Adoption leave and pay
[ch 7: page 71]An employee adopting a child also has the right to take 52 weeks’ adoption leave provided they have been newly matched with a child for adoption by an approved adoption agency (the rules are different for adoptions from overseas).
From 5 April 2015, adoption leave becomes a “day one” right with no length of service requirement, bringing adoption leave in line with maternity leave.
The main adopter is entitled to statutory adoption pay (SAP) subject to the same 26-week qualifying period and minimum earnings threshold for the previous eight weeks/two months that applies for maternity pay.
From 5 April 2015 the rate of SAP will also come into line with maternity pay (£139.58). Under the new rules introduced under the Children and Families Act 2014, some surrogate parents will also become eligible for adoption leave from 5 April 2015 onwards.