The statutory rates of pay for maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption are increasing in April 2017, as is the rate of statutory sick pay. This is the first time these rates will have risen since April 2015. With effect from the beginning of the new tax year in April 2017 the rate for Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay will be increased by £1.40 per week, to £140.98 per week. As is already the case, these rates will be reduced to 90% of an employee’s earnings if this is lower than the statutory rate.
In addition, the rate of Statutory Sick Pay, will be increased from the beginning of April from £88.45 per week to £89.35 per week. To be entitled to these statutory payments, your employee’s average earnings must be equal to or more than the lower earnings limit. The weekly lower earnings limit is increasing at the same time from £112 to £113 per week.