Statutory Rate Increases April 2026
Statutory pay rates normally increase in April each year and 2026 is no different.
Minimum Wage
National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) hourly rates increase with effect from 1st April 2026:
| From | Under 18 | 18-20 | 21 and over |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | £7.55 | £10.00 | £12.21 |
| April 2026 | £8.00 | £10.85 | £12.71 |
The national minimum wage for apprentices aged under 19, or those aged 19 and over but in the first year of their apprenticeship - from April 2026 is £8.00 per hour (up from £7.55 since April 2025).
Family Friendly
With effect from April 2026 the following weekly rates will apply:
| Statutory Pay | April 2025 | April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
Alternatively for all of these, 90% pay applies if this is lower than the rate listed above.
Statutory Sick Pay
With effect from April 2026 Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will rise to £123.25 per week (up from £118.75).
Redundancy
The maximum amount of a week’s pay for the purposes of calculating statutory redundancy pay is currently £719 per week but is expected to rise in April 2026.
Article last updated: 2 January 2026