Pay & Benefits
April 2026 UK Statutory Rates
In force
6 April 2026
Applies to
All UK employers
Annual uprating of National Minimum Wage, Statutory Sick Pay, family-related pay and the National Insurance Secondary Threshold.
Key Points
- National Living Wage (21+): increased rate effective 1 April 2026
- Statutory Sick Pay: new weekly rate from 6 April 2026
- Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Pay: new weekly rate
- Employer NICs Secondary Threshold change (announced Autumn 2025)
Practical Steps For Your SME
- Update payroll before 6 April 2026 cut-off
- Re-issue any contracts that quote specific statutory rates
- Recalculate budgets and tender pricing
- Communicate uplifts to affected staff in writing
Penalties
HMRC penalties up to 200 percent of underpayment plus public naming and shaming.
Free Resource
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