Does Anyone know about Additional Paternity Pay?

Muffin86

Hi Everyone!

Sorry if this post is in the wrong place...

Im after some advice regarding Additional Paternity Leave.

My husband and I are expecting our first baby in May and I am currently in my second year of a 3 year university degree. After looking into our different options etc we have decided that it would benefit us in the long run and also financially if I could continue with my course as planned and return to university in October, which when I do I will be going straight on to placement till January.

We have learnt about Additional Paternity Pay through the direct gov website and are aware that it is going to be introduced in April this year, this is a perfect answer for us as my husband will look after baby while I fulfil my placement however on the direct gov website it states that the father may be eligble for additional paternity leave and pay if the mother returns to employment? so i am now wondering if we would be eligble? as although i will be returning to employment it will be unpaid as part of my course?

Sorry if this doesnt make any sense, but any advice anyone can give would be greatly appreciated!

Many Thanks

Muffin x

MrsManda

Are you going to be entitled to Statutory Maternity Leave, Statutory Maternity Pay, or Maternity Allowance?
According to Direct.gov in order to be entitled to Additional Paternity Leave, you as the child's mother must have been entitled to SMP/MA.
If your partner qualifies for Additional Paternity Leave then he should be able to claim Additional paternity pay providing he is in appropriate employment.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Paternityrightsintheworkplace/DG_190788

For you to qualify for Additional Paternity Leave you must be taking the time off to care for the child and child's mother or adopter must:

• have been entitled to one or more of the following - Statutory Maternity Leave, Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance or Statutory Adoption Leave or Pay
• have returned to work and ceased claiming any relevant pay

Additional Statutory Paternity Pay

For you to qualify for Additional Statutory Paternity Pay you must be an employed earner. That is you must work for someone who is liable to pay the employer's share of your class one National Insurance contributions. You must also earn at least the lower earnings limit (LEL) for National Insurance contributions in force at the end of the qualifying week.

this is just my reading of the details though, it's worth checking with the JC/DWP. You can also fill out a questionnaire here:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/EmploymentInteractiveTools/DG_065384 which will help you find out what you're entitled to claim

karenx

If you have been at uni for past few years then you wont be entitled to SMP/MA unless you also were in paid employment

Muffin86

Hiya, thanks for the replies

I am going to be claiming Maternity Allowance I have been with the same employer since 2006 however took a work break in September to enable me to do my placement, during which I found out I was pregnant. As I wasn't earning in the "qualifying weeks" due to my work break Im not entitled to SMP but I can claim MA. I decided not to return to work in Jan after my work break as I wanted to concentrate on finishing the course and having the baby

xxxx