The Neonatal Care Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations 2025 came into force on 6 April 2025. It is a new statutory entitlement for parents whose child receives neonatal care. The entitlement applies to children born after 5 April 2025. The child receives neonatal care starting within 28 days of birth. They spend 7 or more continuous days in care.
Eligible parents are entitled to up to 12 weeks of neonatal care leave. This is in addition to entitlement such as maternity, adoption, and paternity leave. They must take the leave within 68 weeks of the child’s birth. Parents may also be eligible for statutory neonatal care pay.
How it impacts your pension
If you are on paid neonatal care leave, your pension continues to build up as though you were working normally.
If you are on unpaid neonatal care leave, you can choose to buy back the lost pension. This may be through a shared cost additional pension contract with your employer. Please contact your employer if you wish to buy back lost pension.