If you’re planning time off to care for your baby and support your partner after the birth, Paternity Leave is the first option to understand. This guide explains who qualifies, how much leave and pay you may get, when it can start, and how to use it as part of your plan.
What is paternity leave?
Paternity leave is statutory time off work for the child’s father, or for the mother or birth parent’s partner. It is designed to give them time to care for the child and support the mother or birth parent after the birth.
Eligible employees can take up to 2 weeks of Paternity Leave. You can choose how to use thoses two weeks, whether as one block of two weeks, or two blocks of one week. The same two-week entitlement applies even if you have more than one child at the same time.
Who qualifies for paternity leave?
Since 6 April 2026, paternity leave is available from the first day of employment, provided you are an employee and give the correct notice. The continuity of service rules for Statutory Paternity Pay, however, remain different — and this is where many parents get caught out.
What is Statutory Paternity Pay?
Statutory Paternity Pay is currently £194.32 per week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings — whichever is lower. It's paid through payroll like normal wages, and tax and National Insurance may be deducted in the usual way.
Who qualifies for Statutory Paternity Pay?
To qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay, you usually need to:
- Have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks up to the end of any day in the qualifying week
- Be employed by your employer up to the date of birth
- Earn an average of at least £129 a week before tax
- Give the correct notice
The qualifying week is the 15th week before the baby is due.
What if my employer offers enhanced paternity pay?
Some employers offer an enhanced leave package for partners, this could mean more leave, more pay or both, though many only offer the statutory minimum. This could mean full pay for your statutory entitlement of two weeks, or it could be many more weeks.
An increasing number of employers are offering strengthened leave packages for both parents, and you may see paternity leave grouped alongside “parental leave”, “family leave” or similar. Always check the wording of your policy carefully — "paternity leave", "partner leave", "new parent leave" and "family leave" can all mean different things at different employers.
Combining paternity leave with Shared Parental Leave
Paternity Leave can now be taken before or after Shared Parental Leave and Pay. GOV.UK confirms that eligible parents can take Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave in any order, which gives you more flexibility when mapping out the first year.
Planning how to use your two weeks
If you only have two weeks of leave, this can be a real challenge. Some parents use both weeks immediately after the birth. Others split the leave, taking one week straight after birth and saving the second for a later point, such as when their partner returns to work.
The right answer depends on your partner's recovery, your childcare support, your employer's policy, and whether you plan to use additional leave alongside your paternity leave.
For some families, two weeks works fine. For others — particularly where the birth parent is recovering from a difficult birth or there's limited family support — Shared Parental Leave, annual leave, or unpaid parental leave may be worth considering on top.
Three things to check before you set your dates
- Whether you qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay as well as the leave itself
- Whether your employer enhances paternity pay above the statutory minimum
- Whether you want to combine paternity leave with Shared Parental Leave or annual leave to extend your time at home
Getting clarity on these three points early makes the rest of the planning much easier.
Put it into practice
Plan your leave with confidence.
Use our free planner to map out your leave and pay week by week — based on your real circumstances, your employer's policy, and current UK rules.
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