Adoption leave and pay

If you're taking time off work to have a child through surrogacy, you might be eligible for:

This is the legal minimum your employer must give you.

Your employer might offer a better adoption leave and pay scheme. Check your contract or speak to your employer.

If you're in a couple

If you're in a couple, only one of you can get adoption leave and pay. You should decide between yourselves who will get it.

The partner who does not get adoption leave and pay might be able to get paternity leave and pay.

Both of you might also be able to use Shared Parental Leave and Pay to take time off.

Statutory Adoption Leave can last for up to 52 weeks. This is the same as maternity leave.

To be eligible for adoption leave, you must:

Statutory Adoption Pay is 39 weeks. This is the same as for maternity pay.

Adoption pay starts when you take your adoption leave.

You get 90% of your average weekly earnings.

You get whichever is lower:

To get Statutory Adoption Pay, you must:

be legally classed as an employee
have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks for the same employer before your 'qualifying week'
earn at least £123 a week, before tax, in the 8 weeks before your 'qualifying week'
tell your employer and give them the correct notice
give proof of the surrogacy, if your employer asks you for it

If you're not eligible for paid leave, you can ask your employer if you can take unpaid leave.

You need to work out when your 'qualifying week' is so you know:

To work out your qualifying week, use a calendar to count 15 weeks back from the week your baby is due.

Last reviewed

29 March 2023