TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (General) Regulations 2025
Made20th March 2025
Coming into force6th April 2025
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 171ZZ16(2)(a), (3), (4)(a) and (5), 171ZZ17(2) and (4)(a) to (c) and (e) to (j), 171ZZ18(2) and (3), 171ZZ19(1) to (5), (8) and (9), 171ZZ21(3), 171ZZ24(3) to (5), (7) and (8), and 175(1), (3) and (4) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19921 and sections 5(1)(g), (i), (l) and (p), and 189(1), (4), (5) and (6) of the Social Security Administration Act 19922, with the concurrence of the Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in so far as such concurrence is required.
A draft of these Regulations was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 176(1) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19923 and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
This instrument contains only regulations made by virtue of, or consequential upon, the Schedule to the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 and is made before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the coming into force of that Act4.
Part 1 GENERAL¶
I11 Citation, commencement and extent¶
I22 Application¶
These Regulations apply in respect of children who are born on or after 6th April 2025.I33 Interpretation¶
In these Regulations—-
“the 1992 Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19925;
-
“the 1996 Act” means the Employment Rights Act 19966;
-
“associated employer” is to be construed in accordance with section 231 of the 1996 Act;
-
“C” means the child in relation to whom an entitlement to statutory neonatal care pay arises;
-
“the Commissioners” means the Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs;
-
“relevant week” has the meaning given in section 171ZZ16(6) of the 1992 Act;
-
“statutory neonatal care pay” means statutory neonatal care pay payable in accordance with Part 12ZE of the 1992 Act;
-
“statutory pay week” has the meaning given in section 171ZZ19(11) of the 1992 Act;
-
“Tier 1 period” means the period beginning with the day C starts receiving neonatal care and ending with the 7th day after the day C stops receiving neonatal care;
-
“Tier 2 period” means any period of time in the qualifying period specified in regulation 10 (qualifying period) which is not a tier 1 period;
-
“week”, except in Part 3, means a period of seven days7.
I44 Definition of neonatal care¶
-
“consultant” means a registered medical practitioner who —
-
is on the Specialist Register kept by the General Medical Council under section 34D of the Medical Act 198312 and holds a consultant post; or
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does not fall within (a) or (b) but meets one of the following criteria -
-
is working as a locum consultant in the NHS or in private practice,
-
is working as a consultant in private practice; or
-
is working as a consultant in the armed forces;
-
-
“hospital” means—
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any institution for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from illness, and
-
any maternity home,
-
Part 2 ENTITLEMENT¶
I55 Conditions of entitlement relating to parental or other personal relationship¶
-
“intended parent” means a person who on the day of the child’s birth—
-
has applied or intends to apply during the period of 6 months beginning with the day of the child’s birth—
-
expects the court to make such an order on that application in respect of the child;
-
-
“official notification” means written notification, issued by or on behalf of the relevant domestic authority, that it is prepared to issue a certification to the overseas authority concerned with the adoption of the child, or has issued a certificate and sent it to that authority, confirming in either case that the overseas adopter is eligible to adopt and has been assessed and approved as being a suitable adoptive parent;
-
“overseas adopter” means a person—
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with whom the child is living, following the child’s entry into Great Britain from outside the United Kingdom in connection with or for the purposes of adoption which does not involve the placement of the child for adoption under the law of any part of the United Kingdom, and
-
who has received official notification in respect of the child;
-
-
“P” means the child’s mother or a person who is an adopter, prospective adopter or overseas adopter;
-
“partner” means a person (whether of a different sex or the same sex) who lives with P in an enduring family relationship but is not a relative of P of a kind specified in paragraph (5);
-
“prospective adopter” means a person—
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with whom the child has been placed, either—
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in accordance with section 22C of the Children Act 198919 (ways in which looked after children are to be accommodated and maintained), following consideration in accordance with subsection (9B)(c) of that section, or
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in accordance with section 81 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 201420;
-
-
“relevant domestic authority” means—
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in the case of an overseas adopter to whom Part 3 of the Adoptions with a Foreign Element Regulations 200521 apply and who is habitually resident in Wales, the Welsh Ministers,
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in the case of an overseas adopter to whom the Adoptions with a Foreign Element (Scotland) Regulations 200922 apply and who is habitually resident in Scotland, the Scottish Ministers, and
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in any other case, the Secretary of State;
-
I66 Entitlement to statutory neonatal care pay in special circumstances¶
I77 Number of weeks pay¶
I88 More than one child in receipt of neonatal care¶
In a case where a person meets the conditions in regulation 5 in respect of more than one child born as a result of the same pregnancy—-
;
I99 Options in respect of payment of statutory neonatal care pay¶
I1010 Qualifying period¶
I1111 Notice and evidence requirements for statutory neonatal care pay¶
I1212 Cases where there is no liability to pay statutory neonatal care pay¶
I1313 Work during period of payment of statutory neonatal care pay¶
Part 3 CONDITIONS OF ENTITLEMENT RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS¶
I1414 Treatment of persons as employees¶
I1515 Continuous employment from the end of the relevant week¶
I1616 Continuous employment even though no contract of service exists¶
I1717 Continuous employment and unfair dismissal¶
-
“dismissal procedures agreement” has the same meaning as in section 235 of the 1996 Act26;
-
“specified action in relation to a person’s dismissal” means action which consists of—
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the presentation by that person of a complaint under section 111(1) (complaints to employment tribunal) of the 1996 Act27,
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that person making a claim in accordance with a dismissal procedures agreement designated by an order under section 110 of the 1996 Act28, or
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any action taken by a conciliation officer under sections 18A to 18C (conciliation) of the Employment Tribunals Act 199629;
-
-
“successor”has the same meaning as in section 235 of the 1996 Act.
I1818 Continuous employment and stoppages of work¶
I1919 Modification for periods of employment between 25 and 26 weeks¶
I2020 Change of employer¶
Where a person’s employer changes, a person’s employment is to be treated for the purposes of section 171ZZ16 of the 1992 Act as continuous employment with the second employer in the following circumstances—I2121 Reinstatement after service with the armed forces¶
Where a person—I2222 Treatment of two or more employers or two or more contracts of service as one¶
I2323 Normal weekly earnings¶
-
“the appropriate date” means—
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in any case where the person is entitled to statutory maternity pay under section 164 of the 1992 Act in respect of C, the same date as the appropriate date for the purposes of regulation 21(2) of the Statutory Maternity Pay (General) Regulations 198639;
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in any case where the person is entitled to statutory paternity pay under section 171ZA (birth) or section 171ZB (adoption) of the 1992 Act or statutory adoption pay under section 171ZL of the 1992 Act40 in respect of C, the same date as the appropriate date for the purposes of that pay under regulation 40(2) of the Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (General) Regulations 200241;
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in any other case, the first day of the week in which the neonatal care starts;
-
-
“day of payment” means a day on which a person is paid;
-
“normal pay day” means a day on which—
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the terms of a person’s contract of service require the person to be paid, or
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the practice in that person’s employment is for that person to be paid,
-
I2424 Modification of entitlement conditions: early birth¶
Part 4 PAYMENT OF STATUTORY NEONATAL CARE PAY¶
I2525 Weekly rate of payment¶
I2626 Statutory neonatal care pay and contractual remuneration¶
For the purposes of section 171ZZ21(1) and (2) of the 1992 Act (relationship with contractual remuneration), the payments which are to be treated as contractual remuneration are sums payable under a contract of service—I2727 Avoidance of liability for statutory neonatal care pay¶
.
I2828 Payment of statutory neonatal care pay¶
Payments of statutory neonatal care pay may be made in a like manner to payments of remuneration but must not include payment in kind or by way of provision of board or lodgings.I2929 Payment following a decision by an officer of Revenue and Customs¶
-
“appellate authority” means the First-Tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal, the Court of Appeal, the Court of Session, or the Supreme Court.
-
“pay day” means a day on which it has been agreed, or it is normal practice between an employer and their employee, that payments of remuneration are to be made, or, where there is no such agreement or normal practice, the last day of a calendar month.
I3030 Liability of the Commissioners to pay statutory neonatal care pay¶
I3131 Payments by the Commissioners¶
Where the Commissioners become liable in accordance with regulation 30 (liability of the Commissioners to pay statutory neonatal care pay) then payment is to be made as soon as reasonably practicable after they become so liable, by means of an instrument of payment or by such other means as appears to the Commissioners to be appropriate in the circumstances of any particular case.I3232 Persons unable to act¶
I3333 Service of notices¶
Schedule ¶
STATUTORY NEONATAL CARE PAY IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Regulation 6
Footnotes
- I1Reg. 1 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I2Reg. 2 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I3Reg. 3 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I4Reg. 4 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I5Reg. 5 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I6Reg. 6 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I7Reg. 7 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I8Reg. 8 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I9Reg. 9 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I10Reg. 10 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I11Reg. 11 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I12Reg. 12 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I13Reg. 13 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I14Reg. 14 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I15Reg. 15 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I16Reg. 16 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I17Reg. 17 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I18Reg. 18 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I19Reg. 19 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I20Reg. 20 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I21Reg. 21 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I22Reg. 22 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I23Reg. 23 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I24Reg. 24 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I25Reg. 25 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I26Reg. 26 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I27Reg. 27 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I28Reg. 28 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I29Reg. 29 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I30Reg. 30 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I31Reg. 31 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I32Reg. 32 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I33Reg. 33 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I34Sch. para. 1 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I35Sch. para. 2 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I36Sch. para. 3 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I37Sch. para. 4 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I38Sch. para. 5 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I39Sch. para. 6 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- I40Sch. para. 7 in force at 6.4.2025, see reg. 1(2)
- F1Sum in Reg. 25(1)(a) substituted (6.4.2026) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/148), arts. 1(3)(c), 10(4)
- 1
1992 c. 4. Sections 171ZZ16 to 171ZZ24 were inserted by Part 2 of the Schedule to the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 (c. 20). See section 171ZZ24(1) for the definition of “prescribed”. Section 175 was amended by paragraph 29 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2).
- 2
1992 c. 5. Section 5(1)(g) was amended by section 98(4) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5). Section 189 was amended by paragraph 57 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2); Schedule 6 to the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21) and S.I. 2013/252.
- 3
Section 176(1) was amended by paragraph 6 of the Schedule to the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023. There are further amendments not relevant to this instrument.
- 4
See sections 172(1) and 173(5) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.
- 5
1992 c. 4.
- 6
1996 c. 18.
- 7
For the meaning of “week” in Part 3 of these Regulations, see section 171ZZ24(5) of the 1992 Act.
- 8
1983 c. 54. Section 55 was amended by S.I. 2010/234 and 2010/478. The section defines NHS consultant to mean a consultant other than a locum consultant but including an honorary consultant.
- 9
2006 c. 41.
- 10
2006 c. 42.
- 11
1978 c. 29.
- 12
1983 c. 54. Amended by S.I. 2019/593.
- 13
2002 c. 38.
- 14
2007 asp 4.
- 15
2008 c. 22. Section 54 was amended by paragraph 206 of Schedule 11 to the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22); part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9) and S.I. 2018/1413.
- 16
Section 54A was inserted by S.I. 2018/1413.
- 17
S.I. 2005/389; regulation 30B was inserted by S.I. 2013/985.
- 18
S.I. 2005/1313 (W. 95); regulation 30B was inserted by S.I. 2020/163.
- 19
1989 c. 41. Section 22C was inserted by section 8 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (c. 23) and amended by section 2, and paragraph 29 of Schedule 2, to the Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), S.I. 2016/413 (W. 131) and S.I. 2018/195 (W. 44).
- 20
2014 anaw. 4. Section 81 was amended by S.I. 2017/1025 (W. 263).
- 21
S.I. 2005/392, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.
- 22
S.S.I. 2009/182, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.
- 23
2008 c. 22. Section 54A was amended by paragraph 206 of Schedule 11 to the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 to the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), and S.I. 2018/1413. Section 54A was inserted 6B. by S.I. 2018/1413.
- 24
S.I. 1978/1689; amended by section 6 of the National Insurance Contributions Act 2015 (c. 5) and by S.I. 1980/1713, 1984/350, 1990/1894, 1994/726, 1998/1728, 2003/736, 2003/2420, 2004/770, 2005/3133, 2006/1530, 2012/816, 2014/635, 2015/478 and 2017/307.
- 25
S.I. 2001/1004; regulation 145 was amended by S.I. 2012/817 and S.I. 2024/377.
- 26
There are amendments to section 235 not relevant to these Regulations.
- 27
Section 111(1) was amended by section 1(2)(a) of the Employment Rights (Dispute Resolution) Act 1998 (c. 8).
- 28
Section 110 was amended by sections 1 and 12 of the Employment Rights (Dispute Resolution) Act 1998 (c. 8) and paragraph 52 of Schedule 9 to the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22).
- 29
1996 c. 17. Sections 18A to 18C were inserted by section 7 of, and paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to, the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.
- 30
1995 c. 18. There are amendments to section 35(1) not relevant to these Regulations.
- 31
1996 c. 56. The definition of “local authority” in section 579(1) was amended by S.I. 2010/1158. There are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
- 32
1985 c. 17.
- 33
Schedule 3 was amended by S.I. 2001/2412, 2001/3629, 2002/307, 2002/2924, 2003/1059, 2003/2085, 2003/2340, 2003/2958, 2004/173, 2004/770, 2004/2096, 2005/728, 2005/778, 2005/2422, 2005/3130, 2006/576, 2006/883, 2006/2003, 2006/2829, 2007/2091, 2007/2401, 2007/2905, 2008/607, 2008/1431, 2008/2624, 2009/600, 2010/188, 2011/225, 2011/797, 2011/1000, 2011/2700, 2012/817, 2013/622, 2013/1142, 2013/1907, 2014/608, 2014/3159, 2014/3228, 2015/478, 2015/543, 2016/352, 2016/647, 2016/1067, 2017/307, 2017/373, 2018/120, 2019/1009, 2020/320, 2020/923, 2023/186, 2023/773, 2023/823, 2023/1172, 2024/187, 2024/289.
- 34
Regulation 27 was amended by S.I. 2004/770 and 2005/3130.
- 35
Section 10A was inserted by section 53 of the Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14) and amended by paragraph 177 of Schedule 6 to the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1), paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments Act 2004 (c. 3) and paragraph 11 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2). There are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
- 36
Section 4B was inserted by section 1 of the National Insurance Contributions Act 2006 (c. 10) and amended by section 14 of the National Insurance Contributions Act 2014 (c. 7).
- 37
1992 c. 52. Relevant amendments to section 189 are S.I. 1999/1925 and 1999/2587.
- 38
Section 151(6) was amended by paragraph 9 of Schedule 1 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2).
- 39
S.I. 1986/1960; regulation 21 was amended by S.I. 1994/1367.
- 40
Sections 171ZA to 171ZK were inserted by section 2 of the Employment Act 2002 (c. 22). Section 171ZA was amended by paragraph 12 of Schedule 7 to the Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6) (“the 2014 Act”) and paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to the Work and Families Act 2006 (c. 18) (“the 2006 Act”). Section 171ZB was amended by paragraph 13 of Schedule 7 to the 2014 Act, paragraph 13 of Schedule 1 to the 2006 Act and S.I. 2016/413. Section 171ZL was inserted by section 4 of the Employment Act 2002 and amended by section 121(5) of the 2014 Act and S.I. 2006/413 and 2012, 2011/1740, and 2019/1514.
- 41
S.I. 2002/2822. The definition of “appropriate date” in regulation 40(2) is modified as it applies to section 54 parental order parents and section 54A parental order parents by S.I. 2014/2934; and modified as it applies to adoptions from overseas by S.I. 2003/1194; there are other amendments to regulation 40 but none is relevant.
- 42
1999 c. 2. Section 8 was amended by section 9 of the Employment Act 2002 (c. 22); paragraph 45 of Schedule 7 to the Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), paragraph 30 of Schedule 1 to the Parental Bereavement Act (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 (c. 24) and paragraph 31 of Schedule 1 to the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 (c. 20). There are other amendments not relevant to these Regulations.
- 43
1986 c. 45. Section 421 was amended by section 12(2) of the Insolvency Act 2000 (c. 39), paragraph 192 of Schedule 4 to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), and S.I. 2002/1037, 2017/702 and 2019/146.
- 44
1889 c. 39 (52 & 53 Vict). Section 11A was inserted by paragraph 4 of Schedule 7 to the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (c. 66) and amended by paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 and Part 1 of Schedule 6 to the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3) and paragraph 1 of Schedule 8 to the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 21).
- 45
2000 asp 4.