UK Statutory Instrument 2002 United Kingdom

Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (General) Regulations 2002

This instrument contains only regulations made by virtue of sections 2, 4 and 53 of, and paragraphs 8 and 11 of Schedule 7 to, the Employment Act 2002, which come into force on 8th December 2002. The instrument is made before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the coming into force of those provisions. The regulations in it are therefore exempted by section 173(5)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 from the requirement under section 172 of that Act to refer the proposals to make the regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee and they are made without reference to the Committee. Show full description

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At a glance

Enforced by

HMRC

What's here

16 compliance obligations, 4 practical guides across 2 topics · 1 journey

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

Employer 12
Employee 4

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Manage your employees

1 step

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Supporting — topic alignment

3 guides

Handle statutory adoption leave and pay

Handle statutory paternity leave and pay (post-2024 rules)

Statutory family leave and pay rates 2026/27 (paternity, adoption, SPL/ShPP)

Mentioned in related content

1 guides

Maternity leave and pay

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Employers also bound by 192 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 176 duties
The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 123 duties
Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 84 duties
Employment Rights Act 1996 1996 56 duties
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 1989 52 duties

Employees also bound by 33 other Acts (top 5 shown)

EU Regulation 561/2006 (Drivers' Hours) - Retained EU Law 2006 8 duties
The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 6 duties
Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 2006 4 duties
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England/Wales comparison) 2005 4 duties
Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 2014 4 duties

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

s.006

Options in respect of periods of payment of statutory paternity pay (birth)

Pay statutory paternity pay as per employee's chosen dates Employer

s.010

Entitlement to statutory paternity pay (birth) where there is more than one employer

Pay statutory paternity pay for eligible weeks even if not liable Employer

s.012

Options in respect of periods of payment of statutory paternity pay (adoption)

Allow employee to choose start date and period of statutory adoption paternity pay Employer

s.016

Entitlement to statutory paternity pay (adoption) where there is more than one employer

Pay statutory paternity (adoption) pay when employee works only for you Employer

s.017

Work during a period of payment of statutory paternity pay

Notify employer of any work while receiving statutory paternity pay Employee

s.020

Avoidance of liability for statutory paternity pay

Pay statutory paternity pay even after dismissing to avoid it Employer

s.021

Adoption pay period

Determine and manage adoption pay period dates Employer

s.022

Adoption pay period in cases where adoption is disrupted

Terminate statutory adoption pay when adoption is disrupted Employer

s.023

Additional notice requirements for statutory adoption pay

Give expected placement date when applying for statutory adoption pay Employee

s.024

Evidence of entitlement to statutory adoption pay

Provide evidence for entitlement to statutory adoption pay Employee

s.025

Entitlement to statutory adoption pay where there is more than one employer

Pay statutory adoption pay to eligible employees Employer

s.026

Work during an adoption pay period

Notify the statutory adoption‑pay payer if you work during your adoption pay period Employee

s.030

Avoidance of liability for statutory adoption pay

Pay statutory adoption pay when you dismiss to avoid liability Employer

s.042

Time when statutory paternity pay and statutory adoption pay are to be paid

Pay statutory paternity or adoption pay on time Employer

s.043

Liability of the Board to pay statutory paternity pay or statutory adoption pay

Pay statutory paternity or adoption pay when the employer fails or becomes insolvent Employer

s.working for not more than 10 days during an adopti

Working for not more than 10 days during an adoption pay period

Continue statutory adoption pay if employee works up to 10 days Employer

Browse 38 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.001

Conditions of entitlement to statutory paternity pay (adoption): relationship with child and with person with whom the child is placed for adoption

s.013

Change in circumstances

s.meaning of “week”

Meaning of “week”

s.notice and evidence requirements for statutory pat

Notice and evidence requirements for statutory paternity pay (birth)

s.notice of entitlement to statutory paternity pay (

Notice of entitlement to statutory paternity pay (birth)

s.qualifying period for statutory paternity pay (ado

Qualifying period for statutory paternity pay (adoption)

s.qualifying period for statutory paternity pay (bir

Qualifying period for statutory paternity pay (birth)

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.