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Understanding Shared Parental Leave and Paternity Pay in the UK
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) and Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) are rights designed to help parents in the UK spend time with their new child. SPL allows parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 39 weeks of pay, offering flexibility beyond traditional maternity and paternity leave. This calculator helps you understand your potential entitlement, how much pay you might receive, and how to plan your leave.
How Shared Parental Leave Works
The mother or primary adopter is entitled to up to 52 weeks of maternity or adoption leave. They must take at least the first 2 weeks (or 4 weeks if they work in a factory) as compulsory maternity/adoption leave. They can choose to end (curtail) their remaining leave early. Each week they curtail becomes a week of Shared Parental Leave, which can be taken by either parent. The total SPL available to both parents cannot exceed 50 weeks (52 weeks minus the 2 compulsory weeks).
SPL can be taken in one continuous block or in separate blocks (discontinuous leave), though discontinuous leave requires your employer's agreement. You must give your employer at least 8 weeks' notice before any period of SPL.
Calculating Your Statutory Pay
Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) and Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) are calculated the same way. To qualify, you must earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit (£123 per week for the 2025/26 tax year). Your weekly pay is the lower of:
- The standard rate (£184.03 per week for 2025/26), or
- 90% of your average weekly earnings.
This pay is payable for up to 39 weeks in total across the family. For example, if the mother takes 20 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay, up to 19 weeks of ShPP remain available to be shared. Any leave taken beyond 39 weeks is unpaid unless your employer offers enhanced terms.
Example Calculation
Alex and Sam are expecting a baby. Sam (the mother) plans to take 30 weeks of maternity leave and then curtails it, making the remaining 22 weeks of her 52-week entitlement available as Shared Parental Leave. Alex (the partner) has average weekly earnings of £300 and wants to take 10 of those 22 weeks as SPL.
- Eligibility: Alex earns £300/week, which is above the £123 Lower Earnings Limit, so they qualify for pay.
- Weekly Pay Rate: 90% of £300 is £270. The standard rate is £184.03. The lower figure is £184.03, so Alex's weekly ShPP rate is £184.03.
- Total ShPP: £184.03/week × 10 weeks = £1,840.30 in total Shared Parental Pay.
If Alex also took 2 weeks of Paternity Leave around the birth, they would receive an additional £184.03 × 2 = £368.06 in SPP, for a combined total of £2,208.36 in statutory pay.
Paternity Leave
Partners are also entitled to one or two weeks of Paternity Leave, which must be taken in one block within 56 days of the birth or adoption. The pay calculation for SPP uses the same method as ShPP. This leave is separate from and can be combined with Shared Parental Leave.
Next Steps: Formalising Your Leave
Once you've used this calculator to estimate your dates and pay, you should formally notify your employer. For Paternity Leave, a Paternity Leave Request Letter is the appropriate document. For Shared Parental Leave, you will need to make a formal declaration and booking notice. Reviewing your company's Shared Parental Leave policy or using a Letter Requesting Parental Leave can help ensure you provide all required information and meet legal deadlines.