PATERNITY ALLOWANCE

Claim form :	Request one by filling in our online form
Tel :	01624 685106
E-mail :	generalbenefits.dhss@gov.im

Paternity Allowance (PA) may be payable if you take up to 2 weeks off work :

to support the mother of a new born baby, or to look after the baby; or
to support your partner who is adopting a child or to look after the child.

You can choose to claim PA for one or two whole weeks at any time up to 8 weeks after :

the child's birth; or
the date the child is placed with you.

Basic qualifying conditions

PA (birth)

To be eligible you must be -

the baby's biological father, or
married to the mother, or
living with the mother in an enduring family relationship (but not an immediate relative)

and will take responsibility for the child's upbringing, and be taking time off work to support the mother or care for the child.

Employment condition - you must have been in employed earner's employment for a continuous period of at least 26 weeks ending with the 15th week before the week the child is expected to be born. You must also remain in employment up to the day before the child is born.

Earnings condition - you must have had earnings at or above the National Insurance lower earnings limit in the last 8 weeks of the 26 week period.

PA (adoption)

To be eligible you must be :

married to the person adopting the child, or
living with the person adopting the child in an enduring family relationship (but not be an immediate relative)

and will take responsibility for the child's upbringing and taking time off work to support the person adopting the child or to care for the child.

Employment Condition - you must have been in employed earner's employment for a continuous period of at least 26 weeks up to and including the week you are told that you have been matched with the child. You must also remain in employment up to the day the child is placed with you.

Earnings Condition - you must have had earnings at or above the National Insurance lower earnings limit in the last 8 weeks of the 26 week period.

How and when to claim

You must complete the claim form PA1(IOM), and send it to the General Benefits Section, Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas. You should make your claim once agreement about your leave has been reached with your employer, and should make it during or after the 14th week before the baby is expected or after notification of matching in adoption cases.