News
Statutory Pay Rates for 2026/27 – What’s Changed and What it Means for Your Business
16 Mar 2026
The new tax year brings a number of statutory rate changes that will affect what you pay and what your employees receive. Here is a summary of what has changed for 2026/27, along with the key rates at a glance.
What’s changed for 2026/27
- National Minimum Wage rates have all increased From April 2026: £12.71 for those aged 21 and over (up from £12.21), £10.85 for ages 18-20 (up from £10.00), and £8.00 for under 18s and apprentices (up from £7.55). If you have staff on or near the minimum, it is worth reviewing your pay structures before April.
- Statutory Sick Pay has increased and the waiting period has changed SSP rises from £118.75 to £123.25 per week. Notably, the previous requirement for a minimum of 4 consecutive days before SSP became payable has been removed it is now payable from the first day of absence. This is a meaningful change if you have employees with short-term sickness absences.
- All statutory weekly pay rates have increased to £194.32 The flat weekly rate for Statutory Maternity Pay (weeks 7-39), Paternity Pay, Shared Parental Pay, and Neonatal Care Pay has risen from £187.18 to £194.32. Full details, including the 90% AWE calculation for the first 6 weeks of SMP, are in the attached sheet.
- Statutory Bereavement Pay is now a listed entitlement Statutory Bereavement Pay, 2 weeks at £194.32 per week, is formally included in the 2026/27 statutory sheet. Worth making sure your managers are aware this exists when supporting employees through bereavement.
- Student loan thresholds have increased, with a new Plan 5 All plan thresholds have been uplifted for 2026/27, and a new Plan 5 threshold (£25,000 at 9%) now applies to newer England-based students. The full breakdown is in the attached sheet.
Key Rates at a Glance
| Rate / Threshold | 2026/27 |
| Employer NI Rate (ERS) | 15% |
| Employee NI Rate (EES) | 8% |
| Employment Allowance | £10,500 pa |
| Employer NI Threshold | £417/month | £96/week |
| UK Personal Allowance | £12,570 |
| NMW — Age 21+ | £12.71/hour |
| NMW — Age 18–20 | £10.85/hour |
| NMW — Under 18 / Apprentice | £8.00/hour |
| Statutory Maternity / Paternity / ShPP | £194.32/week |
| Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) | £123.25/week |
Download the full 2026/27 Statutory Information sheet
The complete sheet covers all statutory rates including student loan thresholds, NI thresholds, tax codes, and accommodation offsets.
Questions about how these changes apply to you?
Get in touch with the WR Partners Payroll team, we are happy to talk through the impact on your business.
payroll@wrpartners.co.uk | 08000 664 664
