Babies are expensive (who knew!), and managing parental pay can be complicated, but it’s an important allowance to understand if you want to support your employees in balancing work and family life.
Our blog gives you all the info you need around parental pay rates for 2024/25.
What are the parental pay rates for 2024/25?
Let’s take a look at the weekly paternal pay rates for 2024/25, bearing in mind that all leave rates are determined by the UK government.
| Benefit | New rate |
| Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) | £184.03 per week (or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings if this figure is less than the statutory rate) |
| Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) | £184.03 per week (or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings if this figure is less than the statutory rate) |
| Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) | £184.03 per week (or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings if this figure is less than the statutory rate) |
| Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) | £184.03 per week (or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings if this figure is less than the statutory rate) |
| Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (SPBP) | £184.03 per week (or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings if this figure is less than the statutory rate) |
Parental pay FAQs
What’s the earnings threshold for parental pay rates for 2024/25?
Starting from April 7, 2024, in order to be eligible for maternity pay, paternity pay, shared parental pay, adoption pay, and parental bereavement pay, employees must earn an average of £123.00 per week.
How long is statutory maternity leave?
Employees can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, split into two periods: Ordinary Maternity Leave (the first 26 weeks) and Additional Maternity Leave (the last 26 weeks). They can start this leave as early as 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth, unless the baby arrives earlier. After childbirth, they must take at least 2 weeks off, or 4 weeks if they work in a factory.
What’s the notice period for statutory paternity leave?
For babies due on or before April 6, 2024, employees need to inform their employer 15 weeks in advance about the due date, start date, and duration of their paternity leave. For babies due after April 6, 2024, they must provide the due date 15 weeks ahead and inform their start date and duration 28 days in advance.
How long is statutory adoption leave?
Employees are entitled to up to 52 weeks of Statutory Adoption Leave, with the initial 26 weeks referred to as ‘Ordinary Adoption Leave’ and the subsequent 26 weeks as ‘Additional Adoption Leave’.
Leave can start:
- On the date the child starts living with the employee or up to 14 days before the expected placement date (UK adoptions)
- When an employee has been matched with a child to be placed with them by a UK adoption agency
- When the child arrives in the UK or within 28 days of this date (overseas adoptions)
- The day the child’s born or the day after (parents in surrogacy arrangements)
What are the statutory sick pay rates for 2024/25?
Now that the new financial year has officially commenced, you should be aware of statutory sick pay (SSP) receiving an uplift in its annual rate. To ensure you’re equipped for any instances of employee illness, read our SSP rates for 2024/25 blog.
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