The period of entitlement to birth and parenthood allowance by one of the spouses is determined according to his or her accrued qualifying period (months of work and payment of national insurance contributions):
- For the maximum allowance of 15 weeks (105 days of entitlement) - are eligible those who paid national insurance contributions for either 10 out of the 14 months, or 15 out of the 22 months preceding the day of work cessation.
- For the maximum allowance of 8 weeks (56 days of entitlement) - are eligible those who paid national insurance contributions for either 6 out of the 14 months preceding the day of work cessation.
When may one start to receive adoption allowance?
Entitlement will start on the day the child was received by the foster family in view of adoption. This period may not be postponed to a later date.
Extension of the period of entitlement
Due to the adoption of several children
If you have adopted more than one child at one time, your period of entitlement will be extended:
- If you are entitled to the maximum adoption allowance - you will receive the allowance for 3 more weeks for each additional child you have adopted. In other words, if you have adopted two children you will be eligible for adoption allowance during 18 weeks.
- If you are entitled to the partial adoption allowance - you will receive the allowance for 2 more weeks for each additional child you have adopted. In other words, if you have adopted two twins you will be eligible for adoption allowance during 10 weeks.
Due to the hospitalization of the adoptive parent
If the adoptive parent who is recipient of the allowance is hospitalized for at least 15 days (even nonconsecutive), during the period of entitlement to adoption allowance - he or she will be entitled to an extension of the period of entitlement, and receive additional allowance payments during the extension period:
- If the adoptive parent is entitled to the maximum adoption allowance - you will be able to extend the period of entitlement by the number of hospitalization days, without exceeding 4 additional weeks.
- If the adoptive parent is entitled to the minimum adoption allowance - you will be able to extend the period of entitlement by the number of hospitalization days, without exceeding 2 additional weeks.
Due to the hospitalization of the child
If the adopted child is hospitalized for at least 15 days (even nonconsecutive) during the period of entitlement to adoption allowance - the adoptive parent is entitled to extend the period of entitlement and receive additional allowance payments during the extension period:
- If the adoptive parent is entitled to the maximum adoption allowance - you will be able to extend the period of entitlement by the number of hospitalization days, without exceeding 20 additional weeks.
- If the adoptive parent is entitled to the minimum adoption allowance - you will be able to extend the period of entitlement by the number of hospitalization days, without exceeding 12 additional weeks.
Please note, if the adoptive parent and the child were both hospitalized for a short time of under 15 days during the period of entitlement to adoption allowance, and times of hospitalization were not simultaneous, these hospitalizations can be combined and completed, in order to let the adoptive parent be eligible for the extension of the period of entitlement.
Splitting the period of entitlement due to hospitalization
If the child is hospitalized for at least 15 days during the period of entitlement to adoption allowance (15 or 8 weeks), the parent can split the period of entitlement as follows:
- After at least 3 weeks since the adoption, the parent may return to work.
- After the discharge of the child for the hospital, it is possible to complete the remaining the period.
Submitting a claim for extension or split of the period of entitlement
To extend or split the period of entitlement, one must submit as soon as possible a claim to extend or split birth and parenthood for adoptive parent.
The following documents must be attached to the claim form:
- Authorization from the hospital mentioning the time of the hospitalization.
- Salaried employee - an authorization of the employer regarding the extension or the split of the period of entitlement must be attached.