How much is Statutory Adoption Pay in 2026/27?

Full answer

Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) gives adopting parents broadly equivalent financial support to Statutory Maternity Pay, recognising that the practical and emotional demands of the early period after a child joins the family are similar regardless of whether the child was born to the parent or adopted. **The two-tier rate structure** Like Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay is paid in two tiers: the first 6 weeks are paid at 90% of the employee's average weekly earnings (uncapped, so higher earners get a genuinely higher amount in these weeks), and the remaining up to 33 weeks are paid at the lower of the standard statutory rate (£194.32 a week for 2026/27) or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower -- meaning most earners above a fairly modest salary level receive the flat £194.32 rate for these later weeks. **Total leave and pay period** Adopting parents are entitled to up to 52 weeks of Statutory Adoption Leave in total, of which up to 39 weeks can be paid (the same overall structure as maternity leave), leaving the final 13 weeks as unpaid leave if taken in full. **Eligibility** To qualify for Statutory Adoption Pay, the employee generally needs to have worked for their employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the notification week (the week they are matched with a child for adoption), and earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit on average. Similar continuity and notice requirements apply as for maternity leave, including specific notice periods to the employer once matched with a child. **Who can claim -- one parent, or split via Shared Parental Leave** In a couple adopting together, one partner takes Statutory Adoption Leave and Pay, while the OTHER partner may be eligible for Statutory Paternity Leave and Pay (or equivalent partner leave) instead -- similar to how birth parents split maternity and paternity leave. Adopting couples can also choose to convert some of the Adoption Leave/Pay into Shared Parental Leave/Pay, splitting the remaining entitlement between them in blocks, exactly as birth parents can. **Surrogacy and adoption from overseas** Specific rules also cover parents having a child through surrogacy (who may claim Statutory Parental Order Pay, broadly mirroring adoption pay rules) and adopting a child from overseas (where the notification and evidence requirements differ slightly, often based on the date official notification of having been matched with the child is received, rather than a UK adoption agency match date). **Worked example** An employee earning £2,000 a month (average weekly earnings roughly £461) is matched with a child for adoption and takes the full 39 weeks of paid Statutory Adoption Leave. For the first 6 weeks, they receive 90% of their average weekly earnings, approximately £415 a week. For the remaining 33 weeks, they receive the lower of £194.32 or 90% of earnings -- since £194.32 is lower than 90% of their earnings, they receive £194.32 a week for those 33 weeks. **Practical tip** Check whether the employer offers enhanced (above-statutory) adoption pay, since many employers now match their maternity pay policy for adoption pay, which can be significantly more generous than the statutory minimum described above -- and notify the employer of the adoption match and intended leave dates as early as reasonably possible to avoid administrative delays.

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More answers

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