If your baby is stillborn

If you’re employed in England, Scotland or Wales, you have 56 weeks to take Parental Bereavement Leave or claim Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay through your employer. This starts from the date of the child’s death.  

You can take this on top of any maternity or paternity leave you’re also entitled to. 
You can take two weeks’ Statutory Parental Bereavement leave in one block or as two separate blocks of one week.

The 56 weeks are split into two periods:

• from the date of the child’s death or stillbirth to eight weeks after

• nine to 56 weeks after the date of the child’s death or stillbirth.

You must give your employer notice before you take Parental Bereavement Leave.

If you’re an employee or a worker, you may also be entitled to two weeks’ Statutory Bereavement Pay.

You’ll need to have been earning at least £123 a week in the 2023/24 tax year.  

Statutory Bereavement Pay is either £172.48  (2023/24) a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

Your employer might pay more than this through Enhanced Bereavement Pay. Check your staff handbook or contract for details.

For more information about eligibility, go to the GOV.UKOpens in a new window website

For more information about your rights, see the AcasOpens in a new window guide to Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay

You’re entitled to a total of 52 weeks’ leave.

You can’t get this if you have a child through surrogacy, but you might be able to take unpaid parental leave.

You might qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay while you’re off work for a maximum of 39 weeks – providing you’ve been working for long enough.

You must make your claim within 28 days of your baby’s death.

Talk to your employer about what they can offer you or check your employment contract.

Most employers offer compassionate leave to bereaved mothers and fathers as part of their basic contract of employment or employee benefits.

If you aren’t on maternity or paternity leave and are unable to return to work for medical reasons, Statutory Sick Pay is paid for up to 28 weeks. This could be more if your contract of employment allows it.

You may need a Fit Note previously called a Sick Note from your GP.

 If you have a stillbirth and are seeking work, you’ll be placed in the no work-related requirements group for 15 weeks following the date of the birth.

Your work coach will ask for a copy of your stillbirth certificate, name, address and National Insurance number.  

Your claimant commitment may be reviewed after 15 weeks if you don’t feel well enough to start seeking work again.

You’re entitled to free prescriptions for at least 12 months In England.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, prescriptions are free for everyone.

You’re also entitled to free NHS dental treatment until the certificate expires.

Ask your doctor or midwife for form FW8, which you fill in and they sign and send off for you.

You’ll get your exemption certificate in the post.

A baby who’s stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy must by law be formally buried or cremated, although a funeral isn’t legally required.

If you live in England, Wales or Scotland, your local council won’t charge you fees for a standard burial or cremation of a child.

Other fees, such a funeral director, flowers and memorial, will still need to be paid.

In England, the Children’s Funeral FundOpens in a new window can contribute up to £300 towards any reasonable funeral costs such as the burial fees, cremation fees and a coffin, shroud or casket. 

In Wales, there’s also a £500 contributionOpens in a new window towards the funeral and other related costs such as floral tributes, plaques.

If you live in England or Wales and you are getting certain benefits, you can also apply for up to £1,000 Funeral Expenses Payment to help cover some of the other reasonable costs.

In Scotland, the average payment is £1,000 for contributionOpens in a new window towards any reasonable funeral costs you need to pay for such as the funeral service or funeral car.

In Northern Ireland, you can get up to £1,000 for reasonable funeral expenses for fees or items such as funeral director’s fees, flowers, coffin.

If you’re not using a funeral director, you can claim for some funeral expenses. Find out more on the GOV.UK website

The coronavirus outbreak has imposed serious restrictions on funerals, which makes organising a meaningful ceremony seem difficult. Find out more about what you can do on the Quaker Social Action website

Our free printed guides give you clear, unbiased information. They ‘re a good starting point and can help you make informed choices.