📘 Moving to the 2026/27 Tax Year: Statutory Parenting Pay Rates (UK)

From 6 April 2026, the standard weekly rate for statutory parenting payments has been updated.

💷 New Statutory Rate

The prescribed weekly rate is:

• £194.32 per week, or

• 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings (AWE), if lower

👶 Payments Affected

The updated rate applies to the following:

• Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) – weeks 7 to 39

• Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP)

• Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)

• Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP)

• Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (SPBP)

• Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (SNCP)

📊 Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) Breakdown

• Weeks 1–6: 90% of AWE (no maximum)

• Weeks 7–39: £194.32 or 90% of AWE (whichever is lower)

⚙️ Eligibility Threshold

• The Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) is £129 per week

✅ What You Need to Do

BrightPay will automatically apply the new statutory rates when you move your payroll to the 2026/27 tax year. No manual changes are required.