2026 rules

Benefits calculator for United Kingdom

How much you get if you lose your job, have a baby, fall ill or raise children, with the 2026 rules that apply in the UK.

Quick answerIn the UK, with a monthly gross salary of 3,000 GBP and 10 years of work: unemployment benefit 95.55 GBP per week, duration 26 weeks (6 months), maternity or parental pay 623.08 GBP per week, duration 39 weeks (9 months), sick pay for 30 days 528.21 GBP in total, and child benefit for two children 44.95 GBP per week.

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Estimate with the 2026 rules. The official amount is decided by the institution that pays it.

In the UK the DWP pays New Style Jobseeker's Allowance and Maternity Allowance, employers pay Statutory Maternity Pay and Statutory Sick Pay, and HMRC pays Child Benefit. Rates below are for 2026/27.

Unemployment benefit in the UK

  • New Style JSA is 95.55 GBP a week if you are 25 or over and 75.65 GBP if you are under 25, for up to 182 days (26 weeks).
  • It depends on your National Insurance contributions in the last 2 tax years, not on your salary or savings. Universal Credit is the separate means-tested benefit.
  • It is reduced by part-time earnings and by pension income over 50 GBP a week.
Unemployment: Calculator

Maternity and parental leave in the UK

  • Statutory Maternity Pay is paid for 39 weeks: 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then 194.32 GBP a week or 90% of earnings if that is lower.
  • You need to earn at least 129 GBP a week and to have worked 26 weeks for your employer by the 15th week before the due date. Otherwise you can get Maternity Allowance.
  • Partners get up to 2 weeks of Statutory Paternity Pay. Parents can convert unused maternity leave into Shared Parental Leave with up to 37 weeks of pay.
Maternity / parental: Calculator

Sick pay in the UK

  • From 6 April 2026 Statutory Sick Pay is paid from the first day of sickness, with no waiting days and no lower earnings limit.
  • It is 123.25 GBP a week or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for up to 28 weeks.
  • Many employers pay more under their own sick pay scheme. After 28 weeks you can claim New Style ESA.
Sick pay: Calculator

Child benefit in the UK

  • Child Benefit is 27.05 GBP a week for the eldest child and 17.90 GBP for each other child in 2026/27.
  • If either parent has adjusted net income over 60,000 GBP, the High Income Child Benefit Charge claws back 1% for every 200 GBP above, so all of it at 80,000 GBP.
  • Claiming still protects the National Insurance credits of a parent who stays at home, so it is often worth claiming even with a high income.
Child benefit: Calculator

Before you apply: five things people often miss

1

Apply on time

Most benefits have a deadline, often 30 days after the job ends or after the birth. Applying late can mean losing months of money that you cannot claim back.

2

Quitting is not the same as being dismissed

In most countries you get no unemployment benefit, or get it later, if you resign or agree to leave. Before you sign a termination agreement, check what it means for your benefit.

3

Your insurance record decides everything

Duration and amount depend on how many months you paid contributions and on what salary. Check that your employer reported you correctly before you apply.

4

Gross, net and taxes

Some benefits are paid gross and are taxed, others are tax free. The calculator shows the amount the rules describe. The money you see in your account can be lower.

5

Combine benefits the smart way

Sick leave, maternity leave and unemployment usually cannot be paid for the same days. The order in which you claim them can change how much you receive in total.

Examples by salary

Ten years of work, age 35, first child, 30 days of sick leave, 2026 rules.

Monthly salaryUnemploymentMaternity or parentalSick pay, 30 days
1,800 GBP95.55 GBP per week373.85 GBP per week528.21 GBP
3,000 GBP95.55 GBP per week623.08 GBP per week528.21 GBP
4,800 GBP95.55 GBP per week996.92 GBP per week528.21 GBP

Frequently asked questions

Do I get unemployment benefit if I quit my job in the UK?

If you leave your job voluntarily without good reason, your JSA can be sanctioned for up to 13 weeks or longer.

Where do I apply in the UK?

New Style JSA: online at GOV.UK. Statutory Maternity Pay and Sick Pay: through your employer. Maternity Allowance and Child Benefit: online at GOV.UK.

Is this an official decision?

No. MyBenefitKit is an informational calculator. The institution that pays the benefit decides the exact amount from your full insurance record. Use the result to plan and to check the decision you receive.

Sources and disclaimer

This page is informational. The rules and amounts are based on laws and official publications valid in October 2026 and simplified for the calculator. Individual cases, collective agreements and regional rules can change the result.

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