Latest news with #ParentalLeave
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Support for parents worth up to £748 a month - how to check if you're eligible
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) is offered to both mothers and fathers who are either having a baby, adopting or fostering a child, or using a surrogate to have a baby New parents in the UK could be in line for as much as £748 to help them spend quality time with their new child. Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) are available to both mums and dads who are either having a baby, adopting or fostering a child, or using a surrogate to have a baby. New parents can get up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks' worth of pay between them. Parents have the option to take this leave all at once, or they can break it down into smaller chunks. They can also choose to take the leave together or stagger it between them. How much you can get from SPL and ShPP ShPP is paid at a rate of either £187.18 a week (more than £748 a month) or 90 per cent of your average weekly earnings - whichever is less. This is similar to the rate for Statutory Maternity Pay, but the latter is paid at 90 per cent of whatever you earn in the first six months with no maximum cap. Moreover, while new parents can share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between them, the actual amount will depend on how much maternity or adoption leave and pay either partner takes. For instance, one partner can take less than the 52 weeks of maternity or adoption leave and use the rest of their allowance as SPL. Or they can take less than 39 weeks of Maternity Allowance and use the rest as ShPP. For mums who'll first get SMP and then switch to SPL, the government's official guidance gives this example: "A woman decides to start her maternity leave four weeks before the due date and gives notice that she'll start SPL from 10 weeks after the birth (taking a total of 14 weeks maternity leave). She normally earns £200 a week. "She's paid £180 (90 per cent of her average weekly earnings) as SMP for the first six weeks of maternity leave, then £187.18 a week for the next eight weeks. Once she goes onto SPL, she's still paid £187.18 a week." Who can apply? The eligibility criteria for the scheme differ depending on whether you're the biological parents, adopting, or using a surrogate. Read below for a full breakdown of eligibility for each group. Birth parents Eligible birth parents must both: have been employed continuously by the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the due date stay with the same employer until you start your SPL must each earn on average at least £125 a week meet work and pay criteria - these are different depending on which parent wants to use the shared parental leave and pay share responsibility for the child at birth Adoption or using a surrogate Both parents must share responsibility for the child from their due due date, birth date, or date child is placed with them Must earn on average at least £125 a week If you're not sure whether you meet the criteria to claim ShPP or SPL, you can use the government's online checker here. All you need to do is enter your details and clarify which situation accurately suits you.
Epoch Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Paternity Leave in UK One of Worst in Developed World, Committee Finds
The UK has 'one of the worst leave offers in the developed world for fathers,' according to a report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC). The WEC It also found that the UK's rate of statutory paternal pay is 'completely out of kilter with the cost of living' and has not kept pace with inflation. WEC Chairwoman and Labour MP Sarah Owen She said the system is 'in urgent need of an overhaul to fit with the reality of working parents' lives,' and that reform must start with longer and better paid paternity leave. The report came ahead of the government's review of paternal leave entitlement and as the Employment Rights Bill moves through the House of Lords. International Comparisons The committee examined evidence from other models for parental leave around the world, finding that Nordic countries in particular have far more generous paternal leave terms. Related Stories 6/9/2025 5/30/2025 Norway, for example, introduced four weeks of non-transferable leave and pay for fathers in 1993. Today, parental leave for mothers and fathers is paid at 100 percent of earnings for 46 weeks, or 56 weeks at 80 percent, both with an upper cap. Spain has transformed its system in recent years after starting in a similar place as the UK. The country introduced 13 days of paid paternity in 2007, and between 2017 and 2021, gradually increased this to 16 weeks, equal to maternity leave and paid at 100 percent of earnings. Spain also made six weeks of that leave compulsory for mothers and fathers. The WEC said they heard from experts who recommended that the UK should similarly consider making a period of paternity leave compulsory, 'as a way of shifting the culture and challenging gendered stereotypes around family responsibilities.' Day 1 Paternity Leave Rights The WEC has called on the government to draw on lessons from Spain's reform of paternal leave, and incrementally increase the period of paid leave for fathers to six weeks over the course of this Parliament. The committee also urged ministers to remove the requirement that men must be employed for at least 26 weeks before being entitled to paternity leave, saying it should be available from the first day of employment. Commuters on London Bridge on Jan. 22, 2024. Victoria Jones/PA Wire Lack of paternal leave provision for self-employed fathers was also deemed 'deeply unfair,' with MPs calling for the introduction of a paternity allowance, similar to maternity allowance for self-employed mothers. The report also highlighted the flaws of Shared Parental Leave (SPL), which allows for parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave, so one or both parents can decide when to take leave in a more flexible way. The committee said SPL was 'extremely difficult for most parents and their employers to understand,' and called for it to be simplified and made more financially attractive to boost uptake. Reform Needed The WEC chairwoman said, 'It's essential the Government's proposed review addresses the system's fundamental failings, including low statutory pay, inadequate leave periods for fathers and others, exclusion of many working parents and guardians, plus design flaws and unnecessary complexity in the Shared Parental Leave scheme.' Owen called on ministers to commit to meaningful reforms in the medium term, 'with a view to going further towards a more gender equal parental leave system.' She said: 'Tinkering around the edges of a broken system will let down working parents. While much-needed substantial change to our paid parental leave system will require considerable financial investment, this would be outweighed by wider societal and economic benefits.' Responding to the recommendations of the report, a government spokesperson told The Epoch Times: 'This government is committed to making sure parents receive the best possible support to balance their work and home lives as part of our Plan to Make Work Pay. 'We know the parental leave system needs to be improved and will be carrying out a review to ensure it best supports working families, and through our Employment Rights Bill we will remove the 26-week continuity of service requirement for paternity leave.' The government said that as part of its review, it will consider all current parental leave entitlements, including paternity leave and pay and the length of leave available to fathers.
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Maximum Parental Leave Pay days to increase from July 1 for parents, carers
Parents or carers of children who will be born in the new financial year will soon benefit from more paid parental leave. From July 1, Services Australia will lift the number of Parental Leave Pay days from 110 to 120 for children born from that day. Parents, including of adoptive children, will be able to claim up to three months before the date they expect the child to 'enter their care'. Parental Leave Pay is intended to support families and caregivers who have taken time off work to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. Currently, parents with children born since July 1, 2024 receive 110 days of paid parental leave, including any claims before July 1, 2025. For the new maximum of 120 days, a parent or carer will have to provide proof that their child was either born or adopted from that date. The maximum number of Parental Leave Pay days is expected to rise again to 130 from July 1, 2026. In order to be eligible for the payments, a parent or carer must pass a work and income test and not be working the days they receive the payment. The payment is available before, during, and after employer-funded leave and is only available for a single child in the event of multiple children. The current payment for Parental Leave Pay is $183.16 per day before tax or $915.80 per five-day week. That is based on the weekly rate of the national minimum wage.
