Guide
Statutory family leave and pay rates 2026/27 (paternity, adoption, SPL/ShPP)
Quick lookup of statutory paternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlements and pay rates for the 2026/27 tax year. For the underlying procedures, follow the linked task guides.
Statutory family leave and pay figures for the 2026/27 tax year (effective from 6 April 2026). Use the at-a-glance table to compare schemes, then the referenced snippets for full eligibility and procedural detail. All cash figures are maintained in the linked snippets so they update automatically.
| Weekly rate | See snippet | 6 weeks at 90% AWE, then statutory rate (see snippet) | See snippet |
| Duration | Up to 2 weeks (taken in 1- or 2-week blocks within 52 weeks of birth/placement) | Up to 39 weeks pay; up to 52 weeks leave | Up to 37 weeks (balance of mother's/adopter's unused entitlement) |
| Service test | 26 weeks by the qualifying week | 26 weeks by the week matched (UK adoption) / placement | 26 weeks by qualifying week + partner employment/earnings test |
| Notice period | 15 weeks before expected week of childbirth (or 7 days of being matched) | Within 7 days of being matched | 8 weeks before each ShPP period |
| Employer recovery (small employer) | 103% of SPP paid | 103% of SAP paid | 103% of ShPP paid |
Paternity leave and pay
Adoption leave and pay
Shared Parental Leave and Pay
SPL/ShPP allows eligible parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay in the first year after birth or placement. The mother or primary adopter must curtail their maternity/adoption leave or pay to release the balance.
Eligibility tests
What changes from 6 April 2026
The Employment Rights Act 2025 makes paternity leave a day-one right, removing the 26-week continuous service test for leave (the pay test for SPP remains). Check commencement regulations before relying on the new entitlement in payroll communications.