Adoption Pay and Leave

Adopters who are employed are usually entitled to adoption leave and may be eligible to adoption pay.

Employees may be eligible to Adoption leave of up to 52 weeks. If a couple is adopting, only 1 person in the couple can take adoption leave. The partner would be eligible for paternity leave instead.

For qualification purposes, employees must have been employed for at least 26 weeks by the time they are matched with a child and earn at least £125.00 per week.

Potential adopters must inform their employers of the following within 7 days of being matched with a child:

• Start date of adoption leave (where possible a minimum of 28 days’ notice is required).
• How much leave they require.
• Date of placement.

Employees must give you proof of adoption to qualify for Statutory Adoption Pay. The proof must show:

• The employees name and address and that of the adoption agency.
• The match date – for example the matching certificate
• The date of placement – for example a letter from the agency
• The relevant UK authority’s official notification, confirming you’re allowed to adopt (overseas adoption only)
• The date the child arrived in the UK – for example a plane ticked (overseas adoptions only).

Statutory Adoption Pay is paid up to 39 weeks.

The weekly amounts are broken down into the below:

• 90% of the employees average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks
• £187.18 or 90% of their average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks

This is to be paid in the same way as their wages. Tax, NI and pension, where applicable, are deducted as normal.

Disclaimer - All information in this post was correct at time of writing.