Total Statutory Paternity Pay
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Statutory Paternity Pay Calculator
Find out how much Statutory Paternity Pay you're entitled to. Works for 1 or 2 weeks, taken together or as separate blocks. We show your daily rate, your total pay, and whether the 90% AWE rule applies to you.
📅 2026–27 rates — valid from 6 April 2026
Weekly rate: £194.32
Or 90% AWE if lower
LEL: £129/week
See all statutory rates →
New from 6 April 2026: Paternity leave is now a day-one right — no qualifying period needed to take the leave. However, Statutory Paternity Pay still requires 26 weeks' continuous service. You can take the time off from day one; whether it's paid depends on your service length.
We'll convert this to a weekly average for the calculation
£
Your gross monthly pay before any deductions
You can take 1 or 2 weeks — consecutive or as two separate blocks
Used to calculate your daily SPP rate — a "week" means your normal working days
Your average weekly pay is below the Lower Earnings Limit of £129. You may not qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay. You can still take paternity leave — it became a day-one right from 6 April 2026 — but it would be unpaid.
PAIRED GUIDE
Statutory Paternity Pay Explained
Who qualifies, how the two-week flexible structure works, what happens if you don't meet the 26-week threshold, and how SPP interacts with Shared Parental Leave.
Read the Guide →How Statutory Paternity Pay Is Calculated
Unlike maternity pay, SPP has no two-phase structure. The rate is the same throughout — the lower of £194.32 per week or 90% of your Average Weekly Earnings.
| Your average weekly earnings | Your SPP rate | Why |
|---|---|---|
| £215.91 or above | £194.32/week | Flat rate applies — 90% AWE exceeds the cap |
| £143.33 – £215.90 | 90% of AWE | 90% AWE is lower than £194.32 |
| Below £129 | May not qualify | Below the Lower Earnings Limit |
Your Average Weekly Earnings are based on your gross pay in the 8 weeks before the qualifying week — the 15th week before your baby's due date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is SPP per week in 2026–27?
£194.32 per week, or 90% of your Average Weekly Earnings if that figure is lower. The 90% rate applies when your average weekly earnings are below £215.91. If your weekly pay is below the £129 Lower Earnings Limit you may not qualify for SPP at all.
Can I take my two weeks separately?
Yes — since April 2024, you can take two separate one-week blocks at any point within the first 52 weeks after the birth or adoption placement. You need to give your employer at least 28 days' notice before each block. You could, for example, take one week at birth and another when your partner returns to work.
Does paternity leave start from day one now?
The leave does — from 6 April 2026, paternity leave is a day-one right under the Employment Rights Act 2025. This means you don't need 26 weeks' service to be entitled to take the time off. However, Statutory Paternity Pay still requires 26 weeks' continuous service by the qualifying week. So you can take the leave from day one, but whether it's paid depends on how long you've worked for your employer.
What is my qualifying week?
The qualifying week is the 15th week before your baby's expected week of birth. Your 26-week continuous employment for SPP purposes is assessed at this point — you must have been employed by the same employer for at least 26 weeks by any day within that week.
Is SPP taxable?
Yes. SPP counts as earnings for income tax and National Insurance. Your employer pays it through payroll in the usual way, with deductions applied in the same way as your regular wages.
Can I get SPP if I'm the mother's same-sex partner?
Yes. SPP is available to the partner of the birth parent regardless of gender or whether you are married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting. The entitlement extends to biological fathers, same-sex partners, civil partners, spouses, and intended parents in surrogacy arrangements.
What if I don't qualify for SPP?
If you don't meet the 26-week service requirement or earnings threshold for SPP, you're still entitled to take unpaid paternity leave from day one (from April 2026). You could also explore whether you qualify for Shared Parental Leave — the qualifying rules are assessed separately and your partner may be able to share their maternity entitlement with you.
Can I take paternity leave after taking Shared Parental Leave?
Yes — from 6 April 2026, paternity leave can be taken after Shared Parental Leave. Previously the rule was that paternity leave had to be taken first. Families now have full flexibility to take SPL and then use their paternity entitlement separately within the 52-week window.