Statutory Neonatal Care Pay - How do I claim Statutory Neonatal Care Pay?

You can claim Statutory Neonatal Care Pay through your employer.

You must give your employer notice before you take Neonatal Care Leave and Pay.

Telling your employer about your leave and pay

If you're taking leave and pay while your baby is in neonatal care (called ‘tier 1’ leave):

• Let your employer know as soon as you want your leave and pay to start

• Keep your employer informed and tell them when your baby leaves neonatal care

• You have up to 28 days after your leave starts to write to your employer and request neonatal care pay

If you’re taking leave and pay more than a week after your baby has left neonatal care (called ‘tier 2’ leave):

• For one week of leave and pay, give your employer 15 days’ written notice before you want your leave and pay to start

• For 2 or more weeks’ leave and pay, give your employer 28 days’ written notice before you want your leave and pay to start  

What you need to tell your employer

Your employer will probably need this information from you:

• your full name

• your baby’s date of birth (and adoption details if relevant)

• dates your baby is or was in neonatal care

• when you want your leave and pay to start and how many weeks you’re taking

• confirming you’ll be caring for the baby and you’re the baby’s parent or mother’s partner with  caring responsibilities

Cancelling your Neonatal Care Leave or Pay

You might be able to cancel your Neonatal Care Leave or Pay, depending on when your leave is due to start.

You can ask your employer to move your leave and pay to a different date if you give your employer the correct notice (find out more above).

You cannot cancel your leave or pay if it was going to start while your baby was still in neonatal care (or in the first week after).

If your leave or pay is due to start more than a week after your baby has left neonatal care and you want to cancel:

• one week’s leave and pay – give written notice to your employer at least 15 days before they start

• 2 or more weeks’ leave and pay – give written notice to your employer at least 28 days before they start