NICU additional leave entitlement

[MummyF0x24]

I was speaking to a friend the other day whose daughter has been granted an additional 20 (consecutive incl weekends) days leave because her baby was in NICU from birth.
I had twins at 33 weeks on Christmas Eve (23) and this triggered my mat leave with my employer (was due to go off a month later). I have decided to take the full 12months and am due back on 24/12/24.
My babies were in NICU from birth for 25 days.
I have read that from April '25 there will be 12 weeks paid neonatal leave that parents can claim if their baby is born early (various eligibility requirements apply) but I can't seem to see anything about this current 20 days.
Obviously, with twins any additional paid leave we can access will significantly help our situation financially. Please can anyone advise?
T.I.A

At the moment it is still at the discretion of the employer/orgnaisation, some are bringing in their own version of neonatal paid leave ahead of the legislation (for example, where I work has just done this). I would imagine that your friend works for just such an organisation. But it is rarely applied retrospectively, even in the case of government legislation.

Yes, this seems like a discretionary grant of “exceptional leave” from her employer rather than something statutory. My employer allows 3 days bereavement leave, for example, but it would certainly be possible for more to be granted on a case by case basis eg for an overseas funeral

The additional leave isn't paid, that's my understanding anyway. It's more aimed at parents where their children are still poorly or only just discharged, and for the coparent (usually dad) who want to be with their sick child(ren) / look after other kids

I've not heard this (but to be fair my child days are over) but as someone who's child was in SCBU for 15 weeks, it would have been a great help.

OP

If you or DH want to contact your employer to see if they will grant you extra leave, Bliss has some guidance here

www.bliss.org.uk/research-campaigns/our-campaigns/employment-support

It will be paid at SMP rate (£156 per week)