Adoption Pay Calculator
Calculate your Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) for 2025/26. See the weekly breakdown, estimate your take-home pay during leave, and model shared adoption leave with your partner.
Try another scenario
How to Use This Calculator
Adoption Pay tab
Enter your annual gross salary to see your Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) entitlement. The calculator shows your weekly Average Weekly Earnings (AWE), the 6 weeks at 90% of AWE, 33 weeks at the flat rate (or 90% AWE if lower), total gross SAP, and estimated net pay after tax and National Insurance. Expand "More options" to model employer-enhanced adoption pay on top of SAP.
Take-Home During Leave tab
See how your monthly income changes during 12 months of adoption leave. The calculator compares your normal monthly net pay against adoption pay net for each month, showing the budget gap. Enter a savings buffer to see whether your savings cover the shortfall.
Shared Adoption Leave tab
Model how to split adoption leave between you and your partner. Enter the primary adopter's weeks and both salaries to see each person's entitlement. The remaining paid weeks transfer to the partner as Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) at the statutory rate.
Share your result
Every input is encoded in the URL. Click Share to send your exact scenario to a partner, employer, or financial adviser.
The Formula
Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) uses two rates across 39 paid weeks:
Weeks 1–6: 90% × AWE per week
Weeks 7–39: lower of (90% × AWE) or £187.18 per week
Total SAP = (6 × 90% × AWE) + (33 × min(90% × AWE, £187.18))
Qualifying condition: AWE ≥ £125/week (Lower Earnings Limit)
Employment: 26+ continuous weeks with same employer by matching week
SAP is paid by your employer and taxed as normal earnings. Your employer reclaims 92% of SAP from HMRC (103% if they qualify for Small Employers' Relief). The net amount you receive depends on your tax code, National Insurance, and any other deductions.
Example
Sarah & James — adopting from a UK agency, Sarah earns £30,000
Sarah has been matched with a child through a UK adoption agency. She has worked for her employer for 3 years and earns £30,000 per year. James earns £35,000 and plans to take shared parental leave.
Adoption Pay tab
Sarah's first 6 weeks give her £519/week (90% of her £577 AWE). After that, she drops to the flat rate of £187.18/week — a significant reduction. Building a savings buffer before leave is essential.
Shared Adoption Leave tab
Sarah takes 20 weeks of adoption leave, then James takes the remaining 19 paid weeks via Shared Parental Leave.
By sharing leave, both parents get time with their child while managing the household income drop across the year.