Follow up

Proposed benefit and pension rates 2019 to 2020

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New statutory payment rates announced

2019/20 changes. The government has announced the proposed revised rates of statutory maternity pay (SMP), statutory adoption pay (SAP), statutory paternity pay (SPP), statutory shared parental pay (ShPP) and statutory sick pay (SSP) for 2019/20 (see Follow up ). The rates are subject to Parliamentary approval, so changes are possible, but unlikely.

Revised rates. The proposed rates are as follows:

• the standard weekly rates of SMP, SAP, SPP and ShPP will increase from £145.18 to £148.68 (or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings if that’s less than the statutory rate) and the weekly rate of SSP will increase from £92.05 to £94.25
• the lower earnings limit (LEL), below which employees aren’t entitled to these statutory payments, will increase from £116 to £118 per week.

Pro advice. The increases to SMP, SAP, SPP and ShPP will probably take effect for payment weeks commencing on or after Sunday, 7 April 2019. SSP and the LEL will increase from the start of the new tax year, i.e. 6 April 2019.

Proposed benefit and pension rates 2019 to 2020