Neonatal Care Leave and Pay: Your New Rights from April 2025 Explained

What Is Neonatal Care Leave?

Neonatal Care Leave is a new statutory entitlement introduced on 6 April 2025 that gives parents the right to take paid time off work when their baby requires neonatal care. This is one of the most significant new parental rights in recent years.

Previously, parents of babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) or special care baby units (SCBU) had no specific right to additional leave. They had to rely on maternity/paternity leave, annual leave, or unpaid leave — meaning their paid maternity leave was being used up while their baby was in hospital.

Who Qualifies for Neonatal Care Leave?

To be eligible, you must be:

•An employee (not a worker or self-employed)

•The parent (birth parent, partner, or intended parent through surrogacy/adoption) of a baby who receives neonatal care within 28 days of birth

•The baby must require neonatal care for at least 7 continuous days

Important: Neonatal care leave is a day-one right — you don't need any minimum length of service with your employer.

How Much Neonatal Care Leave Can You Take?

You can take up to 12 weeks of neonatal care leave, calculated as:

•1 week of leave for each week (or part-week) your baby is in neonatal care

•Maximum of 12 weeks total

•Taken in blocks of at least 1 week

This leave is in addition to your existing maternity, paternity, adoption, or shared parental leave. It doesn't reduce your other leave entitlements.

How Much Is Neonatal Care Pay?

Statutory Neonatal Care Pay is paid at:

•£194.32 per week (2026/27 rate) — the same as the lower rate of SMP

•Or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that's less

To qualify for the pay element, you need:

•At least 26 weeks' continuous service with your employer by the qualifying week

•Average weekly earnings of at least £129 (the Lower Earnings Limit)

Even if you don't qualify for neonatal care pay, you can still take neonatal care leave (unpaid).

How Does It Work Alongside Maternity Leave?

Neonatal care leave works in addition to maternity leave. Here's how it typically works:

1.Birth and NICU admission — your maternity leave may have already started, or it triggers automatically

2.During neonatal care — your maternity leave continues as normal during this period

3.Baby discharged home — after your baby comes home, you can take neonatal care leave on top of your remaining maternity leave

4.Extended time at home — this means you get extra weeks with your baby at home, rather than using up maternity leave while your baby is in hospital

Example Scenario

Sarah's baby is born prematurely and spends 8 weeks in NICU. Without neonatal care leave, Sarah would only have 44 weeks of maternity leave left at home. With the new right, Sarah can take her full 52 weeks of maternity leave plus up to 8 weeks of neonatal care leave — giving her up to 60 weeks total.

How to Claim Neonatal Care Leave

1.Notify your employer that your baby requires neonatal care

2.Provide evidence if requested (e.g. a letter from the hospital)

3.Request leave — you can start leave immediately during the neonatal care period (no notice required), or give notice to take it later

4.Claim pay — if eligible, statutory neonatal care pay is processed through your employer's payroll

Your Rights During Neonatal Care Leave

During neonatal care leave, you have the same protections as during maternity leave:

•Your employment contract continues — you accrue annual leave, pension rights, etc.

•You're protected from dismissal related to taking neonatal care leave

•You have the right to return to the same job (or a suitable alternative if combined with other extended leave)

•You cannot suffer any detriment for taking neonatal care leave

Neonatal Care Leave for Partners

The neonatal care leave right applies to both parents, not just the birth mother. This means:

•Partners can take up to 12 weeks in addition to their paternity leave

•Both parents can take neonatal care leave at the same time

•This gives families crucial time together after a traumatic start

What Counts as "Neonatal Care"?

Neonatal care includes any medical care received by a baby in a hospital setting, including:

•Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

•Special care baby unit (SCBU)

•Transitional care

•Any hospital care for the baby within 28 days of birth lasting 7+ days

Care received at home after discharge does not count.

Planning Your Finances

If your baby needs neonatal care, you'll receive both maternity pay and neonatal care pay:

•Calculate your SMP with our maternity pay calculator

•Plan your maternity dates

•See your after-tax pay

Key Contacts

•Bliss (premature baby charity): 0808 801 0322

•ACAS (employment rights): 0300 123 1100

•Your hospital's neonatal unit — ask about their parent liaison team

Related Guides

•Premature Baby Maternity Leave Rights — additional protections

•Maternity Leave Rights — your full leave entitlements

•Paternity Leave and Pay — partner's rights