From 6 April 2026, you can take paternity leave from your very first day of a new job — but that's not the same as qualifying for statutory paternity pay. Check both below.
Your paternity leave & pay
| Entitlement | Status |
|---|---|
| Right to take leave | — |
| Statutory paternity pay | — |
It's easy to conflate the two, but UK law treats them separately. The "day-one right" only removes the service requirement for taking the leave — every employee can take up to 2 weeks off work for the birth or placement of a child from their very first day in a job. Statutory Paternity Pay, however, still requires you to have worked continuously for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (or the equivalent matching/placement week in an adoption). If you don't meet that test, you can still take the unpaid leave, but you won't receive statutory paternity pay from your employer — though you may still be eligible for other benefits, and some employers offer enhanced contractual paternity pay from day one regardless.
Statutory Paternity Pay is £194.32 per week (2026/27 rate), or 90% of your average weekly earnings if that figure is lower, paid for up to 2 weeks.
From 6 April 2026, the right to take paternity leave applies from your very first day of employment, with no minimum service requirement. This is separate from statutory paternity pay, which still requires 26 weeks' continuous service.
No. The day-one right applies only to taking the leave. Statutory Paternity Pay still requires 26 weeks' continuous service by the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth.
£194.32 per week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings if lower, for up to 2 weeks.
Made redundant around the same time? Check your statutory redundancy pay.