Statutory Neonatal Care Pay

Pay needs more than a leave approval

An employee can qualify for Neonatal Care Leave from their first day of work in Great Britain, but Statutory Neonatal Care Pay has service and earnings conditions. The baby must receive qualifying neonatal care that starts within 28 days of birth and lasts for at least seven full continuous days. The claimant also needs the required caring relationship.

For pay, the employee normally needs 26 weeks of continuous employment by the applicable qualifying week, sufficient average weekly earnings and continuing employment until the week before pay begins. The qualifying-week anchor changes according to whether they are eligible for maternity, paternity or adoption pay. The GOV.UK eligibility guide should drive that decision.

Count care in complete seven-day periods

One week of pay can accrue for each seven full continuous days of qualifying care, up to 12 weeks. Twins or triplets from the same pregnancy do not multiply the overall cap. Qualifying care includes hospital care, specified consultant-supervised care after discharge with hospital-arranged checks, and palliative or end-of-life care. It does not mean every hospital visit.

Pay and leave must be used within 68 weeks of birth. Tier 1 and Tier 2 timing affects how leave is taken around other parental leave. Keep the pay period aligned with valid Neonatal Care Leave where the claimant has that leave right; otherwise apply the statutory-pay employment-type rules. The employer guide explains the care and timing rules.

Use the rate for the qualifying period

SNCP pays 90% of average weekly earnings unless that exceeds the statutory weekly limit. The earnings threshold depends on the tax year containing the relevant qualifying week. Do not use one undated “current” figure for every claim.

Keep the birth and care dates, complete weeks, relationship, qualifying week, continuity and earnings calculation, notice, declaration and payments together. Statutory-pay records must be retained for the official period. Northern Ireland has no current equivalent right, so do not treat a proposal as an entitlement.