Ask your employer for Statutory Paternity Pay and/or Paternity Leave
If you want to take time off work to support your partner who is having a child through birth, adoption, or surrogacy, you may be entitled to:
- Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP)
- one or two weeks of Paternity Leave
To apply for Statutory Paternity Pay and/or Paternity Leave, you can fill out this form and send it to your employer. Your employer will use your information to check if you’re eligible for Statutory Paternity Pay, Paternity Leave, or both.
If you’re eligible, you can only begin your leave after the child is born or adopted.
Find out more about Paternity pay and leave and your eligibility.
Before you start
If you live in England Scotland and Wales
To claim Statutory Paternity Pay and/or Paternity Leave, you should:
- fill out this form and send it to your employer at least 15 weeks before the baby is due (this is different if you adopt)
- tell your employer your leave dates at least 28 days before you take them (you do not need to know your leave dates when filling out this form)
You can take up to 2 weeks of Paternity leave, together or separately.
If you live in Northern Ireland
To claim Statutory Paternity Pay and/or Paternity Leave, you should:
- fill out this form and send it to your employer at least 15 weeks before the baby is due (this is different if you adopt)
- let your employer know your leave dates (you can change this later if you tell your employer at least 28 days before your leave starts)
You can take up to 2 weeks of Paternity Leave, but you must take them together.
Sending the form to your employer
Once you’ve completed this form, you must download and sign it before sending a copy to your employer. If you’re sending it in the post, you’ll need a printer.
Start now