Proposals to Statutory Rates to apply from 06 April 2026
10 December 2025
The Government has released its proposed increases to statutory family-related pay and statutory sick pay, which are anticipated to come into effect on 6 April 2026.
The adjustments, which will apply to statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, neonatal care, and parental bereavement pay in addition to statutory sick pay, reflect regular yearly uprating in accordance with earnings and inflation.
The weekly rates for statutory maternity pay, statutory paternity pay, statutory shared parental pay, statutory adoption pay, statutory parental bereavement pay, and statutory neonatal care leave pay will increase from £187.18 to £194.32 per week under the proposals.
Statutory sick pay will rise from £118.75 to £123.25 per week.
Additionally, the Government plans to increase the minimum average weekly income required to be eligible for statutory payments related to families. The threshold is intended to increase from £125.00 to £129.00 per week. All family leave benefits are subject to this requirement; however, statutory sick pay, which has its own lower earnings cap, is exempt.
Employers may want to account for the suggested increases in their future planning, even though these numbers are still pending final confirmation. This will include updating workplace policies and handbooks prior to the 2026–2027 tax year, reviewing payroll and budgeting procedures, and getting HR and payroll teams ready for the changes.
Once the Government confirms the finalised rates and provides any additional guidance, more updates will be provided.
