Payments may be required from an employer if an employee is not at work for a variety of reasons.

There are detailed conditions for an employee to qualify for any of these statutory payments.

Employees are only eligible for a statutory payment if they have sufficient average weekly earnings of at least the lower earnings limit.

2020/21:

Type Max payment period Amount (£)
Statutory Sick Pay 95.85
Statutory Maternity Pay First six weeks 90% of weekly earnings
Next 33 weeks 151.20
Statutory Paternity Pay 2 weeks 151.20
Statutory Adoption Pay First six weeks 90% of weekly earnings
Next 33 weeks 151.20
Shared Parental Pay 151.20
Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay – two weeks 151.20

Average weekly earnings £120 or over.

With the exception of Statutory Sick Pay, statutory payments may be payable at 90% average weekly earnings throughout the payment period in certain circumstances. This applies where 90% weekly earnings are less than the standard rate of £151.20.

2019/20:

Type Max payment period Amount (£)
Statutory Sick Pay 94.25
Statutory Maternity Pay First six weeks 90% of weekly earnings
Next 33 weeks 148.68
Statutory Paternity Pay 2 weeks 148.68
Statutory Adoption Pay First six weeks 90% of weekly earnings
Next 33 weeks 148.68
Shared Parental Pay 148.68

Average weekly earnings £118 or over.

With the exception of Statutory Sick Pay, statutory payments may be payable at 90% average weekly earnings throughout the payment period in certain circumstances. This applies where 90% weekly earnings are less than the standard rate of £148.68.

Statutory Sick Pay

Payments may be required from an employer if an employee is too ill to work.

SSP is generally payable for a period up to 28 weeks.

SSP support during coronavirus outbreak

The government has temporarily made SSP more accessible to employees in response to the coronavirus outbreak. During the outbreak SSP is available from the first day of absence, including for those self-isolating or caring for others.

The government is supporting small and medium-sized businesses and employers to cope with the extra costs of paying coronavirus related SSP by refunding eligible SSP costs.

Statutory Maternity Pay

Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off to have a baby.

SMP is payable for a period up to 39 weeks.

Statutory Paternity Pay

Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off during their partner’s Statutory Maternity Pay period.

Payment is for a period of either one or two complete weeks.

Shared Parental Pay

Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off following the curtailment of the period of SMP by the mother.

Payment is for up to a maximum of 37 weeks and is dependent on the mother’s unused SMP period.

Statutory Adoption Pay

Payments may be required from an employer when an employee takes time off when they adopt a child.

Payment is for a period up to 39 weeks.

Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay

Payments may be required from an employer when parents take time off following the death of a child or a stillbirth.

Payment is for up to a maximum of two weeks.