How Much Is Paternity Pay in the UK?

How Much Is Paternity Pay in the UK?

How much you will be paid while on paternity leave depends on both your statutory entitlement and your employer’s paternity policy. If you qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay, you can receive up to £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for up to two weeks. Your employer may offer enhanced paternity pay, which could mean receiving more — potentially including full pay — while you are off.

It is also important to distinguish paternity leave from paternity pay. You can be entitled to take Statutory Paternity Leave without qualifying for Statutory Paternity Pay. Your actual income during paternity leave therefore depends on whether you qualify for statutory pay and what, if anything, your employer provides on top.

How much is Statutory Paternity Pay?

For the 2026/27 tax year, Statutory Paternity Pay is:

• £194.32 per week, or
• 90% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower.

So £194.32 is the maximum weekly statutory rate, not an amount everyone automatically receives.

For example:

• If your average weekly earnings are £500, 90% would be £450. Because this is higher than the statutory rate, you would receive £194.32 a week.
• If your average weekly earnings are £180, 90% is £162. Because this is lower than £194.32, you would receive £162 a week.

These figures are before deductions.

How much paternity pay do you get for two weeks?

If you qualify and receive the maximum statutory rate for two weeks, you would receive:

£194.32 × 2 = £388.64

This is gross pay before tax and National Insurance. If 90% of your average weekly earnings is less than £194.32, your total would instead be based on that lower amount.

Is paternity leave paid?

Paternity leave and paternity pay are separate entitlements. You may be entitled to take Statutory Paternity Leave without qualifying for Statutory Paternity Pay. Since 6 April 2026, Statutory Paternity Leave in England, Scotland and Wales is a day-one employment right. However, the qualifying rules for Statutory Paternity Pay are different and still include minimum employment and earnings requirements. Your employer may also offer enhanced paternity pay through its own family leave policy.

Who qualifies for Statutory Paternity Pay?

For a birth, you normally need to:

• be employed by your employer up to the date your baby is born
• have been continuously employed by that employer for at least 26 weeks up to the end of any day in the qualifying week
• earn an average of at least £129 a week before tax
• give your employer the correct notice
• meet the relevant relationship and caring requirements

The qualifying week is the 15th week before the week your baby is due. Different qualifying rules apply to adoption.

What does the £129 earnings threshold mean?

To qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay in 2026/27, your average weekly earnings must normally be at least £129. This is an eligibility threshold. It does not mean that someone earning £129 a week automatically receives £194.32 in paternity pay. If your average weekly earnings were £129, for example, 90% would be £116.10. Because this is below the standard statutory rate, your Statutory Paternity Pay would be £116.10 a week.

Do I need to have worked for my employer for 26 weeks?

For Statutory Paternity Pay, yes. You normally need at least 26 weeks of continuous employment with the same employer up to the relevant qualifying week. This is now different from Statutory Paternity Leave itself in England, Scotland and Wales. From 6 April 2026, eligible employees can qualify for paternity leave from their first day of employment. The 26-week service requirement was removed for leave, but it remains in place for Statutory Paternity Pay. This means someone starting a new job shortly before their baby arrives could potentially qualify for paternity leave but not statutory paternity pay.

Is Statutory Paternity Pay taxed?

Yes. Statutory Paternity Pay is paid through your employer in the same way as your normal wages. Income Tax and National Insurance are deducted where applicable. The statutory rates quoted above are therefore gross amounts rather than the amount that will necessarily reach your bank account.

Does my employer have to pay full salary during paternity leave?

No. The statutory entitlement is Statutory Paternity Pay rather than full salary. However, some employers offer enhanced paternity pay. For example, an employer might provide:

• full salary for two weeks
• a percentage of normal salary
• statutory paternity pay topped up to a higher amount
• more paid leave than the statutory entitlement

You should check your employment contract or your employer's maternity, paternity or family leave policy.

What is enhanced paternity pay?

Enhanced paternity pay is where your employer pays more than the statutory minimum. There is no single standard enhanced paternity pay package. The amount and duration depend on your employer's policy. For example, one employer might provide two weeks at full pay while another may provide only Statutory Paternity Pay. If your employer offers an enhanced scheme, it can therefore make a significant difference to the financial impact of taking paternity leave.

How is paternity pay calculated?

Statutory Paternity Pay is based on your average weekly earnings. Your employer calculates your average earnings over a specific relevant period before the qualifying week.

Once your average weekly earnings have been established:

• if 90% of those earnings is below £194.32, you receive the lower 90% amount
• if 90% is £194.32 or more, you receive £194.32 per week

The £194.32 rate applies for the 2026/27 tax year.

Can I get paternity pay if I earn less than £129 a week?

Normally, no. For 2026/27, you generally need average weekly earnings of at least £129 to qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay. You may still qualify for Statutory Paternity Leave if you meet the leave eligibility requirements, because the rules for leave and pay are different.

What if I do not qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay?

If your employer decides that you do not qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay, they must tell you why. They should provide form SPP1 within 28 days. Not qualifying for statutory pay does not necessarily mean that you cannot take paternity leave. You should check your leave entitlement separately and also check whether your employer offers any contractual arrangements beyond the statutory minimum.

How do I claim Statutory Paternity Pay?

You claim Statutory Paternity Pay through your employer rather than directly from the government. For a birth, you normally need to tell your employer your baby's due date at least 15 weeks before the baby is expected. You can use the government's online paternity form, which replaced the old SC3 form, or your employer may have its own form. You should check your employer's process as early as possible.

How long do you get paternity pay for?

Statutory Paternity Pay can be paid for up to two weeks of eligible paternity leave.

In England, Scotland and Wales, paternity leave can be taken as:

• one week
• two consecutive weeks
• two separate one-week periods

Your employer may provide additional paid leave under an enhanced paternity policy.

How does paternity pay compare with your normal salary?

For many employees, Statutory Paternity Pay will be considerably lower than their normal salary. For example, someone earning £40,000 a year has gross weekly salary of roughly £769. At the maximum statutory rate of £194.32, their statutory paternity pay would therefore be much lower than their usual gross weekly earnings unless their employer provides an enhanced payment. This is why it is important to check both your statutory entitlement and your employer's family leave policy when planning your time off.

Planning your paternity leave and pay

Knowing the statutory rate is only part of the picture. Your actual income while you are off can depend on your salary, whether you qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay, any enhanced paternity benefits offered by your employer, when you take your leave and whether you combine it with other types of leave. Your Family Leave Plan helps you bring your statutory and employer benefits together and see how different leave choices could affect your family's time off and pay.