UK statutory rates for April 2026 include a National Living Wage increase to £12.71 per hour for those aged 21 and over, with statutory sick pay rising to £123.25 a week and family-related pay (maternity, paternity, etc.) increasing to £194.32 a week. These 3.8% inflationary adjustments will apply from 6 April 2026.
National Minimum Wage (NMW) & National Living Wage (NLW) – from April 2026
| Age | Hourly rate from 1 April 2026 |
| 21 and over (National Living Wage) | £12.71 |
| Age 18-20 | £10.85 |
| Under 18 but above school leaving age | £8.00 |
| Apprentices under 19 | £8.00 |
|
Apprentices 19 and over (but in first year of apprenticeship) |
£8.00 |
Statutory Payment Rates – From 6 April 2026
|
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Paid from day one of absence |
£123.25 per week Note that SSP is based on the number of qualifying days in the week |
|
Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared Parental, and Parental Bereavement Pay, Neonatal Care Pay |
£194.32 per week* |
*or 90% of employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower
Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) £129 per week
