If you’re taking any kind of family leave, it’s important to understand how this impacts your pension.

Leave following the birth of a child

If you’re receiving contractual or statutory pay during your Maternity, Paternity or adoption leave, then your pensionable service will continue.

Your contributions and benefits will be based on the pay you get while you’re on leave.

Watch our video to find out more about Family Leave and your pension journey.

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To be pensionable you must be receiving at least half your salary or statutory pay or if you’re on sick leave at least half your salary in respect of that employment. If you’re not receiving any pay however, it means you’re no longer in pensionable employment for the purposes of the Scheme.

If you decide not to return to employment after maternity leave, your pensionable employment will stop at the end of your statutory maternity pay or once you’ve stopped receiving any pay. You’ll then be treated as a deferred member.

Neonatal care leave

Neonatal care leave enables a parent to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

It is pensionable in the following circumstances:

• Statutory Neonatal Care Pay

You may be entitled to Statutory Neonatal Care Pay. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive the lower of £187.18 a week (2025/26) or 90% of their average weekly earnings. This’ll be paid to you in the same way as you receive your salary (e.g. whether this is weekly or monthly), taking account of any deductions for tax and National Insurance. This again is pensionable in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, and you’ll be treated as being in receipt of full pay for the purposes of pension accrual.

• Neonatal Care Leave which is at least half pay

Neonatal Care Leave which is at least half pay, will also be pensionable in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. In both cases, you’ll continue to accrue benefits on your full pensionable salary. You’ll also remain covered for in-service death benefits while on Neonatal Care Leave.

Find out more about Neonatal Care Leave on the Gov.uk website (This link opens in a new window).

Carer's leave

Carer’s leave was introduced on 6 April 2024. This type of leave is unpaid. Nevertheless, should your employer continue to pay at least half pay to you while you’re on Carer’s leave, you’ll continue to accrue further benefits in the Scheme. If, however, you receive less than half pay e.g. nil pay, it’ll revert to non-pensionable.

If your Carer's leave is unpaid (or less than half of your normal salary), it’ll count as family leave. This means that even though you may be receiving nil pay, you’ll still be classed as 'in-service' and continue to receive all the benefits of an in-service membership, such as in-service death benefits and in-service pensions increase. The leave itself will go on your record as days excluded.