Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992

[F1 Part 12ZB U.K. Statutory Adoption pay

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 12ZB inserted (8.12.2002) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 4, 55(2); S.I. 2002/2866, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2

171ZL Entitlement U.K.

(1) Where a person who is, or has been, an employee satisfies the conditions in subsection (2) below, he shall be entitled in accordance with the following provisions of this Part to payments to be known as “statutory adoption pay”.

(2) The conditions are—

(a) that he is a person with whom a child is, or is expected to be, placed for adoption under the law of any part of the United Kingdom;

(b) that he has been in employed earner’s employment with an employer for a continuous period of at least 26 weeks ending with the relevant week;

(c) that he has ceased to work for the employer;

(d) that his normal weekly earnings for the period of 8 weeks ending with the relevant week are not less than the lower earnings limit in force under section 5(1)(a) at the end of the relevant week; and

(e) that he has elected to receive statutory adoption pay.

(3) The references in subsection (2)(b) and (d) above to the relevant week are to the week in which the person is notified that he has been matched with the child for the purposes of adoption.

(4) A person may not elect to receive statutory adoption pay if—

(a) he has elected in accordance with section 171ZB above to receive statutory paternity pay, or

[F2 (b) he falls within subsection (4A).]

[F3 (4A) A person falls within this subsection if—

(a) the child is, or is expected to be, placed for adoption with him as a member of a couple;

(b) the other member of the couple is a person to whom the conditions in subsection (2) above apply; and

(c) the other member of the couple has elected to receive statutory adoption pay.

(4B) For the purposes of subsection (4A), a person is a member of a couple if—

(a) in the case of an adoption or expected adoption under the law of England and Wales, he is a member of a couple within the meaning of section 144(4) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002;

(b) in the case of an adoption or an expected adoption under the law F4 ... of Northern Ireland, he is a member of a married couple;

[F5 (c) in the case of an adoption or expected adoption under the law of Scotland he is a member of a relevant couple within the meaning of section 29(3) of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007].]

(5) A person’s entitlement to statutory adoption pay shall not be affected by the placement, or expected placement, for adoption of more than one child as part of the same arrangement.

(6) A person shall be entitled to payments of statutory adoption pay only if—

(a) he gives the person who will be liable to pay it notice of the date from which he expects the liability to pay him statutory adoption pay to begin; and

(b) the notice is given at least 28 days before that date or, if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(7) The notice shall be in writing if the person who is liable to pay the statutory adoption pay so requests.

(8) The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a) provide that subsection (2)(b), (c) or (d) above shall have effect subject to prescribed modifications in such cases as may be prescribed;

(b) provide that subsection (6) above shall not have effect, or shall have effect subject to prescribed modifications, in such cases as may be prescribed;

(c) impose requirements about evidence of entitlement;

(d) specify in what circumstances employment is to be treated as continuous for the purposes of this section;

(e) provide that a person is to be treated for the purposes of this section as being employed for a continuous period of at least 26 weeks where—

(i) he has been employed by the same employer for at least 26 weeks under two or more separate contracts of service; and

(ii) those contracts were not continuous;

(f) provide for amounts earned by a person under separate contracts of service with the same employer to be aggregated for the purposes of this section;

(g) provide that—

(i) the amount of a person’s earnings for any period, or

(ii) the amount of his earnings to be treated as comprised in any payment made to him or for his benefit,

shall be calculated or estimated for the purposes of this section in such manner and on such basis as may be prescribed and that for that purpose payments of a particular class or description made or falling to be made to or by a person shall, to such extent as may be prescribed, be disregarded or, as the case may be, be deducted from the amount of his earnings;

(h) make provision about elections for statutory adoption pay.

[F6 (9) This section has effect in a case involving a child who is, or is expected to be, placed under section 22C of the Children Act 1989 by a local authority in England with a local authority foster parent who has been approved as a prospective adopter with the following modifications—

(a) the references in subsections (2)(a) and (4A)(a) to a child being placed for adoption under the law of any part of the United Kingdom are to be treated as references to a child being placed under section 22C in that manner;

(b) the reference in subsection (3) to the week in which the person is notified that he has been matched with the child for the purposes of adoption is to be treated as a reference to the week in which the person is notified that the child is to be, or is expected to be, placed with him under section 22C;

(c) the references in subsection (4B)(a) to adoption are to be treated as references to placement under section 22C;

(d) the reference in subsection (5) to placement, or expected placement, for adoption is to be treated as a reference to placement, or expected placement, under section 22C.

(10) Where, by virtue of subsection (9), a person becomes entitled to statutory adoption pay in respect of a child who is, or is expected to be, placed under section 22C of the Children Act 1989, the person may not become entitled to payments of statutory adoption pay as a result of the child being, or being expected to be, placed for adoption.]

[F7 (11) This section has effect in a case involving a child who is, or is expected to be, placed under section 81 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 by a local authority in Wales with a local authority foster parent who has been approved as a prospective adopter with the following modifications—

(a) the references in subsections (2)(a) and (4A)(a) to a child being placed for adoption under the law of any part of the United kingdom are to be treated as references to a child being placed under section 81 in that manner;

(b) the reference in subsection (3) to the week in which the person is notified that he has been matched with the child for the purposes of adoption is to be treated as a reference to the week in which the person is notified that the child is to be, or is expected to be placed with him under section 8;

(c) the references in subsection (4B)(a) to adoption are to be treated as references to placement under section 81;

(d) the reference in subsection (5) to placement, or expected placement, for adoption is to be treated as a reference to placement, or expected placement under section 81.

(12) Where, by virtue of subsection (11), a person becomes entitled to statutory adoption pay in respect of a child who is, or is expected to be, placed under section 81 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, the person may not become entitled to payments of statutory adoption pay as a result of the child being, or being expected to be, placed for adoption.]

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 171ZL(4)(b) substituted (with effect in accordance with art. 2 of the amending S.I.) by The Adoption and Children Act 2002 (Consequential Amendment to Statutory Adoption Pay) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2012), arts. 1, 3(a)

F3 S. 171ZL(4A)(4B) inserted (with effect in accordance with art. 2 of the amending S.I.) by The Adoption and Children Act 2002 (Consequential Amendment to Statutory Adoption Pay) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2012), arts. 1, 3(b)

F4 Words in s. 171ZL(4B)(b) repealed (15.7.2011) by The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1740), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 3

F5 S. 171ZL(4B)(c) inserted (15.7.2011) by The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1740), Sch. 1 para. 4

F6 S. 171ZL(9)(10) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 121(5), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(e)

F7 S. 171ZL(11)(12) inserted (E.W.) (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 135

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 171ZL(6) disapplied (8.12.2002) by The Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (General) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2822), regs. 1, 29(2)

171ZM Liability to make payments U.K.

(1) The liability to make payments of statutory adoption pay is a liability of any person of whom the person entitled to the payments has been an employee as mentioned in section 171ZL(2)(b) above.

(2) Regulations shall make provision as to a former employer’s liability to pay statutory adoption pay to a person in any case where the former employee’s contract of service with him has been brought to an end by the former employer solely, or mainly, for the purpose of avoiding liability for statutory adoption pay.

(3) The Secretary of State may, with the concurrence of the Board, by regulations specify circumstances in which, notwithstanding this section, liability to make payments of statutory adoption pay is to be a liability of the Board.

171ZN Rate and period of pay U.K.

F8 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) Statutory adoption pay shall be payable, subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, in respect of each week during a prescribed period (“the adoption pay period”) of a duration not exceeding [F9 52 weeks].

[F10 (2A) Regulations may provide for the duration of the adoption pay period as it applies to a person (“A”) to be reduced, subject to prescribed restrictions and conditions.

(2B) Regulations under subsection (2A) are to secure that the reduced period ends at a time—

(a) after a prescribed part of the adoption pay period has expired, and

(b) when at least a prescribed part of the adoption pay period remains unexpired.

(2C) Regulations under subsection (2A) may, in particular, prescribe restrictions and conditions relating to—

(a) the end of A's entitlement to adoption leave;

(b) the doing of work by A;

(c) the taking of prescribed steps by A or another person as regards leave under section 75G of the Employment Rights Act 1996 in respect of the child;

(d) the taking of prescribed steps by A or another person as regards statutory shared parental pay in respect of the child.

(2D) Regulations may provide for a reduction in the duration of the adoption pay period as it applies to a person to be revoked, or to be treated as revoked, subject to prescribed restrictions and conditions.]

[F11 (2E) Statutory adoption pay shall be payable to a person—

(a) at the earnings-related rate, in respect of the first 6 weeks in respect of which it is payable; and

(b) at whichever is the lower of the earnings-related rate and such weekly rate as may be prescribed, in respect of the remaining portion of the adoption pay period.

(2F) The earnings-related rate is a weekly rate equivalent to 90 per cent of a person's normal weekly earnings for the period of 8 weeks ending with the week in which the person is notified that the person has been matched with a child for the purposes of adoption.

(2G) The weekly rate prescribed under subsection (2E)(b) must not be less than the weekly rate of statutory sick pay for the time being specified in section 157(1) or, if two or more such rates are for the time being so specified, the higher or highest of those rates.]

(3) [F12 Except in such cases as may be prescribed,] a person shall not be liable to pay statutory adoption pay to another in respect of any week during any part of which the other works under a contract of service with him.

(4) It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (3) above whether the work referred to in that subsection is work under a contract of service which existed immediately before the adoption pay period or a contract of service which did not so exist.

(5) Except in such cases as may be prescribed, statutory adoption pay shall not be payable to a person in respect of any week during any part of which he works for any employer who is not liable to pay him statutory adoption pay.

(6) The Secretary of State may by regulations specify circumstances in which there is to be no liability to pay statutory adoption pay in respect of a week.

[F13 (6A) Where for any purpose of this Part of this Act or of regulations it is necessary to calculate the daily rate of statutory adoption pay, the amount payable by way of statutory adoption pay for any day shall be taken as one seventh of the weekly rate.]

(7) In [F14 subsections (2) and (2E)] above, “week” means any period of seven days.

(8) In subsections (3), (5) and (6) above, “week” means a period of seven days beginning with the day of the week on which the adoption pay period begins.

[F15 (9) Where statutory adoption pay is payable to a person by virtue of section 171ZL(9), this section has effect as if the reference in subsection (2F) to the week in which the person is notified that he has been matched with a child for the purposes of adoption were a reference to the week in which the person is notified that a child is to be, or is expected to be, placed with him under section 22C of the Children Act 1989.]

[F16 (10) Where statutory adoption pay is payable to a person by virtue of section 171ZL(11), this section has effect as if the reference in subsection (2F) to the week in which the person is notified that he has been matched with a child for the purposes of adoption were a reference to the week in which the person is notified that a child is to be, or is expected to be, placed with him under section 81 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.]

Textual Amendments

F8 S. 171ZN(1) repealed (5.4.2015) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 124(1)(a), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 6(a) (with art. 13)

F9 Words in s. 171ZN(2) substituted (27.6.2006 for specified purposes, 1.10.2006 in so far as not already in force) by Work and Families Act 2006 (c. 18), ss. 2, 19(2); S.I. 2006/1682, arts. 2(b), 3(b)

F10 S. 171ZN(2A)-(2D) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 120(6), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(d)

F11 S. 171ZN(2E)-(2G) inserted (5.4.2015) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 124(1)(b), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 6(a) (with art. 13)

F12 Words in s. 171ZN(3) inserted (27.6.2006 for specified purposes, 1.10.2006 in so far as not already in force) by Work and Families Act 2006 (c. 18), s. 19(2), Sch. 1 para. 21(2); S.I. 2006/1682, arts. 2(d), 3(d)

F13 S. 171ZN(6A) inserted (27.6.2006 for specified purposes, 1.10.2006 in so far as not already in force) by Work and Families Act 2006 (c. 18), s. 19(2), Sch. 1 para. 21(3); S.I. 2006/1682, arts. 2(d), 3(d)

F14 Words in s. 171ZN(7) substituted (5.4.2015) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 124(1)(c), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 6(a) (with art. 13)

F15 S. 171ZN(9) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 121(6), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(e)

F16 S. 171ZN(10) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 136

171ZO Restrictions on contracting out U.K.

(1) Any agreement shall be void to the extent that it purports—

(a) to exclude, limit or otherwise modify any provision of this Part of this Act, or

(b) to require an employee or former employee to contribute (whether directly or indirectly) towards any costs incurred by his employer or former employer under this Part of this Act.

(2) For the avoidance of doubt, any agreement between an employer and an employee authorising any deductions from statutory adoption pay which the employer is liable to pay to the employee in respect of any period shall not be void by virtue of subsection (1)(a) above if the employer—

(a) is authorised by that or another agreement to make the same deductions from any contractual remuneration which he is liable to pay in respect of the same period, or

(b) would be so authorised if he were liable to pay contractual remuneration in respect of that period.

171ZP Relationship with benefits and other payments etc U.K.

(1) Except as may be prescribed, a day which falls within the adoption pay period shall not be treated as a day of incapacity for work for the purposes of determining, for this Act, whether it forms part of a period of incapacity for work for the purposes of incapacity benefit.

(2) Regulations may provide that in prescribed circumstances a day which falls within the adoption pay period shall be treated as a day of incapacity for work for the purposes of determining entitlement to the higher rate of short-term incapacity benefit or to long-term incapacity benefit.

(3) Regulations may provide that an amount equal to a person’s statutory adoption pay for a period shall be deducted from any such benefit in respect of the same period and a person shall be entitled to such benefit only if there is a balance after the deduction and, if there is such a balance, at a weekly rate equal to it.

(4) Subject to subsections (5) and (6) below, any entitlement to statutory adoption pay shall not affect any right of a person in relation to remuneration under any contract of service (“contractual remuneration”).

(5) Subject to subsection (6) below—

(a) any contractual remuneration paid to a person by an employer of his in respect of a week in the adoption pay period shall go towards discharging any liability of that employer to pay statutory adoption pay to him in respect of that week; and

(b) any statutory adoption pay paid by an employer to a person who is an employee of his in respect of a week in the adoption pay period shall go towards discharging any liability of that employer to pay contractual remuneration to him in respect of that week.

(6) Regulations may make provision as to payments which are, and those which are not, to be treated as contractual remuneration for the purposes of subsections (4) and (5) above.

(7) In subsection (5) above, “week” means a period of seven days beginning with the day of the week on which the adoption pay period begins.

171ZQ Crown employment-Part 12ZB U.K.

The provisions of this Part of this Act apply in relation to persons employed by or under the Crown as they apply in relation to persons employed otherwise than by or under the Crown.

171ZR Special classes of person U.K.

(1) The Secretary of State may with the concurrence of the Treasury make regulations modifying any provision of this Part of this Act in such manner as he thinks proper in its application to any person who is, has been or is to be—

(a) employed on board any ship, vessel, hovercraft or aircraft;

(b) outside Great Britain at any prescribed time or in any prescribed circumstances; or

(c) in prescribed employment in connection with continental shelf operations, as defined in section 120(2) above.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) above may, in particular, provide—

(a) for any provision of this Part of this Act to apply to any such person, notwithstanding that it would not otherwise apply;

(b) for any such provision not to apply to any such person, notwithstanding that it would otherwise apply;

(c) for excepting any such person from the application of any such provision where he neither is domiciled nor has a place of residence in any part of Great Britain;

(d) for the taking of evidence, for the purposes of the determination of any question arising under any such provision, in a country or territory outside Great Britain, by a British consular official or such other person as may be determined in accordance with the regulations.

171ZS Part 12ZB: supplementary U.K.

(1) In this Part of this Act—

• “adoption pay period” has the meaning given by section 171ZN(2) above;

• “the Board” means the Commissioners of Inland Revenue;

• [F17 “employer”, in relation to a person who is an employee, means a person who—

  (a)

  under section 6 above is liable to pay secondary Class 1 contributions in relation to any of the earnings of the person who is an employee; or

  (b)

  would be liable to pay such contributions but for—

  (i)

  the condition in section 6(1)(b), or

  (ii)

  the employee being under the age of 16;]

• [F18 “local authority” has the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989 (see section 105(1) of that Act);]

• [F18 “local authority foster parent” has the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989 (see [F19 section 105(1)] of that Act);]

• “modifications” includes additions, omissions and amendments, and related expressions are to be read accordingly;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations.

(2) In this Part of this Act, “employee” means a person who is—

(a) gainfully employed in Great Britain either under a contract of service or in an office (including elective office) with [F20 earnings (within the meaning of Parts 1 to 5 above)]; F21 ...

F21 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Regulations may provide—

(a) for cases where a person who falls within the definition in subsection (2) above is not to be treated as an employee for the purposes of this Part of this Act, and

(b) for cases where a person who would not otherwise be an employee for the purposes of this Part of this Act is to be treated as an employee for those purposes.

(4) Without prejudice to any other power to make regulations under this Part of this Act, regulations may specify cases in which, for the purposes of this Part of this Act or of such provisions of this Part of this Act as may be prescribed—

(a) two or more employers are to be treated as one;

(b) two or more contracts of service in respect of which the same person is an employee are to be treated as one.

(5) In this Part, except sections 171ZN and 171ZP, “week” means a period of 7 days beginning with Sunday or such other period as may be prescribed in relation to any particular case or class of cases.

(6) For the purposes of this Part of this Act, a person’s normal weekly earnings shall, subject to subsection (8) below, be taken to be the average weekly earnings which in the relevant period have been paid to him or paid for his benefit under the contract of service with the employer in question.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6) above, “earnings” and “relevant period” shall have the meanings given to them by regulations.

(8) In such cases as may be prescribed, a person’s normal weekly earnings shall be calculated in accordance with regulations.

(9) Where—

(a) in consequence of the establishment of one or more National Health Service trusts under [F22 the National Health Service Act 2006, the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006] or the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (c. 29), a person’s contract of employment is treated by a scheme under [F23 any of those Acts] as divided so as to constitute two or more contracts, or

(b) an order under [F24 paragraph 26(1) of Schedule 3 to the National Health Service Act 2006] provides that a person’s contract of employment is so divided,

regulations may make provision enabling the person to elect for all of those contracts to be treated as one contract for the purposes of this Part of this Act or such provisions of this Part of this Act as may be prescribed.

(10) Regulations under subsection (9) above may prescribe—

(a) the conditions that must be satisfied if a person is to be entitled to make such an election;

(b) the manner in which, and the time within which, such an election is to be made;

(c) the persons to whom, and the manner in which, notice of such an election is to be given;

(d) the information which a person who makes such an election is to provide, and the persons to whom, and the time within which, he is to provide it;

(e) the time for which such an election is to have effect;

(f) which one of the person’s employers under two or more contracts is to be regarded for the purposes of statutory adoption pay as his employer under the contract.

(11) The powers under subsections (9) and (10) are without prejudice to any other power to make regulations under this Part of this Act.

(12) Regulations under any of subsections (4) to (10) above must be made with the concurrence of the Board.

Textual Amendments

F17 Words in s. 171ZS(1) substituted (1.10.2006 with application in accordance with Sch. 8 para. 12(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1031), reg. 1(1), Sch. 8 para. 12(2)

F18 Words in s. 171ZS(1) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 121(7)(b), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(e)

F19 Words in s. 171ZS(1) substituted (E.W.) (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 137

F20 Words in s. 171ZS(2)(a) substituted (13.5.2014) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2014 (c. 7), s. 15(4), Sch. 2 para. 6

F21 S. 171ZS(2)(b) and preceding word omitted (1.10.2006 with application in accordance with Sch. 8 para. 12(4) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1031), reg. 1(1), Sch. 8 para. 12(3)

F22 Words in s. 171ZS(9)(a) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), s. 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 150(a)(i) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)

F23 Words in s. 171ZS(9)(a) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), s. 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 150(a)(ii) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)

F24 Words in s. 171ZS(9)(b) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), s. 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 150(b) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)

171ZT Power to apply Part 12ZB F25 ... U.K.

[F26 (1)] The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for this Part to have effect in relation to cases which involve adoption, but not the placement of a child for adoption under the law of any part of the United Kingdom, with such modifications as the regulations may prescribe.

[F27 (2) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide for this Part to have effect in relation to cases which involve a person who has applied, or intends to apply, with another person for a parental order under section 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 and a child who is, or will be, the subject of the order, with such modifications as the regulations may prescribe.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) may modify section 171ZL(8)(c) so as to enable regulations to impose requirements to make statutory declarations as to—

(a) eligibility to apply for a parental order;

(b) intention to apply for such an order.]]

Textual Amendments

F25 Words in s. 171ZT title repealed (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 122(6)(a), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(f)

F26 S. 171ZT renumbered as s. 171ZT(1) (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 122(6)(b), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(f)

F27 S. 171ZT(2)(3) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 122(6)(c), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(f)