Paternity Pay Calculator
Calculate Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) for UK employees with current and upcoming rates.
Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is £187.18 per week (2025/26) or 90% of average weekly earnings — whichever is lower. From April 2026, SPP rises to £194.32/week. Eligible employees can take 1 or 2 weeks of paternity leave. GOV.UK guidance →
Calculated over an 8-week reference period before the qualifying week.
2026/27 Rates:
SPP Rate: £194.32/week
Lower Earnings Limit: £129/week
SPP = lower of statutory rate or 90% of AWE
Enter average weekly earnings to calculate paternity pay.
What is Statutory Paternity Pay?
Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is a UK government payment made to eligible employees who take time off work when their partner has a baby, or when a child is placed with them for adoption. It is paid by the employer and reclaimed from HMRC.
SPP is paid at a flat weekly rate or 90% of the employee's average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. For the 2025/26 tax year, the rate is £187.18 per week. From April 2026, this rises to £194.32 per week.
To be eligible for SPP, the employee must earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) — £125 per week in 2025/26, rising to £129 per week from April 2026. From April 2024, there is no longer a requirement for 26 weeks of continuous service to take paternity leave, though the earnings threshold still applies to receive pay.
SPP Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay, an employee must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be the biological father, or the mother's spouse/civil partner/partner, or the intended parent in a surrogacy
- Earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) per week on average
- Give correct notice to the employer (at least 15 weeks before the due date)
- Be taking time off to care for the child or support the mother
| Tax Year | SPP Weekly Rate | Lower Earnings Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | £187.18 | £125/week |
| 2026/27 | £194.32 | £129/week |
What Changed from April 2024?
Significant reforms to paternity leave took effect from 7 April 2024, giving fathers and partners more flexibility:
Day-one right to leave
Paternity leave is now available from the first day of employment. The previous requirement for 26 weeks of continuous service has been removed.
Flexible timing
Leave can now be taken at any point in the first 52 weeks after birth/placement, rather than within the first 8 weeks.
Split into 2 separate weeks
Fathers can now take their 2 weeks as separate blocks rather than consecutively, giving more flexibility.
Shorter notice period
Notice to take paternity leave is now 28 days before each week of leave (previously 15 weeks before the due date for timing decisions).
Shared Parental Leave Alternative
For fathers and partners wanting more than 2 weeks, Shared Parental Leave (SPL) allows the mother to curtail her maternity leave early and share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of Shared Parental Pay with her partner. Both parents must meet eligibility requirements, and SPL must be taken in blocks of at least one week.
Source: GOV.UK Paternity Pay and Leave
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is paternity pay in 2026?
From April 2026, Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is £194.32 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. For the 2025/26 tax year (before April 2026), the rate is £187.18 per week. SPP is paid for 1 or 2 weeks and is subject to tax and National Insurance deductions.
How long is paternity leave in the UK?
Eligible employees can take either 1 or 2 weeks of paternity leave. From April 2024, the 2 weeks can be taken as separate blocks rather than consecutively, and the leave can be taken at any point within the first 52 weeks after the birth or placement. Previously, paternity leave had to be taken within the first 8 weeks.
Can you take paternity leave from day one?
Yes, from April 2024, paternity leave is a day-one right — employees no longer need 26 weeks of continuous service. However, to qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay, employees must still earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit (£125/week in 2025/26, £129/week from April 2026).
Is paternity pay the same as maternity pay?
No, they differ significantly. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks: the first 6 weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings (no cap), then 33 weeks at the flat rate (£187.18/week in 2025/26). Statutory Paternity Pay is only paid for 1 or 2 weeks at the flat rate or 90% of earnings, whichever is lower. Maternity leave can last up to 52 weeks; paternity leave is only 1–2 weeks.
Can fathers take shared parental leave instead?
Yes, eligible parents can opt into Shared Parental Leave (SPL), which allows the mother to curtail her maternity leave and share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay with her partner. This gives fathers the option to take significantly more time off than the standard 1–2 weeks of paternity leave. Both parents must meet eligibility criteria, and SPL must be planned in blocks of at least one week.
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