Paternity Pay Calculator
Updated August 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate UK Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) — the weekly rate, your 1-or-2-week entitlement, eligibility tests, and how paternity leave interacts with shared parental leave.
Quick answer: SPP pays the lower of the statutory flat rate (~£187.18/week — revised every April, check gov.uk) or 90% of your average weekly earnings, for 1 or 2 weeks. Eligibility: 26 weeks of service by the 15th week before the due date + earnings at or above the lower earnings limit.
The SPP Formula
Weekly SPP = min(statutory rate, 90% × average weekly earnings)
The 90% cap only bites at low earnings: below roughly £208/week of average earnings, you get 90% of your actual wage; above it, the flat rate. The rate updates every April — this calculator lets you plug in the current figure (check gov.uk for the latest).
Eligibility Tests
- 26 weeks of continuous employment by the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (the "qualifying week") — and staying employed into the birth week.
- Earnings at or above the lower earnings limit (~£125/week averaged over the 8-week reference period).
- Relationship test: biological father, partner/spouse of the mother, or adoptive parent — taking the leave to care for the child or support the mother.
Worked Examples
Example 1 — typical earner. £600/week average: 90% = £540, capped at the flat rate → ~£187/week, £374 for two weeks. Against £1,200 of normal fortnightly pay, that's a ~69% income drop — the planning point most new fathers miss.
Example 2 — low earner. £180/week average: 90% = £162/week — the cap never engages.
Example 3 — enhanced employer. Policy pays 100% for 2 weeks: employer tops up from SPP to £600/week; the SPP portion is reclaimed by the employer from HMRC (92%, or 108.5% for small employers).
Taking the Leave: The Rules
Since April 2024, the 2 weeks can be taken as two separate 1-week blocks, any time within 52 weeks of birth (previously 56 days), with 28 days notice per block. Leave cannot start before the birth. SPP is taxable and NIC-able like normal pay.
Beyond Two Weeks: Shared Parental Leave
If the mother curtails her maternity leave/SMP, up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 of pay convert into Shared Parental Leave (ShPP) — takeable by either parent, in up to 3 blocks each, at the same statutory flat rate. The practical pattern: father takes 2 weeks SPP at birth, then a ShPL block later when the mother returns — coordinated via the maternity leave date calculator. Uptake is famously low (~2-5%) largely because the flat rate makes it unaffordable for higher-earning fathers — check whether your employer enhances ShPP; a growing minority do.
Employer Notes
- Reclaim: 92% of SPP from HMRC (108.5% with Small Employers Relief if annual NIC ≤ £45,000).
- Form SC3 (or equivalent self-certification) is the evidence standard — no birth certificate required in advance.
- Protection: paternity leave carries the same detriment/dismissal protections as maternity leave; holiday accrues throughout.
- KIT-style contact: no formal KIT days for 2-week paternity, but reasonable contact is fine.
US Readers: The Equivalent Landscape
The US has no federal paid paternity leave — fathers use FMLA (12 unpaid, job-protected weeks, same entitlement as mothers) plus state paid family leave where it exists (CA, NY, NJ, WA and others pay 6-12 weeks at 60-90% for bonding, fathers fully included) and employer policies. The planning math is the same: wage replacement × weeks − normal pay = the gap to budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is statutory paternity pay?
The lower of the statutory flat rate (~£187/week — revised each April, check gov.uk for the current figure) or 90% of your average weekly earnings, for 1 or 2 weeks.
Who qualifies for SPP?
26 weeks of service by the 15th week before the due date, average earnings at or above the lower earnings limit, and being the father/partner/adopter caring for the child.
Can I split my paternity leave?
Yes — since April 2024, two separate 1-week blocks any time in the 52 weeks after birth, with 28 days notice per block.
Is paternity pay taxable?
Yes — SPP is taxed and NIC-ed like normal wages through payroll.
What is shared parental leave?
The mother can convert up to 50 weeks of her maternity leave (37 paid at the flat rate) into leave either parent can take in blocks — useful once her higher-rate SMP weeks are done.
Do US fathers get paternity pay?
No federal paid leave — FMLA gives 12 unpaid protected weeks; state programs (CA, NY, NJ, WA, etc.) pay 6-12 bonding weeks at 60-90% where available.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: August 20, 2026