NHS sick pay calculator
Agenda for Change sick pay (Handbook §14.2) scales with service — up to six months' full pay followed by six months' half pay once you pass five years. Enter your service and salary to see your cover and what each phase pays.
AfC occupational sick pay (§14.2)
2026/27up to 6 months full + 6 months half pay
Entitlement is measured on a rolling 12-month window of absences, and 'full pay' includes your regular enhancements — not just basic salary.
The full Section 14 scale
| Service at start of absence | Full pay | Half pay |
|---|---|---|
| First year | 1 month | 2 months |
| Second year | 2 months | 2 months |
| Third year | 4 months | 4 months |
| Fourth & fifth years | 5 months | 5 months |
| After 5 years | 6 months | 6 months |
The allowance refreshes on a rolling basis: entitlement at any moment is the scale figure minus sickness taken in the previous 12 months. Half pay is topped by SSP where due, but the combined half-pay-plus-SSP can never exceed full pay (§14.6).
Common questions
Does 'full pay' mean basic salary?
What happens when NHS sick pay runs out?
Do injuries at work change the entitlement?
Is the first year really only 1 month full pay?
Sources for the figures on this page
Last checked 3 July 2026How we keep these current: methodology & update policy.