Key Information for Employers
On 20 January 2026, Department for Economy published its response to the Consultation on extending Statutory Parental Bereavement Leave & Pay to include:
– Miscarriage and
– making right to pay a day 1 right subject to meeting lower earnings threshold currently £125 per week.
- Parental Bereavement (Leave & Pay) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, introduced the right for parents who suffer a stillbirth after 24 weeks or death of child under 18 to:
- 10 Days of Parental Bereavement Leave (Day 1 right);
- Statutory Rate of Pay, subject to 26 week qualifying period.
- These rights DID NOT extend to miscarriage (pregnancy loss before 24 weeks) and Statutory Pay required 26 weeks’ continuous employment.
- Following public consultation (24 Oct–19 Dec 2025), Northern Ireland will be first region across UK & Ireland (and one of first in Western Hemisphere) to legislate for statutory Miscarriage Leave & Pay.
From 6 APRIL 2026, THE NEW RIGHTS WILL PROVIDE:
1. Two weeks of Statutory Bereavement Leave
- Available to woman who experiences the miscarriage on or after 6 April 2026 and to eligible partners.
- Can be taken as two separate 1 week blocks or one continuous 2 week block.
- Must be taken within 56 weeks of date of miscarriage or, date woman who had miscarriage became aware of it.
2. Statutory Bereavement Pay
- Statutory Pay RATE will be £194.32 from 6 April 2026
- Employees must meet the existing lower earnings threshold (currently £125 pw).
- Statutory pay will be a day one right (current 26 week qualifying period for pay following stillbirth & child death cases will also be removed.
- Therefore from 6 April 2026, both right to parental bereavement leave and pay — including miscarriage — will apply from day one.
3. Notice Requirements
- Only a self declaration will be required.
- No medical evidence will be requested.
4. Definition Of Miscarriage
- ‘Miscarriage’ will include spontaneous miscarriages and pregnancy loss following specified medical interventions.
- Eligibility will extend only to those directly linked to the pregnancy.
Thank you to Michelle McGinley from the Employers Federation for the content of this email.
