April 2026 will see an increase in a number of rates and limits relevant to employers, including national minimum wage, statutory sick pay and statutory family leave pay.
National Minimum Wage
From 1 April 2026, the following minimum rates of pay apply:
- The National Living Wage for those aged 21 and above is £12.71 per hour
- The National Minimum Wage for:
- 18- to 20-year-olds (inclusive) is £10.85 per hour
- 16- to 17-year-olds (inclusive) is £8.00 per hour
- Apprentices under 19 (all) or 19 and over (in their first year) is £8.00 per hour
Statutory sick pay
From 6 April 2026, the rate at which statutory sick pay is paid will increase to £123.25 per week (up from £118.75).
In addition, and in light of the Employment Rights Act 2025 becoming law, we expect that from April 2026, the three-day waiting period to receive statutory sick pay will be removed, along with the lower earnings limit for entitlement.
Statutory family-related leave
From 6 April 2026, the following prescribed rates of pay will apply:
| Old weekly rate | New weekly rate | |
| Statutory maternity pay | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Statutory paternity pay | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Statutory shared parental pay | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Statutory adoption pay | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Statutory bereavement pay | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Statutory neonatal care leave pay | £187.18 | £194.32 |
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.
Philip McCabe 22 December 2025