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Last updated on May 29th, 2026 at 09:45 am
New job and new baby? The career/family dilemma is gone. With the introduction of wide-reaching changes from the Employment Rights Act 2025, UK Day-One Paternity Leave is now a legal right, with no qualifying period needed, from the first day of employment. Below you’ll find all the information you need to know about the form, the rules and how to make the claim now without delay.
What’s Changed and Why It Matters
In the past (before April 2026), fathers and partners were only eligible for paternity leave if they worked for an employer for a minimum of 26 weeks. That barrier has just been taken away. New guidance to be put before Parliament in January 2026 means millions of employees who were denied time-off to give birth to their child are now eligible from the moment the child is born, according to the Global Payroll Association, citing Personnel Today.
The reform is one of a Government-led Parental Leave and Pay Review, which was introduced in July 2025. It is a “generational change,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which means that workers should no longer be “forced to work while ill just to make ends meet” or lose out on time with a newborn infant just because they recently changed jobs. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the reforms will bring a “security they deserve” and will make sure that economic growth “reaches every household”.
This change in policy is a huge one for working families throughout the UK, and every year, an estimated 32,000 more fathers will benefit from being able to take UK Day-One Paternity Leave.
The Exact Form You Need: SC3 (Statutory Paternity Pay and Leave)
You must fill in Form SC3 – the official Statutory Paternity Leave Form UK provided by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to make the official notification and to start your entitlement. This is the document that will trigger your leave and eligibility for Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP).
The Form SC3 covers the following items:
- Whether you are the child’s biological parent, adopter or partner to the birth mother.
- The anticipated week of childbirth and/or placement in adoption (EWC or adoption placement date)
- The start date and leave period (1 or 2 weekly periods) you have selected.
- A statement of your responsibility for the child’s care and upbringing
This application form must be sent to your employer at least 15 weeks before your baby’s due date or as soon as reasonably practicable if you are giving birth before your child’s expected due date.
How to Apply for Paternity Leave in the UK: Guide Steps
Understanding how to apply for paternity leave is important information, especially for someone who is just beginning. Below is how to do it:
- Download the SC3 form from a government website.
- Fill in all sections correctly – including leave dates and EWC.
- Submit at least 15 weeks before the deadline to the HR department.
- To check if Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is available, you must be earning at or above the Lower Earnings Limit (currently £123/week).
- Get your employer to write confirmation of your leave dates within 28 days.
The New UK Paternity Leave Rules stipulate that your employer can’t refuse the leave because of your service. The eligibility for SPP has an earnings limit, though, so it’s better to look at your pay slip first, before you apply.
What HR Teams Need to Know
Human resource personnel handling New Fathers UK HR Forms have witnessed an incredible change. Paternity leave can no longer be requested with a qualifying period filter. The UK Employee Paternity Rights 2026 are applicable to all employees, from the day they are hired until five years after their employment started.
Some of the important responsibilities of HR are:
- All eligible employees are welcome to submit SC3, regardless of when they started their employment.
- Providing a written reply, stating leave dates within 28 days of receipt of the form
- The updated UK Family Leave Policy 2026 documentation has been updated to show that all staff become eligible for day-one leave.
- Properly setting up payroll to process SPP from the first week of work
If employers fail to provide for a valid request of this kind, they could be liable to employment tribunal proceedings under the new Day-One Employment Rights UK regime.
Paternity Pay Eligibility UK: The Key Numbers
It is not about the length of service but rather earnings that determine Paternity Pay Eligibility UK. Statutory Paternity Pay must be paid if you:
- Make the Lower Earnings Limit (2026 rate) on average per week, or more (LEW, 2026 rate: £123 per week)
- Have provided the correct notice and evidence via Form SC3
- Be an employee – not a worker or self-employed person –
It is important to note that you are entitled to unpaid paternity leave from the day you work (UK Working Parents Rights), even if you don’t earn enough.
The Bottom Line
Under UK Day-One Paternity Leave, the UK is taking a step towards a more supportive approach towards working parents. Don’t assume that if you’ve just been hired, it’s too little too late if your partner is expecting. Download and fill out Form SC3, ensuring all information is correct, as soon as possible, and send it to HR. It is now legal to have the right to be there from the beginning, at work and at home.
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