Statutory sick pay calculator
SSP changed on 6 April 2026: it's now paid from your first day off sick (no more waiting days), everyone employed qualifies regardless of earnings, and the weekly amount is £123.25 or 80% of your normal weekly earnings — whichever is lower. What changed and why →
SSP from 6 April 2026
2026/27min(£123.25, 80% of weekly earnings)
Paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks, from day one of sickness, for the days you'd normally have worked. Taxed like normal pay.
How SSP works now
- Day one payment. The old 3 “waiting days” are gone — a Tuesday–Wednesday off sick is 2 days of SSP.
- No earnings floor. The £129 Lower Earnings Limit no longer applies to SSP. Low earners get 80% of their normal weekly earnings instead of the flat rate.
- 28-week clock. One spell — or several spells less than 8 weeks apart, which “link” into one — can run for up to 28 weeks of SSP.
- Proof. Self-certify for the first 7 calendar days; a fit note from day 8.
Many employers pay more than SSP through occupational sick pay — NHS staff get up to 6 months full pay plus 6 months half pay. SSP is the legal floor while any entitlement remains.
Common questions
How much is SSP per day?
The weekly figure divided by your normal working days. For a 5-day worker on standard earnings: £123.25 ÷ 5 = £24.65 a day.
I earn £120 a week part-time — what do I get?
80% of £120 = £96 a week. Before April 2026 you'd have received nothing (below the old earnings limit); now every employee qualifies.
What happens after 28 weeks?
SSP ends. Your employer gives you form SSP1 in good time so you can claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit without a gap.
Can zero-hours workers get SSP?
Yes — employees and most agency/zero-hours workers qualify from day one. Earnings are averaged over the previous 8 weeks; the 80% rule then protects low or variable earners.
Is SSP different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Scotland and Wales: identical. Northern Ireland mirrors the GB scheme in its own regulations — check nidirect for the NI implementation of the 2026 changes.
Sources for the figures on this page
Last checked 3 July 2026How we keep these current: methodology & update policy.