Northern Ireland will move in step with Great Britain on this year’s benefits and statutory pay up‑rating. Most working‑age benefits and statutory payments rise by 3.8%, while the State Pension increases by 4.8% under the earnings measure. For employers and households, the effects land across the week beginning Sunday 5 April and Monday 6 April 2026. (publications.parliament.uk)

Statutory Sick Pay rises to £123.25 per week from Monday 6 April 2026. That’s a £4.50 weekly increase on 2025/26. Employers should ensure payroll software and absence policies reflect the new rate from the start of the 2026/27 tax year. (data.parliament.uk)

Family‑related statutory payments - maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and parental bereavement pay - move to £194.32 per week. These uprated rates start from Sunday 5 April 2026, aligning with the first Sunday in April rule used for parenting pay. (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)

Pensioners in Northern Ireland will see the full new State Pension increase to £241.30 per week from Monday 6 April 2026. This reflects the 4.8% earnings‑based rise for the State Pension, with other benefit lines generally uprated by 3.8% in line with CPI. (data.parliament.uk)

Universal Credit parameters also lift. The monthly work allowances rise to £710 (higher allowance) and £427 (lower allowance). As with previous years, changes apply from the first assessment period that starts on or after 6 April, so the higher amounts appear in payments after each household’s next full cycle. (data.parliament.uk)

What this means for SME payrolls: every full week of sickness now costs £4.50 more at the statutory level. Over a long absence at the 28‑week SSP maximum, that’s an extra £126 per employee. For maternity, once past the initial six weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings, the standard rate rises by £7.14; over 33 weeks that adds £235.62 per case. Employers can normally reclaim 92% of statutory parenting payments from HMRC, or 103% if eligible for Small Employers’ Relief - useful for cash‑flow planning. (data.parliament.uk)

HR and finance teams should timetable updates now. Check contracts and handbooks for any references to old figures, refresh payroll items dated to 5–6 April, and sense‑check budgeting assumptions for overtime cover during sickness and parental leave. Where employers top up above statutory levels, model the new employer NIC and pension auto‑enrolment interactions alongside the uprated statutory floors.

For workers, these changes bring modest extra support. Households on Universal Credit will see the higher rates only once a new assessment period begins on or after 6 April - meaning the first larger payment may arrive several weeks later depending on individual cycles. The State Pension uplift of £241.30 a week starts from 6 April. (data.parliament.uk)

Key dates at a glance without the fine print: parenting pay rates move on Sunday 5 April; SSP changes on Monday 6 April; the pension increase also starts Monday 6 April. If in doubt, align payroll updates to the start of business on 6 April and handle any Sunday parenting‑pay cases through your software’s effective‑date settings. (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)

Two final checks worth making this week: confirm your payroll vendor’s April build includes the Universal Credit work‑allowance references for employee guidance, and brief managers on absence and leave requests filed close to the changeover dates. Clean, date‑stamped communication avoids confusion for both staff and payroll approvers. (data.parliament.uk)