18-07-2025
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.
