Documentary evidence
Your employee must provide evidence to prove that they’re adopting a child. This should be through an adoption agency. You need evidence at least 28 days before the start of payment. This can be a matching certificate or a letter and must show:
- The name and address of the employee and the adoption agency
- The date the child was, or anticipated to be, placed with the employee
- The date the adoption agency informed the employee that they had matched with a child
Length of employment
The employee must have been in continuous employment by you. This must have been for 26 weeks up to the week they received the official notification. Or by the time they want to start their adoption pay period (APP), whichever is later.
The employee’s earnings
The employee’s average weekly earnings must be greater than the NI Lower Earnings Limit. For the 2023/2024 tax year, this is £123.00.
SAP start date
Your employee has the right to choose when they want to start their adoption pay and leave.
The date:
- Can’t be more than 14 days before the expected placement date
- Must start no later than the date the child placement, or the day after that if they were at work that day