18/01/2012

Available for over a year

Rules which came in last year mean that fathers can take up to six months off to care for new babies, as long as the mother goes back to work. Dads taking advantage of additional paternity leave will be eligible for pay of up to £128.73 per week. Other changes have not been so kind to families, however. Government cutbacks mean that child benefit was frozen from three years from last April, and lower income limits mean that some parents may receive reduced Child Tax Credits. The birth rate has been climbing for a decade, and even though there are signs it has recently levelled off, the increase in births mean more employers and employees find themselves faced with maternity and paternity rights questions. The expert panel will answer your queries. Paul Lewis will be joined by: - Will Hadwen, welfare rights advisor, Working Families - Sian Keall, head of employment, Travers Smith - Sarah Veale, head of equality and employment rights, TUC Producer: Mike Wendling Presenter: Paul Lewis.