Adoption pay calculator
Work out your Statutory Adoption Pay week by week, and the total over 39 weeks.
Uses the 2026 to 2027 standard rate of £194.32 a week from HMRC, checked 13 November 2026.
Result
On £576.92 a week, Statutory Adoption Pay comes to £9,527.94 over 39 weeks.
over 39 weeks, before tax
| First 6 weeks, each | £519.23 |
|---|---|
| Next 33 weeks, each | £194.32 |
| Weeks paid | 39 weeks |
Show the workings
| Step | Sum | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 90% of your average weekly earnings | £576.92 × 90% | £519.23 |
| First 6 weeks | 6 × £519.23 | £3,115.38 |
| Weekly rate after that | the standard rate of £194.32, as it is lower than £519.23 | £194.32 |
| Next 33 weeks | 33 × £194.32 | £6,412.56 |
| Total Statutory Adoption Pay | £3,115.38 + £6,412.56 | £9,527.94 |
What this leaves out or assumes
- Amounts are before tax and National Insurance, which are taken off as normal.
- You also need to have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the week you were matched with a child.
- Weekly amounts are rounded to the nearest penny. Your employer's payroll may round slightly differently.
Where the figures come from
- Share of average weekly earnings paid as Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay: 90%. Source: GOV.UK: Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Statutory Adoption Pay, standard weekly rate after the first 6 weeks: £194.32 a week. Source: GOV.UK: Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Weeks of Statutory Adoption Pay at 90% of earnings: 6 weeks. Source: GOV.UK: Adoption pay and leave, pay. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Weeks of Statutory Adoption Pay at the standard rate or 90%: 33 weeks. Source: GOV.UK: Adoption pay and leave, pay. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Lower Earnings Limit for National Insurance, 2026 to 2027: £129.00 a week. Source: GOV.UK: Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027. Checked 13 November 2026.
How Statutory Adoption Pay is worked out
Statutory Adoption Pay is paid for up to 39 weeks, the same way as maternity pay:
- for the first 6 weeks, 90% of your average weekly earnings before tax
- for the next 33 weeks, £194.32 or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower
| Average weekly earnings | First 6 weeks, each | Next 33 weeks, each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £150.00 | £135.00 | £135.00 | £5,265.00 |
| £200.00 | £180.00 | £180.00 | £7,020.00 |
| £300.00 | £270.00 | £194.32 | £8,032.56 |
| £500.00 | £450.00 | £194.32 | £9,112.56 |
| £800.00 | £720.00 | £194.32 | £10,732.56 |
Who gets it
To get Statutory Adoption Pay you must, according to GOV.UK:
- have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the week you were matched with a child
- earn on average at least £129 a week before tax
- give the correct notice and proof of the adoption
The rules are different if you are adopting from overseas or in a surrogacy arrangement. GOV.UK's guide to adoption pay and leave has them all.