Chapter 9: Maternity, paternity and other parental benefits

• 1. What are maternity, paternity and other parental benefits
• Statutory maternity pay
• Maternity allowance
• Statutory paternity pay
• Statutory adoption pay
• Statutory shared parental pay
• Statutory parental bereavement pay
• 2. Who is eligible
• Statutory maternity pay
• Maternity allowance
• Statutory paternity pay
• Statutory adoption pay
• Statutory shared parental pay
• Statutory parental bereavement pay
• 3. Amount of benefit
• 4. Claiming maternity, paternity and other parental benefits
• 5. Challenging a decision
• 6. Other benefits and tax credits

Basic facts

•Women having a baby can claim statutory maternity pay (SMP) if they have an employer, or maternity allowance if they have recently worked.
•The mother’s partner can claim statutory paternity pay (SPP).
•Parents adopting a child can claim statutory adoption pay (SAP) and SPP – one partner can claim SAP and the other SPP.
•Either partner in a couple can claim statutory shared parental pay instead of SMP, SPP or SAP.
•Part-time and full-time students are eligible for these benefits.