If you’re working and you adopt a child, you’re usually entitled to paid time off work when they first join your family. This is called Statutory Adoption Pay and Leave.
What is Statutory Adoption Leave?
Did you know?
Some employers have more generous adoption leave schemes than the statutory one. Check your employment contract or staff handbook for details, or ask your employer.
If you’re adopting or having a child through surrogacy, you might be entitled to 52 weeks’ leave from work if you’re an employee.
If you’re adopting as a couple, only one person can get adoption leave.
The other might be able to get paternity leave or shared parental leave.
Find out more about paternity leave and shared parental leave in our guide Paternity leave and pay
Protection from redundancy
If you’re an employee on maternity or adoption leave, you’re entitled to 18 months of protection from redundancy. You are protected from the date of your expected birth or date of adoption.
If you’re taking six weeks of continuous shared parental leave, you’re also protected for 18 months from redundancy. Find out more about managing discriminationOpens in a new window on the ACAS website.
What is Statutory Adoption Pay?
Statutory Adoption Pay is the legal minimum your employer should pay you when you’re on adoption leave.
This table shows how much you’ll get at each stage of adoption leave for the 2025/26 tax year:
| Statutory Adoption Leave | Statutory Adoption Pay |
|---|---|
|
First six weeks |
90% of your average weekly earnings before tax |
|
The next 33 weeks |
£187.18 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is less) |
|
The next 13 weeks |
Unpaid |
Are you eligible?
To get Statutory Adoption Pay, you must:
- earn at least £125 a week on average before tax
- have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the week you’re matched with a child (or the 15th week before the due date if you’re using a surrogate)
- give your employer at least 28 days’ notice that you want to stop work and tell them when you want your adoption pay to start (at least 15 weeks’ notice if you’re using a surrogate)
- give your employer proof of adoption (for example, the matching certificate).
To work out when to claim your leave, use the adoption leave plannerOpens in a new window on GOV.UK
Find out more about adoption pay and leaveOpens in a new window on GOV.UK
Pay if you’re adopting a child from overseas
The requirements are the same if you’re adopting from overseas, except you must have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks when you start getting adoption pay.
You must also sign form SC6 if you’re adopting from overseas with a partner. This confirms you’re not taking paternity leave or pay.
Pay if you’re in a surrogacy arrangement
The requirements are the same if you’re in a surrogacy arrangement, except you must have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby’s due.
You must also:
- If you intend to apply for a parental orderOpens in a new window – find out more on GOV.UK.
- expect the order to be granted (for example because you don’t have any convictions involving children, and the birth mother or father agree to the arrangement).
If you’re genetically related to the child (the egg or sperm donor), you can choose to get paternity leave and pay instead. You can’t get both.
Find out more about paternity leave and payOpens in a new window on GOV.UK
You’re fostering for adoption
If you qualify for adoption pay and leave, you’ll receive them from when the child comes to live with you.
Exceptions
You don’t qualify for Statutory Adoption Leave or Pay if you:
- arrange a private adoption
- become a special guardian or kinship carer
- adopt a stepchild
- adopt a family member.
If you don’t qualify for Statutory Adoption Pay
Your employer must give you form SAP1 explaining why you can’t get Statutory Adoption Pay.
You might get support from your local council to find out about other financial support which might be available to adopters.
Find your local council:
- in England, Wales and Scotland, on GOV.UKOpens in a new window
- in Northern Ireland, on nidirectOpens in a new window
- It would be a good idea to try to put some money aside to help you get by while you’re off work looking after your new child, and consider taking annual leave instead.
If you think your employer isn’t being fair
What if your employer doesn’t think they need to give you adoption pay, or you feel they’re not paying you the right amount?
- Find out if what’s happening is discrimination, visit Citizens Advice (Opens in a new window)
- Talk to your employer. You might be able to resolve it informally. If you’re not sure where to start, Acas can help (Opens in a new window), or try speaking to your trade union or employer’s rep if you have one
- Find out more on Citizens Advice, if you’re unable to resolve the issue, you can make a written complaint (Opens in a new window)Opens in a new window
