Latest news with #SharedParentalLeave
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.
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Fed-up fathers join world's first ‘Dad Strike' demanding better UK paternity leave
Families across the UK are campaigning for better paternity leave Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DOZENS of fed-up dads yesterday joined forces outside the Scottish Parliament to demand for better paternity leave. It was the world's first "Dad Strike", with families protesting outside Holyrood and Westminster. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Dad Shift paternal leave policy change in the UK Credit: ELeanor Pugsley The UK's statutory paternity leave is the worst in Europe. Currently, fathers and second parents get up to two weeks off work at less than half the minimum wage - £187.18 a week. Statutory leave is not given to self-employed fathers or those earning less than £123 a week. The campaign group behind the strike, the Dad Shift, wants better paternity leave in the UK, arguing 'two weeks isn't enough'. It has already gotten the support of over 40 Labour MPs. Greg Borthwick, a father of two, works for Dads Rock - a Scottish charity that provides support for dads. He said: 'Two weeks isn't enough. "We've known it's not been enough for so long now. It's better for dads, it's better for mums, it's better for everyone.' 4 Dads Rock's Greg Borthwick and toddler at the protest Credit: Eleanor Pugsley Standing at his feet is his second child, a young toddler, holding a picket sign that is the same size as her. 'I made use of the Shared Parental Leave policy. I had to take out a loan to afford to do that for three months, to spend time with my kid.' 'My wife had to go back to work during that period. It took time with the kids away from her. Mums issue stark warning about 'dark Peppa Pig' videos going viral on YouTube set out to target and terrify your kids 'We shouldn't have to share our parental leave. We should have our own.' The Shared Parental Leave policy allows parents to split 50 weeks of maternity leave between them. The Dad Shift campaign wants paternity leave that is substantial, affordable and equal. It believes both parents should have equal leave, paid at an affordable rate, with enough time for dads to support their partner and bond with their kids. It wasn't just fathers at the picket line, mothers were holding their banners and chanting - louder than some of the dads. 4 'It is mothers that pay the price" Credit: Eleanor Pugsley 'At the end of the day, the parental leave system is abysmal,' said a representative from the Pregnant Then Screwed charity. They added: 'It is mothers that pay the price when there isn't enough paternity leave. 'Two weeks isn't even enough time for someone to recover from a cesarean.' Kevin Kane, CEO of Shared Parenting Scotland - which helps couples going through separation or divorce, was also on the picket line. Parental leave is a 'common theme' on their helpline according to Mr Kane. He said: 'Scotland is falling behind, the UK is falling behind. 'Most people want to pull together to support the child. If they aren't able to do that, they get frustrated. That's a fault of the system. 'If we can get a more equitable distribution of the load of parenting at an early stage of a child's life, then we can make progress towards shared parenting being more normalised in Scotland.' 'For mums and dads and children, I want them to have the same opportunity to look after their children. There are models for that around the world.' In France working dads get 28 days of paid parental leave. While in Sweden, fathers are entitled to 90 days of paid time off work and spanish dads can get 16 weeks of full time leave. 4 Parental leave is a 'common theme' on Scottish helpines Credit: Eleanor Pugsley A report published this week by the Women and Equalities Committee said paternity leave rules 'entrench outdated gender stereotypes' and were 'completely out of kilter with the cost of living'. The cross-party group of MPs has urged the government to consider increasing paternity pay to 90% or more and leave to six weeks. Labour previously said they will review paternity leave within their first year in office.
Wales Online
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
New dads should get six weeks paid paternity leave, say MPs
New dads should get six weeks paid paternity leave, say MPs Dads in the UK get an unfair deal compared to other parts of Europe MPs have called upon the government to give a greater number of, and better paid paternity leaves to new dads (Image: Getty Images ) A multi party committee at Westminster has called upon the UK government to increase amount of paid leave given to new fathers. A new report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has said that the current system of parental leave in the UK has 'fundamental failings'. It added that they government's proposed 'full review' must address the failings head on. Chair of the committee, Labour MP Sarah Owen said: 'It's clear from the evidence in our Committee's report that the UK's parental leave system is in urgent need of an overhaul to fit with the reality of working parents' lives. This must start with longer and better paid paternity leave. The current system of paternity leave has been labelled 'unequal' (Image: Getty Images ) '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.' According to the report, the UK has 'one of the most gender unequal statutory parental leave systems in the developed world.' For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Article continues below Currently, new mothers can get 90% of their usual pay for the first six weeks after they have a baby. There is no maximum limit on this. After this time passes, new mothers will either get £187.18 per week or 90% of their usual pay — whichever is lowest for the next 33 weeks. However, new fathers are only entitled to take up to two weeks of paid paternity leave after their baby is born and can either get £187.18 per week or 90% of their usual pay — whichever is lowest. This falls short of the real living wage. The report says: 'It is widely recognised that this deeply gender unequal system reflects increasingly outdated gender norms around caring for babies and young children within two-parent families. 'The design of the system reflects and entrenches the norm that mothers overwhelmingly bear these responsibilities.' The MPs found that the perpetuation of these norms is a key factor in 'widespread pregnancy and maternity discrimination' by employers and is also a key driver of 'motherhood penalty'. They argue, that this in turn drives up the UK's 'persistent and relatively large' gender pay gap. The UK also performs poorly when compared to other countries in the developed world. For example, the UK's maximum statutory paternity leave of weeks, is comparable to the least least generous paternity leave duration in European Union countries, where two weeks of paternity leave is the legal minimum and many member states have much more generous offers. Th UK's paternity leave entitlement is also among lowest across the 38 countries in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). MP Sarah Owen said: 'The UK's parental leave system has fallen far behind most comparable countries, and we now have one of the worst statutory leave offers for fathers and other parents in the developed world. 'Countries which provide a substantial period of well-paid leave for all parents have on average a four-percentage point smaller gender pay gap than those that allow less than six weeks.' The WEC has called upon the UK government to get the paternity pay on par with the maternity pay given in the first six weeks, which is 90% of the person's average earnings. It has also asked the government to raise statutory pay in a phased manner for all parents so they receive 80% or more of their average earnings, or the real living wage. The committee has urged government to improve paternity leave and has suggested raising it incrementally taking into lessons from countries like Spain — where new fathers can avail 16 weeks of paternity leave at full pay. WEC said that the government should set out a 'pathway' to increasing paid paternity leave to six weeks. The report has also urges the government to introduce reforms into the Shared Parental Leave (SPL) increase access to 'as broad a range of working parents as possible' — this would include the self-employed and those on lower incomes. Article continues below MP Sarah Owen said: 'Ministers must commit to meaningful reforms in the medium term, with a view to going further towards a more gender equal parental leave system. 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.'
STV News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- STV News
UK has one of worst paternity leave systems in the developed world, MPs say
The UK has one of the 'worst statutory leave offers for fathers and other parents in the developed world', the chairwoman of the Women and Equalities Committee has warned. In a new report, the House of Commons committee said a maximum of two weeks' paternity leave is 'completely out of step with how most couples want to share their parenting responsibilities' and 'entrenches outdated gender stereotypes about caring'. The committee has urged the government to amend the Employment Rights Bill either to legislate for a day one right to paid leave or commit to 'considering this vital change within its review' in consultation with employers. It has also called on the government to consider raising paternity pay to the level of maternity pay in the first six weeks – 90% of average earnings. The paternity and shared parental leave report by the committee said working parents 'will be let down by a review that leads only to tinkering around the edges of the system'. Chairwoman of the Women and Equalities Committee Sarah Owen said the UK's parental leave system was in 'urgent need of an overhaul to fit with the reality of working parents' lives'. The Labour MP for Luton North said reform 'must start with longer and better paid paternity leave'. Ms Owen 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. 'The UK's parental leave system has fallen far behind most comparable countries, and we now have one of the worst statutory leave offers for fathers and other parents in the developed world.' Chairwoman of the Women and Equalities Committee Sarah Owen / Credit: Roger Harris/UK Parliament The Labour MP added: 'Ministers must commit to meaningful reforms in the medium-term, with a view to going further towards a more gender equal parental leave system. '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.' The report states that the UK's rate of statutory parental pay is 'completely out of kilter with the cost of living, has not kept pace with inflation and is far below rates in most comparable countries'. It recommends a phased introduction of increases to statutory pay across the system to bring rates for all working parents up to 80% or more of average earnings or the real Living Wage. The lack of provision for self-employed fathers is 'deeply unfair', the report adds. The committee recommends that the government consider options for providing statutory paid leave for all self-employed working fathers as part of its review of the parental leave system, including introducing a paternity allowance for self-employed fathers and other parents, similar to the maternity allowance. The report states that the shared parental leave system is 'extremely difficult for most parents and their employers to understand'. It said a forthcoming review must examine the function and necessity of eligibility rules, with a view to 'simplifying or removing the employment status, time in service and earnings criteria'. The committee said the review should examine approaches taken in overseas systems, including the German 'partnership bonus' and Portugal's 'sharing bonus', which provide additional paid leave to couples in which both parents take a substantial portion of leave while the other returns to paid work. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Rhyl Journal
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
UK has one of ‘worst statutory leave offers for fathers in developed world'
In a new report, the House of Commons committee said a maximum of two weeks' paternity leave is 'completely out of step with how most couples want to share their parenting responsibilities' and 'entrenches outdated gender stereotypes about caring'. The committee has urged the Government to either amend the Employment Rights Bill to legislate for a day one right to paid leave or commit to 'considering this vital change within its review' in consultation with employers. It has also called on the Government to consider raising paternity pay to the level of maternity pay in the first six weeks – 90% of average earnings. The paternity and shared parental leave report by the committee said working parents 'will be let down by a review that leads only to tinkering around the edges of the system'. Chairwoman of the Women and Equalities Committee Sarah Owen said the UK's parental leave system was in 'urgent need of an overhaul to fit with the reality of working parents' lives'. The Labour MP for Luton North said reform 'must start with longer and better paid paternity leave'. Ms Owen 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. 'The UK's parental leave system has fallen far behind most comparable countries, and we now have one of the worst statutory leave offers for fathers and other parents in the developed world.' The Labour MP added: 'Ministers must commit to meaningful reforms in the medium-term, with a view to going further towards a more gender equal parental leave system. '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.' The report states that the UK's rate of statutory parental pay is 'completely out of kilter with the cost of living, has not kept pace with inflation and is far below rates in most comparable countries'. It recommends phased introduction of increases to statutory pay across the system to bring rates for all working parents up to 80% or more of average earnings or the real Living Wage. The lack of provision for self-employed fathers is 'deeply unfair', the report adds. The committee recommends that the Government consider options for providing statutory paid leave for all self-employed working fathers as part of its review of the parental leave system, including introducing a paternity allowance for self-employed fathers and other parents, similar to maternity allowance. The report states that the shared parental leave system is 'extremely difficult for most parents and their employers to understand'. It said a forthcoming review must examine the function and necessity of eligibility rules, with a view to 'simplifying or removing the employment status, time in service and earnings criteria'. The committee said the review should examine approaches taken in overseas systems, including the German 'partnership bonus' and Portugal's 'sharing bonus', which provide additional paid leave to couples in which both parents take a substantial portion of leave while the other returns to paid work.
