Statutory Maternity Pay 2026/27: £194.32 per week
Edited by Oliver Wakefield-Smith, Founder of Digital Signet. Last reviewed 23 June 2026.
Direct answer
What is the 2026/27 SMP rate?
£194.32per week, weeks 7 to 39
From 6 April 2026 the SMP standard rate is £194.32 per week, or 90% of average weekly earnings if lower. The Lower Earnings Limit rose to £129 per week. Statutory Adoption Pay, Shared Parental Pay, Paternity Pay and Parental Bereavement Pay are all set at the same £194.32 weekly figure for 2026/27.
The 2026/27 figures
| Rate | 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| SMP standard weekly rate (weeks 7 to 39) | 194.32 |
| SMP 90% phase (weeks 1 to 6) | 90% of AWE |
| Lower Earnings Limit (eligibility floor) | 129.00 |
| Statutory Paternity Pay weekly rate | 194.32 |
| Statutory Adoption Pay weekly rate (weeks 7+) | 194.32 |
| Statutory Shared Parental Pay weekly rate | 194.32 |
| Maternity Allowance weekly rate | 194.32 |
| Personal allowance (tax-free) | 12,570.00 |
| Small Employers Relief NI threshold | 45,000.00 |
How the rate compares
The 2026/27 standard rate of 194.32 is a £7.14 per week rise on the 2025/26 rate of 187.18, a cash uplift of 3.82%. Over a full 33 weeks of flat-rate pay that is 235.62 of additional gross SMP.
Statutory Instrument
All these rates are set by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 (SI 2026/148), made on 2 March 2026 and in force from 6 April 2026. The Order reflects the September 2025 CPI figure of 3.8% used by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
FAQ
When does the new rate take effect?
6 April 2026.
Does the rate apply if my leave started before 6 April 2026?
Yes. From the first full week of SMP that falls on or after 6 April 2026, you receive the new £194.32 weekly figure if you were previously on the flat rate.
Did the LEL change?
Yes. The Lower Earnings Limit rose from £125 to £129 per week for 2026/27, in line with the September 2025 CPI of 3.8%.