Statutory maternity, paternity and sick pay rates confirmed for 2026

The proposed 2026-27 rates for statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and sick pay have now been published by the government.

The new rates should take effect in April 2026. Statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay will go up from £187.18 a week to £194.32 a week.

Statutory neonatal care pay and parental bereavement pay will also increase by the same amount. Statutory sick pay will increase from £118.75 to £123.25 per week from 6 April 2026.

The rates were set out by work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden and represent an increase of 3.8%, in line with consumer prices index (CPI) rate of inflation in the year to September 2025.

The lower earnings limit to claim family-related support and SSP will increase from £125 to £129, although this is set to be scrapped for SSP under reforms in the Employment Rights Bill.

Under those reforms, which, after this evening's U-turn on day-rights for unfair dismissal, is much more likely to gain Royal Assent in the coming weeks, sick pay will be payable from the first day of absence rather than the third.

The government confirmed yesterday that this measure should be in effect from April 2026.