, plus compulsory 2 weeks pre/post-birth. After week 15 she returns to work. The remaining 37 weeks of Maternity Leave + Pay are converted to SPL/ShPP. Father takes 4 weeks SPP/SPL early (2 weeks SPP at birth, 2 weeks SPL when mum returns to work). Then both parents take 4 weeks SPL together at month 6. Father takes a further 8 weeks solo SPLat the end of mum's 12-month leave. Total father time off: 16 weeks across the first year. Total payment to father across SPP + ShPP: 16 weeks × £187.18 ≈ £2995.
Maternity Allowance — for self-employed mothers
Self-employed mothers (and employed mothers who don't qualify for SMP) can claim Maternity Allowance from DWP instead: 39 weeks at £187.18/week or 90% of average earnings. This is NOT compatible with SPL — only SMP/Maternity Leave can be converted to SPL/ShPP.
Income tax & NI on parental pay
SPP, SMP and ShPP are all taxable as employment income and subject to NI just like normal salary. Your tax code applies, so most people will pay 20% Income Tax + 8% NI on the £187.18 weekly amount. After deductions, net pay ≈ £134.77/week. Many employers top up statutory pay to full salary — this is contractual and varies; check your employee handbook.
Pension & benefits during parental leave
- Employer pension contributions continue as if you were on full pay (paid on full notional salary)
- Employee pension contributions are based on actual pay received (i.e. the 187/wk)
- Holiday accrues normally — usually you take accrued days at end of leave
- Sick pay rights continue
- Tax code unchanged — but check P60 at year-end if multiple employers
- NI credits given even at zero pay if eligible for parental leave
Common mistakes
- Missing the 26-weeks-service cutoff by a few days — counts to the 15th week BEFORE EWC
- Confusing SPP weeks (2) with SPL weeks (up to 50)
- Both parents trying to file SPL without the mother giving the curtailment notice first
- Forgetting the 8 weeks' notice — employer can reject blocks with less notice
- Self-employed partner thinking they can take SPL — they can only unlock it for the employed parent
- Not topping up — many employers pay enhanced contractual paternity pay (e.g. 100% for 2 weeks)
Frequently asked questions
- How many weeks of paternity leave can I take in the UK?
- Up to 2 weeks of Statutory Paternity Leave. From 6 April 2024 you can take this as two separate one-week blocks any time within the first 52 weeks after the birth or adoption placement — you no longer have to take it within 8 weeks and in a single block.
- What is Statutory Paternity Pay worth in 2025/26?
- £187.18 per week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower. The amount is the same as SMP standard rate — both rates move together each April.
- Who is eligible for Shared Parental Leave?
- Both parents (or a parent and their partner) where both meet the employment and earnings conditions. The mother/main adopter must give up some of their 52-week Maternity/Adoption Leave for it to be available — SPL is sliced from her unused statutory leave.
- How much Shared Parental Pay is available?
- Up to 37 weeks of Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) at the same flat rate as SPP/SMP standard rate (£187.18 per week or 90% of average earnings if lower). The 39 weeks of paid SMP that mum could have taken minus the 2 weeks of post-birth maternity she must take = 37 maximum weeks of ShPP.
- Can both parents be off work at the same time under SPL?
- Yes. SPL gives much more flexibility than the old paternity rules — you can take leave in blocks, both can be off simultaneously, or you can stagger. You must give the employer 8 weeks' written notice of each block.
- Do I get pay if I am self-employed?
- No. SPP/SMP/ShPP all require you to be a "qualifying" employee with 26+ weeks of service by the 15th week before the expected date. Self-employed birthing mothers may qualify for Maternity Allowance instead. There is no equivalent paternity benefit for self-employed partners.
- How do I notify my employer about Shared Parental Leave?
- You must give 8 weeks' written notice using two forms: a "notice of entitlement and intention" (declaration), then a "leave booking notice" for each block. Up to 3 separate leave bookings per parent are allowed.