What is Statutory Adoption Pay?

It is the amount of money that must by law, be paid to an adoptive parent when he or she takes time off to adopt a child, or have a child through a surrogacy arrangement.

Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) is a payment made to employees who are adopting a child in the UK. It is available to employees who have been employed for at least 26 weeks prior to the date of the adoption and who meet the other eligibility criteria. The payment is made to the employee from their employer and is intended to provide financial support during the period of adoption.

SAP is a form of statutory pay, which means it is a legal requirement for employers to provide it. The payment is made for up to 39 weeks and is based on the employee’s normal weekly earnings. The payment is made up of two parts: the basic rate, which is 90% of the employee’s normal weekly earnings, and the additional rate, which is a flat rate of £151.20 per week.

SAP is intended to help employees meet the costs associated with adopting a child, such as legal fees and travel expenses. It is also intended to provide financial security during the period of adoption, as the employee may have to take time off work to attend appointments and meetings related to the adoption process.

For those who are setting up a business or have only just started a business, it is important to understand the requirements of SAP and how it applies to your employees. Employers are legally required to provide SAP to eligible employees and failure to do so could lead to legal action.

It is important to note that SAP is not the same as maternity pay and is not available to employees who are pregnant, or who are adopting a child on behalf of someone else. The payment is also not available to employees who are adopting a child from abroad.

When an employee is eligible for SAP, the employer must notify them in writing within 7 days. The employee must then provide the employer with a copy of the adoption certificate within 28 days of the date of the adoption. The employee must also provide the employer with proof of their earnings for the 8 weeks prior to the date of the adoption.

Once the employee has provided all the necessary documentation, the employer must make the payment within 14 days of the date of the adoption. The payment must be made for up to 39 weeks, depending on the employee’s normal weekly earnings.

For those setting up a business or who have only just started a business, it is important to understand the requirements of SAP and how it applies to your employees. Employers must provide SAP to eligible employees and failure to do so could lead to legal action. It is also important to ensure that the necessary documentation is provided to the employer in a timely manner, as this will ensure that the payment is made on time.

By understanding the requirements of SAP, employers can help ensure that their employees are provided with the financial support they need during the period of adoption. This can help to ensure that the adoption process is as smooth as possible and that the employee is able to take the necessary time off work to attend appointments and meetings related to the adoption process.