When can my Statutory Paternity Pay for adoption start?

Your Statutory Paternity Pay can begin on:

• the date the child is placed with you, or, if you are at work on that day, the following day; or
• the date which falls a specified number of days after the child is placed with you; or
• a pre-determined date which you specify to your employer, and which falls later than the date on which your placement is expected to take place.

You can choose to receive SPP for either one week or two, up to a maximum of two weeks. You will be paid either a flat rate or 90% of your average weekly earnings if you earn less than the flat rate per week. Your average weekly earnings are calculated using your gross pay, which includes pay that forms part of your NI contributions.

The flat rate tends to increase each year. For the tax year 2011-12, it is £128.73.