Employee’s Statutory Payments
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.
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.
| 2025/26 Statutory pay rates - average weekly earnings £125 or over |
|
|---|---|
| Statutory Sick Pay | £118.75 |
| Statutory Maternity Pay | |
| First six weeks | 90% of weekly earnings |
| Next 33 weeks | £187.18 |
| Statutory Paternity Pay – two weeks | £187.18 |
| Statutory Adoption Pay – 39 weeks | |
| 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.