Statutory Neonatal Care Leave and Pay — Northern Ireland parents missing out.

On 6 April, the UK Government introduced a new statutory entitlement to Neonatal Care Leave and Pay. This provides employed parents whose babies are admitted to neonatal care with a day-one employment right to take up to 12 weeks off work, depending on the length of time their baby is in neonatal care. Eligible parents are also entitled to up to 12 weeks of statutory pay at £187.18 per week or 90% of average weekly earnings whichever is lower.

Eligible parents are those who are the baby’s parent or partner of the baby’s mother, and have caring responsibility for the baby, and who meet the employee criteria

Not available in Northern Ireland

This entitlement is only available to parents living in England, Scotland or Wales. Parents living in Northern Ireland do not have this Statutory support. It is up to the Northern Ireland Assembly to decide to implement similar legislation for parents living here, but as yet they have not done so.

What is Neonatal care?

Neonatal care is the type of care to treat medical conditions affecting a baby born premature or sick, babies who have a difficult birth, low birth weight or when a medical condition develops shortly after birth. This care would be provided within a specialised hospital neonatal unit

In Northern Ireland, approximately 2,000 newborn babies require admission to a neonatal unit each year. More than half of these babies will need intensive or high dependency care.

This is a stressful and worrying time for the parents of babies who are ill, and the provision of this additional financial support could help relieve some of the pressure that comes from having to take time off work in these circumstances.

For more information

Read more information on Statutory Neonatal Care Pay and Leave.

To find out more about what financial support you are entitled to after the birth of a baby, contact our Family Benefits Advice Service on 028 9267 8200 or email hello@employersforchildcare.org.