BPPL: Special circumstances

If any of the following events occur, it will no longer be possible for the employee to meet the requirement that BPPL is being taken to care for the child:

• The child also dies (or is stillborn, i.e. a death after 24 weeks of pregnancy)
• The child is returned after being placed for adoption
• In relation to an order under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008:
• The employee did not apply for it in time
• The employee's application was unsuccessful and there's no time to appeal or re-apply.

However, if any of the above events occur, the employee is still entitled to start (or remain on) BPPL until either 8 weeks after the event (counted from the end, i.e. Sunday, of the week in which the event happened) or until the end of the eligibility window (whichever comes first).

If an employee has not yet started BPPL when the event happens, they can still take BPPL in line with this adjusted timescale.

If an employee is already on BPPL when the event happens, they can remain on BPPL in line with this adjusted timescale (i.e. they may need to return earlier than originally planned).

If an employee has already returned from BPPL when the event happens, they can't take more BPPL.

If taking BPPL in these special circumstances, the relevant notice requirements for taking BPPL still apply. An employee must also tell you the date and nature of the event before the first day of BPPL that follows that event. They can do this verbally or in writing.