Statutory pay
Payments may be required from an employer if an employee is not at work for a variety of reasons.
There are detailed conditions for an employee to qualify for any of these statutory payments.
Employees are only eligible for a statutory payment if they have sufficient average weekly earnings of at least the lower earnings limit (excluding Sick Pay from 6 April 2026).
2026/27:
| Type | Max payment period | Amount (£) |
| Statutory Sick Pay | lower of £123.25 or 80% of weekly earnings |
| Statutory Maternity Pay | First six weeks | 90% of weekly earnings |
| Next 33 weeks | 194.32 |
| Statutory Paternity Pay | 2 weeks | 194.32 |
| Statutory Adoption Pay | First six weeks | 90% of weekly earnings |
| Next 33 weeks | 194.32 |
| Shared Parental Pay | 194.32 |
| Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay - two weeks | 194.32 |
Statutory payments may be payable at 90% (80% for sick pay) average weekly earnings throughout the payment period in certain circumstances. This applies where 90%/80% weekly earnings are less than the standard rate.
2025/26:
| Type | Max payment period | Amount (£) |
| Statutory Sick Pay | 118.75 |
| Statutory Maternity Pay | First six weeks | 90% of weekly earnings |
| Next 33 weeks | 187.18 |
| Statutory Paternity Pay | 2 weeks | 187.18 |
| Statutory Adoption Pay | First six weeks | 90% of weekly earnings |
| Next 33 weeks | 187.18 |
| Shared Parental Pay | 187.18 |
| Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay - two weeks | 187.18 |
With the exception of Statutory Sick Pay, statutory payments may be payable at 90% average weekly earnings throughout the payment period in certain circumstances. This applies where 90% weekly earnings are less than the standard rate of £187.18.
Statutory Sick Pay
Payments may be required from an employer if an employee is too ill to work.
SSP is generally payable for a period up to 28 weeks.
Statutory Maternity Pay
Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off to have a baby.
SMP is payable for a period up to 39 weeks.
Statutory Paternity Pay
Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off during their partner's Statutory Maternity Pay period.
Payment is for a period of either one or two complete weeks.
Shared Parental Pay
Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off following the curtailment of the period of SMP by the mother.
Payment is for up to a maximum of 37 weeks and is dependent on the mother's unused SMP period.
Statutory Adoption Pay
Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off when they adopt a child.
Payment is for a period up to 39 weeks.
Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay
Payments may be required from an employer when parents take time off following the death of a child or a stillbirth.
Payment is for up to a maximum of two weeks.
