GOV.UK
Paternity pay and leave
5. How to claim
Paternity Leave
You must tell your employer at least 15 weeks before the week the baby is expected:
- the baby’s due date
- when you want your leave to start, eg the day of the birth or the week after the birth
- if you want 1 or 2 weeks’ leave
Work out when to tell your employer you want Paternity Leave online.
Your employer can ask for this in writing. You can ask for Paternity Pay at the same time, if you use form SC3 (or your employer’s own version).
The rules and forms are different if you adopt.
Paternity Pay
You must give your employer form SC3 (or their own version) at least 15 weeks before the week the baby is expected.
The rules and forms are different if you adopt.
For Paternity Leave and Pay you don’t need proof of the pregnancy or birth - the rules are different if you adopt.