To ask how you use unpaid parental leave

I take two one week blocks every year. Single parent, and children go to different schools so have different term times. Losing pay isn’t ideal but it helps to cover childcare.

Ive started to use a week every summer hol.

I worked out that if i took my pay, paid tax, paid my rail ticket to the office, and forked out for full time camps for two kids, there's very little of that pay left..... so why do it? I want that time with the DC. I also buy extra holiday so I have 7 weeks off per year.

We have a two holiday with DH that i use annual leave for, then i take the parental leave elsewhere in the holiday and just have fun at home with the DC.

We have to give 2 months notice so emergencies isn't really the option

I took an extra 12 weeks unpaid PL after mat leave with twins (as a single mum) ended. You don't get any extra leave for having twins but I was so not in a state to go back... I have an older child as well, so my employer counted it as 4 weeks per child, for that year (as per statutory regulations). Together with saved and accrued annual leave, it meant I had almost 18 months off in total. I don't think I would have coped if I'd had to go back any earlier.

I used to take one week a year, then I changed employer and asked if I could take unpaid leave from day one as I wouldn't be entitled to parental leave. Since then I take odd days unpaid (normally 1 day per month). I don't notice the salary reduction but it means I get time with the dc every school holiday and some days off without them in months when there aren't any holidays.
Technically this means I probably have most of my 18 weeks (x 2) still available to use.

I know know about school TTOs so assuming that's what you mean....Standard in schools round here is you get paid for the 38 working weeks of the school year plus 5.6 weeks holiday pay (no actual holiday time to take as you are off when school is closed)
That is then divided across the 12 months so you get the same salary every month regardless of half term/summer holidays etc

We use it to cover the school holidays, probably on average 2 weeks a year, in 1 week blocks. At the moment I'm only PT so can't afford more. But when they're both at school and I'm working more I imagine we'll use more of it to enjoy some extended time together.

Not on the planet to work the whole time, if there's an opportunity for increased time off then sign me up. Tend to move a bit into savings on all the fully paid months to be able to top up the funds when using the parental leave.

If you’ve been taxed as if you had the full year’s pay, but you didn’t, then yes your tax should be adjusted to reflect that. You might need to call up HMRC to get it sorted though.

This will be particularly beneficial for people whose pay is just past the edge of a tax bracket as losing a week’s pay could take them into the lower bracket.

Do you get income tax rebate as well?

I used it to care for my children when they were sick.

I do @WhereDoBrokenHeartsGo happy to answer any questions

I took a week last year for the 1st time ever. Allowed me to take off a half term break with the kids that I otherwise didn't have leave left for.
DH has used a week each year for the last 3 years when he changed jobs and lost enhanced holiday.
Both of us previously worked part-time and now work full-time and it means we can spend more time on leave together and with the kids in their holidays.
It makes those months a bit tight financially, but if you can plan for it and stagger them and are in a position to trade off pay for leave it works well.
It is intended for parents to spend time with kids - you don't have to use it for something medical or worthy.

Do you know much about term time contracts @Sunshineandgrapefruit? I would love some practical info on how they work.

It's not for emergencies as notice has to be given.

I use a couple of weeks in the summer and a couple at Christmas. Or I might take off 3 weeks in a random month that includes a half term. You can request 4 weeks per year per child. 36 weeks for x2 children, for example. I couldn’t afford it really when mine were little but I’ve started using it frequently since they turned about 10.

I use it to cover more of the school
holidays and I’d use it after maternity if I ever had another child

I’ve never had to use it and I don’t like losing the money by choice, since it would cost me more than childcare. It’s a good thing though, obviously.

I used it one year to cover the summer holidays. It was good but you have to plan for it because it's basically a month with zero pay. Term time contract is much better. Same principle but your pay is prorated so you get paid less each month but get paid every month which is less of a shock to the system.

We had big plans of using it to go on a long summer holiday with the DC one year. I didn’t need to but DH did. Unfortunately the holiday became too expensive so we didn’t go. The loss of a week salary for DH was difficult too.

DS is almost 19 now so that batch of leave is gone.

if we’d planned better and saved in advance I think we would have used it for a long holiday.

That’s what I’d encourage other families to do. Save up and take a long holiday with your DC.

I haven’t used it yet as I work .8 and get generous annual leave - I can also get 2 weeks extra unpaid leave and spread the cost over the year, which is easier to take.

however I hope to use some just for extra holidays to spend time with the kids. It seems a waste not to use it!

I used to use it for all planned family holidays of at least a week, leaving the rest of my annual leave for the odd days here and there that need coverage (school trips, concerts, doctor appointments, if the kids were ill).

worked out far better financially than working part time

I use it in the summer for more annual leave.

I took my full (3 children) allowance this year, added on max annual leave and went travelling. It’s bliss but now I’m finding it hard to get enthusiastic about going back. Although the prospect of a full pay check is certainly helping improve my enthusiasm!

It's 18 weeks per child up to their 18 birthday @yoghurtontoast. If you take a week a month, you'll use it up pretty quickly.

I use four weeks per year. I have several kids and they’re spaced out, so I will be able to take 4 weeks per year until my youngest is about 15 years old.

Yes, I lose a months pay (normally in two blocks, so paid for half a month twice per year), which is basically the same as working 4.5 days a week instead of 5 days per week, or 0.92 Full Time Equivilent. Those wondering how people afford it must know anyone who works even slightly part time?!