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Pay rates for April 2026
The Government has announced the following increases to the national minimum wage rates, to take effect on 1st April 2026:
- 21 and over – from £12.21 to £12.71ph
- 18-20 – from £10 to £10.85ph
- 16-17 and apprentices – from £7.55 to £8ph
The Government has also set out its proposed new statutory rates for sick pay and family leave pay to apply from 6th April 2026:
| New Rate | New Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory maternity pay | £187.18 per week | £194.32 per week |
| Statutory paternity pay | £187.18 per week | £194.32 per week |
| Statutory shared parental pay | £187.18 per week | £194.32 per week |
| Statutory adoption pay | £187.18 per week | £194.32 per week |
| Statutory parental bereavement pay | £187.18 per week | £194.32 per week |
| Statutory neonatal care leave | £187.18 per week | £194.32 per week |
| Statutory sick pay | £118.75 per week | £123.25 per week |
The average gross weekly earnings required to qualify for the various forms of family leave pay is proposed to increase from £125.00 or more per week, to £129.00 or more per week from 6th April 2026.
We will also be in touch again towards the middle of March to inform you about the changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) which will be in place from 6th April 2026.
Sarah Goddard MCIPD MBACP
sarah.goddard@turnstonehr.com
