Claim for maternity, paternity, adoption and long term sick leave
Published on 07 June 2024
Allowances are available to registered dentists for maternity, paternity or adoption leave.
You can only make a claim if your name has been included on the dental list for at least two years.
Maternity leave payments
This allowance is for registered dentists who give birth to a child after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Maternity leave can start before the expected date of the child being born.
Maternity leave payments are made for up to 26 weeks, at a maximum of £1,399 per week.
To make a claim for maternity leave payments, please download and complete a GP203 claim form or request one from your local NHS board.
You’ll need to produce the MATB (1) certificate, provided by the hospital, as evidence of pregnancy.
Maternity Payments – FAQs
Please note, the QA's detailed below are not an exhaustive list and full details relating to Maternity Payments can be found in Determination V of the current Statement of Dental Remuneration.
1. What form do I need complete to claim the maternity leave payments?
If your name is included in sub-part A of the first part of the dental list, the claim form required is GP203.
2. Where do I send my completed claim form(s)?
Please email your completed form to nss.psd-dental-payments@nhs.scot for processing.
3. How are the maternity payments calculated?
The amount payable per week will be a maximum of £1,399.00 per dentist, pro-rated by: (a) the whole-time equivalent hours the dentist normally provides; and then by (b) the dentist’s NHS commitment level More information can be found on maternity policy in PCA(D)(2021)5 - Amendment No.151 to the Statement of Dental Remuneration
4. When will my maternity payments start?
Payments will start from that date you detail when making a claim. For example, if 24th July was provided in the form, you would receive 1 week’s maternity pay (24th to 31st July) in the July paid August schedule. Payment will be made for 26 weeks in total.
5. What happens with my patients?
Your patients should be transferred to another dentist during your maternity leave and can be transferred to an ordinary or temporary list number by contacting your local NHS Health Board.
6. Will I still pay superannuation whilst on maternity leave?
Yes, we average your superannuation income (schedule line 46) in the 3 months prior to your maternity leave and make monthly adjustments, if required, to ensure this average is maintained during your period of maternity leave. The adjustments will appear on line 45 of the payment schedule.
7. Is there any way I can stop superannuation contributions during maternity leave?
Yes, you have the option to opt out of the superannuation scheme for the duration of your maternity leave. You should be aware that by opting out you will not only have a lower NHS Pension, but you will also lose entitlement to more favourable death or ill health retirement benefits. Before opting out, you should take independent financial advice. To opt out, you will need to complete the Application for Practitioner to Opt Out form on the Scottish Public Pension Agency website. Please note, if you choose to opt out you will need to opt back in after your maternity leave has concluded.
8. How, and when, will I be informed of the payment due?
We will send a letter by email to your nhs.scot account informing you of the weekly maternity amount and the duration of payments. This will be approximately 6 weeks prior to the start of your maternity payments commencing, or soon after your form has been processed if the payment start date is within the next 6 weeks.
9. What payments will I receive whilst on maternity leave?
Dentists that are eligible and receive maternity allowance will see this displayed on line 11 of their schedule, however in line with the Scottish Government policy, the SDR states that maternity allowance and Item of Service cannot be paid concurrently. Please see PCA(D)(2023)5 for more information regarding further consideration to commitment payments during maternity leave.
10. What further information is available that may be relevant to pregnant dentists?
The British Dental Association (BDA) have 3 advice sheets that may also be of assistance to their members which can be found here:
Dentist parental leave and pay
Paternity leave payments
You can claim this payment if you’re a registered dentist whose partner or wife has given birth to your child.
Paternity leave payments are made for up to two weeks, at a maximum of £1,399 per week.
To claim this allowance, please download and complete a GP225 claim form or request one from your local NHS board.
Adoption leave payment
You can claim this payment if you’re a registered dentist who has adopted a child.
Adoption leave payments are made for up to 26 weeks, at a maximum of £1,399 per week.
To claim this allowance, please download and complete a GP226 claim form or request one from your local NHS board.
Long-term sick leave payments
If you’re a dentist and unable to provide general dental services due to long-term sickness, you can claim for the sick leave payment.
These payments are made after a period of four weeks up to 22 weeks, and pay out a maximum of £349 per week.
If you need to claim for long-term sick leave, your name must have been included on the dental list for at least two years.
To make a claim, please download and complete the GP202 claim form or request one from your local NHS board. You’ll need to submit your sickness certificate alongside your form.