• an individual who is adopting
• one member of a couple where a couple adopt jointly (the couple must choose which partner takes adoption leave)

If you are the partner of an individual who adopts, or the other member of a couple who are adopting jointly, you may be entitled to paternity leave and pay.

Statutory Adoption Pay is paid at the same rate as Statutory Maternity Pay which, from April 2010, is £124.88 a week or 90 per cent of average weekly earnings if this is less than £124.88. But it is paid at the flat rate of £124.88 for the whole of the 39 week period. This amount is reviewed every April.

If you're eligible, you can take up to 52 weeks' adoption leave. This is made up of 26 weeks' Ordinary Adoption Leave and 26 weeks' Additional Adoption Leave. You'll get Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) for up to 39 weeks.

To qualify for adoption leave, you must:

• be newly matched with a child for adoption by an adoption agency
• have worked continuously for your employer for 26 weeks ending with the week in which you are notified of being matched with a child for adoption

For more advice and guidance call the Acas Helpline – 08457 47 47 47

• individuals who adopt
• one member of a couple where a couple adopt jointly (the couple must choose which partner takes adoption leave)

The partner of an individual who adopts, or the other member of a couple who are adopting jointly, may be entitled to paternity leave and pay.

Statutory Adoption Pay is paid at the same rate as Statutory Maternity Pay which, from April 2010, is £124.88 a week or 90 per cent of average weekly earnings if this is less than £124.88. But it is paid at the flat rate of £124.88 for the whole of the 39 week period. This amount is reviewed every April.

Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) is paid for up to 39 weeks.

An eligible employee can take up to 52 weeks' adoption leave. This is made up of 26 weeks' Ordinary Adoption Leave and 26 weeks' Additional Adoption Leave. To qualify for adoption leave, an employee must:

• be newly matched with a child for adoption by an adoption agency
• have worked continuously for their employer for 26 weeks ending with the week in which they are notified of being matched with a child for adoption

For more advice and guidance call the Acas Helpline – 08457 47 47 47