It’s that time of year again when the UK Government decides on and publishes any increases to the statutory sick pay and family-friendly payment rates for the next financial year. With this in mind, it is worth noting the Department for Work and Pensions’ recent announcement on the relevant rates for the financial year 2023/2024.

What’s changing?

With effect from April 2023, we are now expecting the following changes: 

• statutory sick pay (SSP) will increase from £99.35 to £109.40 per week;
• the standard ‘flat rate’ for statutory maternity pay (SMP) will increase from £156.66 to £172.48 per week; and 
• statutory paternity pay, statutory shared parental pay, statutory parental bereavement pay and statutory adoption pay will increase from £156.66 to £172.48 per week.

These changes represent roughly a 10% increase in the relevant pay rates. Given the current rate of inflation, the size of the increase is unsurprising.

Can we help?

If you want to discuss your responsibilities or obligations to pay any of the sums set out above, please get in touch.