In April 2026, increases will be made to the maximum compensation limits for certain Employment Tribunal awards, and to statutory pay and national minimum wage rates. Our handy at-a glance table sets out the new figures that will apply from April 2026 to April 2027, alongside the previous year’s figures.
Compensation limits
| Maximum award | 6 April 2025 | 6 April 2026 |
| A “week’s pay” | £719 | £751 |
| Breach of right to be accompanied to a disciplinary or grievance hearing (up to 2 weeks’ pay) | £1,438 | £1,502 |
| Unfair dismissal – maximum basic award | £21,570 | £22,530 |
| Unfair dismissal – compensatory award | £118,223 | £123,543 (but will be uncapped from 1 January 2027) |
| Unfair dismissal – failure to reinstate or reengage (26 to 52 weeks’ pay) | £18,694 – £37,388 | £19,526 – £39,052 |
| Redundancy – maximum statutory redundancy payment | £21,570 | £22,530 |
| Redundancy – failure to collectively consult | 90 days’ gross actual pay | 180 days’ gross actual pay (for dismissals taking effect on or after 6 April 2026) |
| Contracts – failure to give written particulars of employment (2 to 4 weeks’ pay) | £1,438 – £2,876 | £1,502 – £3,004 |
| Contracts – breach of contract claim in the ET | £25,000 | £25,000 |
| Flexible working breaches (up to 8 weeks’ pay) | £5,752 | £6,008 |
| TUPE – failure to inform and consult | 13 weeks’ gross actual pay | 13 weeks’ gross actual pay |
| Discrimination – injury to feelings awards (the “Vento” bands) | Lower band: £1,200 – £12,100 | Lower band: £1,300 – £12,600 |
| Middle band: £12,100 – £36,400 | Middle band: £12,600 – £37,700 | |
| Upper band: £36,400 – £60,700 | Upper band: £37,700 – £62,900 | |
| Exceptional cases: £60,700+ | Exceptional cases: £62,900+ |
Statutory payments for time off work
| Weekly pay at the prescribed rate | 6 April 2025 | 6 April 2026 |
| Maternity pay (first 6 weeks at 90% of normal pay and up to 33 weeks at the prescribed rate) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Adoption pay (first 6 weeks at 90% of normal pay and up to 33 weeks at the prescribed rate) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Paternity pay (up to 2 weeks) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Shared parental pay (up to 39 weeks less any weeks of SMP, MA or SAP claimed) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Parental bereavement pay (up to 2 weeks) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Neonatal care pay (up to 12 weeks) | £187.18 | £194.32 |
| Statutory sick pay | £118.75 | £123.25 |
National minimum wage
| Hourly rate | 1 April 2025 | 1 April 2026 |
| National Living Wage (age 21+) | £12.21 | £12.71 |
| Age 18-20 | £10.00 | £10.85 |
| Age 16-17 | £7.55 | £8.00 |
| Apprentices | £7.55 | £8.00 |
BDBF is a leading employment law firm based at Bank in the City of London. If you would like to discuss any issues relating to the content of this article, please contact Amanda Steadman (AmandaSteadman@bdbf.co.uk), Rose Lim (RoseLim@bdbf.co.uk) or your usual BDBF contact.
