Rates, limits and levels of statutory pay, benefits and rights

How long does someone have to work for you before they qualify for statutory maternity pay?

What is the national minimum wage for a 19-year-old? How much ordinary adoption leave is an employee entitled to?

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Here you'll find details of numerous statutory pay, benefits, rules and rights under UK law.

Bookmark this page and we'll make sure it's kept up to date. This page was last updated on 4 April 2008.

	Qualifying period	Compensation limits	Time limit to bring claim
Unfair dismissal	One year	Maximum compensatory award – £63,000	Three months from effective date of termination (EDT)
Redundancy pay	Two years	Maximum – £9,900	Six months from EDT
Breach of contract	None	Tribunal – £25,000 High Court/County Court – No limit	Three months from EDT Six years from breach
	Qualifying period	Rate	Notes
Statutory maternity pay (SMP)	26 weeks by end of 15th week before expected week of childbirth (EWC); and earnings at or above £90 per week	90% of average earnings for six weeks, followed by 33 weeks at at lower of flate rate (£117.18) or 90% of average weekly earnings	• All employees have right to 26 weeks' ordinary maternity leave (OML) from up to 11 weeks before EWC • All employees can take an additional 26 weeks' leave (AML) immediately after the end of OML • SMP is paid for 39 weeks.
Statutory adoption pay (SAP)	26 weeks by end of the week notified of match for adoption and earnings at or above £90 per week	39 weeks at lower of £117.18 or 90% of average weekly earnings	• Employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service by week notified of match for adoption entitled to 26 weeks’ ordinary adoption leave (OAL) • Employees can then take an additional 26 weeks’ leave commencing immediately after OAL.
Statutory paternity pay	26 weeks by the end of the15th week before baby is due; or by the end of the week notified of match for adoption; and have average earnings at or above £90 per week	One or two consecutive weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings or £117.18 if lower	• Leave to be completed within 56 days of birth or adoptive placement.
Parental leave	One year	13 weeks' unpaid leave up to the child’s fi fth birthday (18 for disabled) or within five years of the child being adopted (or adopted child’s 18th birthday if earlier).	• Male or female employees with parental responsibility for a child, including adoptive parents, can qualify • Leave to be taken in one-week blocks, 21 days’ notice to be given • Leave limited to four weeks per year.
Statutory sick pay	None. Earnings must be at or above £90 per week	£75.40 per week
Paid annual leave	None	4.8 weeks per year, including bank holidays
	Adult rate	18 to 21-year-olds	16 to 17-year-olds
National minimum wage	£5.52 per hour (£5.73 from 1 Oct 08)	£4.60 per hour (£4.77 from 1 Oct 08)	£3.40 per hour (£3.53 from 1 Oct 08)
Calculating redundancy pay
Employees aged up to 21		Half a week’s pay per full year worked
Employees aged 22-40		One week’s pay per full year worked
Employees aged 41 or over		One-and-a-half-weeks' pay per full year worked
Maximum weekly pay		£330 per week
Maximum number of years		Last 20 worked