Changes to Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay from April 2026

Introduction of new miscarriage entitlement and day-one rights for Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay in Northern Ireland from Monday 6 April 2026.

The Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland has introduced significant changes to Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay.

These changes apply where parents experience: 

• the loss of a child under the age of 18, including stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy
• a miscarriage, which now qualifies for entitlement, including both spontaneous loss and specified medical interventions

From Monday 6 April 2026, these changes will apply only to employees in Northern Ireland.

New entitlement for miscarriage

Employees who experience a miscarriage - or who have a defined connection to a woman who has experienced a miscarriage - will be entitled to Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay, providing support during this difficult time.

Evidence requirements for the miscarriage entitlement

As with existing Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay arrangements, employees will not need to provide medical evidence. 

To qualify for Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay, an employee who has experienced a loss must submit a simple written self-declaration. This should confirm they meet all eligibility requirements. This declaration must include: 

• their name, and
• the date when the miscarriage occurred, or the date it was discovered to have occurred by the woman who experienced the loss.

Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay becomes a day-one right

From 6 April 2026, Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay will become a day‑one right. All cases of entitlement will qualify for Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay from the first day of employment, removing previous service and minimum earnings requirements. 

Employees can rely on either their actual earnings or expected earnings based on reasonable assumptions. This ensures support is available when it is most needed.

Important points to be aware of are:

• cases where entitlement was gained before 6 April 2026, the previous rules apply
• miscarriage entitlement is not retrospective and does not apply where a miscarriage occurred, or was discovered to have occurred, before 6 April 2026

All Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay rights and entitlements now apply in full, and without exception, to cases where eligibility arises due to a miscarriage discovered on or after 6 April 2026.

Employers that are affected by these changes

While the enhancements apply to employees in Northern Ireland only, all employers should be aware of the changes.

Employees based in Great Britain are not entitled to these enhanced Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay provisions. Employers should ensure that the Northern Ireland-specific rights are not applied to employees based in Great Britain.

Some employers operate in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain, often using payroll software and HR policies that apply to both areas due to the existing alignment of employee rights. Where this is the case, employers will need to ensure these processes and requirements have been updated to reflect the changes that apply in Northern Ireland from 6 April 2026.

Guidance on Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay

We have published updated guidance on Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay to reflect the legislative changes that took effect on Monday 6 April 2026.

Where an employee’s child died or was stillborn before 6 April 2026, employers must continue to follow the previous rules - see Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay - claims before 6 April 2026.

Labour Relations Agency (LRA) webinar

The LRA has published a recorded webinar on the changes to Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay from 6 April 2026, designed to give employers clear legal understanding and practical, trauma‑informed guidance on supporting employees.

Access the LRA's Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay webinar.

First published 20 March 2026