Statutory Neonatal Care Leave and Pay

Statutory Neonatal Care Leave and Pay have been available since 6 April 2025. For 2026/27 the weekly pay rate is the lower of £194.32 and 90% of average weekly earnings (gross), the same as paternity and shared parental pay (GOV.UK employer rates). SNCP is also treated as earnings for PAYE, so tax and National Insurance are deducted.

Eligible parents can take up to 12 weeks, based on each period of seven complete days that the baby receives neonatal care. This calculator converts the number of care days you enter into weeks, caps them at 12, and shows the pay separately from the maternity total. It does not check every eligibility test (service, earnings, or the type of neonatal care). Use the official SNCP calculator as well.