National Living Wage 2026 | What's Changing

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8th February 2026

National Living Wage Increase April 2026: What It Means for Workers

From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) will increase, alongside planned updates to sick pay and family-related rights under the Employment Rights Act 2025.

These changes are designed to improve pay and strengthen protections for workers across the UK, including those working in temporary, agency and flexible roles.

In this blog, we explain what’s changing, how it could affect you, and where to go for support.

What’s Changing?

National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage

From 1 April 2026, the statutory UK minimum pay rates will be:

National Living Wage (NLW) – £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over

National Minimum Wage (NMW) – £10.85 per hour for 18‑ to 20‑year‑olds

NMW for 16‑ to 17‑year‑olds and apprentices – £8.00 per hour

The NLW represents a 4.1% increase, meaning workers in roles paid at or near the minimum wage should see their hourly pay rise in line with the new legal rate.

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Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Planned reforms to Statutory Sick Pay aim to support more workers when they are unwell.

From April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is expected to:

Be payable from day one of sickness (instead of day four)

Remove the Lower Earnings Limit meaning more people may qualify

Be paid at the lower of:

80% of normal earnings, or

£123.25 per week

If implemented as planned, these changes would significantly improve access to sick pay for many workers, including those moving between different assignments.

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Paternity Leave and Parental Leave

From April 2026, some family-related rights are expected to become available from the first day of employment, removing current qualifying periods.

This includes:

Paternity leave becoming a day one right

Ordinary parental leave becoming a day one right

Restrictions following shared parental leave being removed

These changes are intended to make it easier for workers to access family leave without needing to complete a long qualifying period.

Weekly Statutory Pay Rates

Weekly statutory pay rates for certain family-related entitlements, such as maternity, paternity and shared parental pay are also expected to increase to:

£194.32 per week, where eligibility criteria are met

How This May Affect You

If you work through a recruitment agency or in temporary roles, these changes may still apply to you, depending on your work pattern, earnings and eligibility.

You may notice changes such as:

Higher hourly pay if your role is paid at or near the National Living Wage

Improved access to sick pay, with SSP becoming payable from day one and more workers qualifying

Stronger family leave rights, helping support workers with caring responsibilities

Temporary work is an important part of the UK workforce, and these updates are designed to ensure fair treatment and better protection for workers across all job types.

What To Do Next

To prepare for April 2026, you can:

Check your current pay rate and understand what you earn per hour

Keep your contact details up to date with your local branch

Speak to your branch team if you have questions about eligibility or entitlements

Make sure you understand your sick pay process and how to report absence

If you’re working in temporary roles, staying in touch with your recruitment consultant helps ensure you’re matched to suitable work and supported throughout your assignment.

How The Best Connection Can Support You

At The Best Connection, we’re committed to supporting workers into the right roles and helping you feel informed and looked after throughout your recruitment journey.

We can help by:

Keeping you updated on pay changes and worker rights

Supporting you with temporary and permanent job opportunities

Helping you understand onboarding, compliance and assignment details

Providing guidance if you have questions about eligibility and statutory entitlements

If you’re looking for work or want to explore new opportunities, you can view our latest vacancies online.

Discover Your Local Branch or Explore all Current Opportunities with us today!

All information in this article is based on guidance from GOV.UK and ACAS.

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