New statutory rates in force from April 2025

The government has announced that the following statutory payments will increase from April next year:

• The weekly rate of SSP will increase to £118.75 (currently £116.75)
• The weekly rate of SMP, maternity allowance, SPP, ShPL pay and parental bereavement pay will be £187.18 (currently £184.30)
• The lower earnings limit (the weekly earnings threshold for qualifying for all of these payments other than maternity allowance) will be £125 - an increase of £2 from the current rates. The lower earnings limit for maternity allowance will remain at £30 a week.

The new rates represent an increase of 1.7% in line with CPI to September 2024. The figures, and the date from which they will apply, will need to be formalised in an Order, which must be laid before Parliament.

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