UK Paternity Pay Calculator

How Statutory Paternity Pay Works

Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is the minimum your employer must pay for up to 2 weeks of paternity leave. From 6 April 2026 the weekly rate is £194.32 or 90% of your average weekly earnings — whichever is lower. You can take your leave as one solid 2-week block or two separate 1-week blocks, any time within 52 weeks of the birth or adoption placement.

2026 Reforms: Leave vs Pay

The Employment Rights Act 2025 reshapes UK parental entitlements. From 6 April 2026:

• Paternity leave is a day-one right — no minimum service required.
• Paternity pay still needs 26 weeks of continuous employment by the qualifying week (15 weeks before the due date).
• Notice reduced to 28 days for each leave block.
• Paternity leave after Shared Parental Leave is allowed — the old ordering restriction is gone.

This calculator splits eligibility into leave and pay separately, so you can see exactly what you're entitled to in each scenario.

Eligibility for SPP

To qualify for paid SPP you must meet all of the following:

• At least 26 weeks of continuous employment with the same employer by the end of the qualifying week
• Average weekly earnings of at least the Lower Earnings Limit (£129/week in 2026/27) over the 8-week reference period
• Still employed when the child is born (or placed for adoption)
• Be the biological father, mother's spouse/civil partner/cohabiting partner, or intended parent in a surrogacy arrangement
• Give 28 days' notice to your employer (form SC3 or equivalent)

Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)

If the mother ends her maternity leave early, her unused weeks convert into a shared pool: up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay that either parent can take, in blocks of one week or more. ShPP is paid at the same statutory rate as SPP. Both parents must pass a continuity-of-employment test and give separate curtailment and booking notices. This calculator models the pool remaining after the mother's SMP usage so you can see how much you can claim.

Enhanced Employer Schemes

A growing number of UK employers offer enhanced paternity pay. Common patterns include:

• 2 weeks at 100% of normal pay — the most common enhancement, paid via payroll
• 4–6 weeks of enhanced leave — offered by most top-100 UK employers following 2024–2026 policy reviews
• Equal parental leave — some firms (e.g., Aviva, Deloitte UK) offer the same package to all parents regardless of gender

Use the "Employer Full Pay Weeks" input to model your contract. Combined pay is normally capped at 100% of normal salary.

Tax and National Insurance

SPP, ShPP and any employer top-up are paid through PAYE and are fully taxable — income tax and Class 1 NI apply just like normal wages. Your Personal Allowance continues to apply, pension contributions continue, and you accrue holiday as normal during leave. To see your net pay, run the weekly amount through our take-home pay calculator.