More than 150,000 extra parents a year to get paternity pay, but campaigners say two weeks is just the start.

Self-employed fathers will be paid to spend time with their newborn babies for the first time, after Chancellor John Healey announced the change in his first Autumn Budget today, 28 October.

Eligible self-employed dads and partners will get two weeks of support currently worth up to £194 a week.

Until now, they have been left with nothing. Self-employed fathers don’t qualify for statutory paternity pay, so any time off means losing all their income. Self-employed mothers, by contrast, can claim maternity allowance for up to 39 weeks.

The Treasury says parental pay will be extended to more than 150,000 additional parents every year, including self-employed fathers and partners.

Addressing MPs, Healey said he was “making a down payment on change today.”

“Precious early weeks”

For tradespeople, freelancers and sole traders, the change means they will no longer have to choose between being there in their baby’s first days and paying the bills.

Julian Bose, Founder and Chief Executive of DadPad, a parenting resource for new fathers developed with the NHS, said: “This is a hugely welcome step forward for fathers, babies and families.”

“At DadPad, we know that dads don’t just want to be present in their children’s lives – they need the opportunity to be actively involved from the very beginning.”

He said giving more dads access to paid leave “recognises something the evidence has been telling us for years: when fathers are supported to be involved early, everyone benefits.”

“Babies benefit from stronger bonds and nurturing relationships, mothers benefit from greater practical and emotional support, and fathers develop the confidence and skills that help shape their parenting for years to come.

“Fatherhood doesn’t begin when a dad returns to work – it begins before birth, and those precious early weeks and months matter enormously.”

Mr Bose said that he hoped the announcement would mark “the beginning of a much wider commitment to giving every dad the time, support and confidence to be the father they want to be.”

Campaign group The Dad Shift also welcomed the move. Co-founder George Gabriel said it would give self-employed dads “a chance to show up for their loved ones” at a crucial moment.

What happens next?

Key details are still missing. Experts have warned that the government has yet to explain who exactly will be eligible and how the new scheme will work alongside existing statutory paternity pay.

Campaigners say two weeks is not enough. Labour MPs including Edinburgh’s Scott Arthur have backed The Dad Shift’s call for six weeks of paternity leave at 90% pay.

A government review of parental leave is expected to finish in early 2027.