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 is still the due date at least 15 weeks before the birth plus 28 days before the leave starts; a temporary easement drops the 15-week notice for babies due before 25 July 2026 where the employee has under 26 weeks' service.
• 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 the correct notice to your employer (the due date 15 weeks before the birth, and 28 days before the leave starts) using the online paternity form or your employer's own

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

An employer can pay more than Statutory Paternity Pay under its own policy or contract, so check your contract or staff handbook for any enhancement.

Use the "Employer Full Pay Weeks" input to model your contract.

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.