SPM168100 - Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (SNCP) - general information: Multiple Births From The Same Pregnancy

A parent can only be entitled to SNCP (if they’re eligible) for a maximum of 12 weeks, even if more than one child needs neonatal care:

  • at the same time (there’s an overlap)
  • at separate times (there’s no overlap)

If more than one child needs neonatal care at the same time, entitlement for one child only can accrue SNCP entitlement.

If the children need neonatal care at separate times, entitlement to SNCP can be build up for each of the children, as long as they each receive at least 7 continuous full days of neonatal care.

Parents will have up to 68 weeks from the birth of the children, or from the birth of the first child (if the children have different birth dates) to use up their entitlement.

Regulation 8 of The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (General) Regulations 2025