Bereavement Leave and Pay in Northern Ireland

Who this guide is for

Employees in Northern Ireland who want to know what time off and pay they can get after a child dies, a stillbirth or a miscarriage, or after a partner or another dependant dies. It also covers Bereavement Support Payment after a partner's death.

What this guide does not cover

• Work in England, Wales or Scotland: see the Great Britain guide. Its rules are different.
• Maternity leave and pay: see our maternity pay guide. Paternity leave, shared parental leave and other family leave in Northern Ireland, including leave for a partner after the mother's death: this guide does not cover these: ask the Labour Relations Agency (LRA).
• The exact notice rules for Parental Bereavement Leave in Northern Ireland, and whether you earn enough for the pay. This guide does not cover these: ask the LRA.
• Other benefits after a death: see our benefits guide. How much compensation a tribunal can award: see our tribunal guide.

What the rules depend on

1. What happened? The death of a child under 18, a stillbirth after 24 weeks, or a miscarriage before 24 weeks: Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay. The death of another dependant: time off for dependants.
2. When did it happen? The new rules apply to a death, stillbirth or miscarriage on or after 6 April 2026. Before that date the earlier rules apply.
3. What is your connection to the child or the pregnancy? A parent, or a partner or someone with a defined connection to the woman who had the miscarriage, may qualify.
4. Are you an employee? These rights are for employees.

"How much leave do I get?"

Parental Bereavement Leave is the right to take up to 2 weeks off work. It applies where a child dies under 18 or is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy and, from 6 April 2026, after a miscarriage before 24 weeks.

If your baby is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy, the mother can still take maternity leave (up to 52 weeks) and get Statutory Maternity Pay if she qualifies, and her partner can still take paternity leave and pay if they qualify. Parental Bereavement Leave is on top of this.

You can take 2 weeks together or 2 separate weeks, within 56 weeks of the death, stillbirth or miscarriage.

Your employment rights are protected while you are on Parental Bereavement Leave, including pay rises, building up holiday and returning to work.

Tell your employer as soon as you can. The exact notice rules are not covered by this guide: ask the LRA.

"I've had a miscarriage"

From 6 April 2026, employees who have a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy are entitled to Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay. This includes pregnancy loss after specified medical interventions.

The rights are also available to employees with a defined connection to the woman who had the miscarriage, such as her partner. Ask the LRA who counts.

It is not backdated. It does not apply to a miscarriage that happened, or was discovered, before 6 April 2026.

You do not need to give medical evidence. To get the pay you give your employer a short written declaration that you are eligible, with your name and the date the miscarriage happened or was discovered.

"Will I be paid?"

Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay is £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. It is paid through your employer.

For a death, stillbirth or miscarriage on or after 6 April 2026, the pay is a day-one right. You do not need 26 weeks with your employer. Your earnings can be worked out from what you actually earn or from what you are expected to earn.

If the death or stillbirth was before 6 April 2026, the earlier rules apply, and those needed 26 weeks with your employer for the pay. If you are not sure which rules apply to you, ask the LRA.

You do not need to give medical evidence or proof of the death. You give your employer a written declaration that you are eligible.

"My employer won't pay me or won't give me the leave"

If you cannot sort out Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay with your employer, contact the HMRC Statutory Payment Dispute Team. Disputes about the pay are decided by HMRC, not by a tribunal.

If you are refused the leave, dismissed or treated unfairly for taking it, talk to the LRA. You can make a claim to an industrial tribunal, usually within 3 months less 1 day. Tell the LRA within your time limit to start early conciliation.

"Someone else close to me has died"

All employees have a legal right to a reasonable amount of unpaid time off to deal with an emergency, such as a bereavement involving a dependant. For a death, a dependant is your husband, wife or civil partner, your child, your parent, or someone who lived in your household (not as a tenant, lodger, boarder or employee). An unmarried partner counts if you lived together.

Reasonable is not defined in law and depends on the situation, but it is likely to cover the time needed to arrange or attend a dependant's funeral.

Your employer does not have to pay you for this time off, but many employers offer paid special or compassionate leave. Check your contract or your employer's policy.

"Can I get Bereavement Support Payment?"

Bereavement Support Payment may be paid if your husband, wife, civil partner or partner has died. It is not paid because a child has died. In Northern Ireland it comes from the Department for Communities: apply through nidirect.

It depends on your partner's National Insurance contributions and on you being under State Pension age. It stops when you reach State Pension age.

The higher rate is a one-off payment of £3,500 and up to 18 monthly payments of £350. You get it if, when your partner died, you were getting Child Benefit, you had been told you were entitled to Child Benefit for a child who lived with you, or you were pregnant.

The standard rate, if you were married or in a civil partnership but not pregnant and with no dependent children, is a one-off payment of £2,500 and up to 18 monthly payments of £100.

To get all 18 monthly payments, claim within 3 months of the death. You only get the one-off payment if you claim within 12 months. You can claim up to 21 months after the death, but you will get less.

Deadlines you must meet

• Parental Bereavement Leave: within 56 weeks of the death, stillbirth or miscarriage.
• Bereavement Support Payment: claim within 3 months of the death to get the full amount.
• Most industrial tribunal claims, including dismissal or unfair treatment for taking leave, must be made within 3 months less 1 day. The Great Britain change to 6 months does not apply to these claims in Northern Ireland.
• Early conciliation: tell the LRA within your time limit. Check your exact date with the LRA.

Traps

• Since 6 April 2026, Northern Ireland covers a miscarriage before 24 weeks, and the pay no longer needs 26 weeks with your employer. Great Britain has neither: do not use Great Britain rules here.
• The earlier rules still apply to a death or stillbirth before 6 April 2026.
• Great Britain's Bereaved Partner's Paternity Leave does not apply in Northern Ireland.
• Bereavement Support Payment is for the death of a partner. It is not paid because a child has died.
• A dispute about Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay goes to HMRC, not to a tribunal.