I am the parent of a disabled child. What are my rights to parental leave?

If your child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance you are entitled to take 18 weeks unpaid parental leave until your child’s 18th birthday. You can take this leave in blocks of less than a week for up to 4 weeks per year. Parents of children without a disability have to take leave in one week blocks.

Some employers will provide a better entitlement than the legal minimum, and trade unions have negotiated many workplace agreements to provide for better than the statutory scheme, including allowing employees to take parental leave in longer or shorter blocks and paying for part or all of your parental leave. Check your terms and conditions, or with your union representative if you have one.