Paternity Pay & Shared Parental Leave 2025/26
Calculate statutory paternity pay (SPP) for new fathers and partners, and model shared parental leave — how many weeks each partner can take, what statutory pay they’ll receive, and how the pot of leave splits between you.
Paternity pay 2025/26
Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is paid at £187.18 per week (from 6 April 2025) or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower. To qualify, you must be the child’s father or the mother’s partner, have worked for your employer continuously for 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the baby’s due date, and earn at least £123/week on average.
You can take 1 or 2 consecutive weeks’ paternity leave — it cannot be taken as odd days. Leave must be completed within 56 days of the birth.
SPP weekly rate: £187.18 (or 90% AWE if lower) · ShPP weekly rate: £187.18 (or 90% AWE if lower) · SMP (weeks 1–6): 90% AWE · SMP (weeks 7–39): £187.18 or 90% AWE · Qualifying earnings threshold: £123/week (Lower Earnings Limit)
Shared Parental Leave explained
ShPL allows eligible parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) between them after the first 2 weeks of compulsory maternity leave. Either partner can take the leave in up to 3 separate blocks, and both can take it at the same time (though this uses up the pot faster).
ShPP is paid at the same weekly rate as SPP. Many employers offer enhanced maternity pay but not enhanced shared parental pay — check your contract, as this is an increasingly litigated area of employment law.