Statutory Sick Pay explained

Nobody plans to be off sick, but when illness or injury keeps you from work, Statutory Sick Pay, usually shortened to SSP, is the legal safety net many workers can rely on. It is not generous, but it is a right, and too many people miss out simply because they do not know they qualify or how it works. Here is a clear guide to SSP in 2026.

What Statutory Sick Pay is

SSP is the minimum amount your employer must pay you when you are too ill to work, if you meet the qualifying conditions. It is paid by your employer in the same way as your wages, with tax and National Insurance taken off. Some employers offer more generous contractual, or occupational, sick pay on top, but SSP is the legal floor beneath everyone who qualifies.

How much you get

Statutory Sick Pay is a flat weekly rate set by the government. For 2026 it is £123.25 a week, paid for the days you would normally have worked. It is worked out as a daily rate across your usual working days, so if you work five days a week, you receive roughly a fifth of the weekly amount for each qualifying day you are off. SSP can be paid for up to 28 weeks for any one period of sickness.

Who qualifies

To be entitled to SSP you must:

• Be classed as an employee and have done some work for your employer.
• Earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit on average, currently around £125 a week before tax.
• Be off sick for at least four days in a row, including non working days.
• Tell your employer you are sick within their deadline, or within seven days if they have none.

Agency and zero hours workers can qualify too, as long as they meet the earnings and employment conditions, so do not assume you are excluded just because your work is temporary.

Waiting days and when SSP starts

SSP is not paid for the first three days you are off, which are called waiting days. It starts from the fourth qualifying day of sickness. However, if you were off sick and receiving SSP within the last eight weeks, those earlier days can link up so you may not have to serve the waiting days again. The government has proposed removing the waiting days in future, so it is worth checking the current position when you are actually off sick.

Proving you are sick

For the first seven days you can simply self certify, usually by filling in a short form from your employer, with no doctor's note needed. If you are off for more than seven days, your employer can ask for a fit note, sometimes still called a sick note, from a GP or other healthcare professional, which says whether you are not fit for work or could work with adjustments.

If you are not paid SSP correctly

Mistakes happen, and sometimes employers get it wrong. If you think you are entitled to SSP but are not receiving it, ask your employer for form SSP1, which explains why they are refusing it. If you disagree with their reason, or think they have miscalculated, you can raise a dispute with HMRC, which can decide whether SSP is due. If SSP runs out or you do not qualify, you may be able to claim Universal Credit or other support instead.

The bottom line

Statutory Sick Pay is a modest but important right. Know the 2026 rate of £123.25 a week, check you meet the earnings and four day conditions, report your sickness promptly, and keep any fit notes. If something looks wrong, ask for form SSP1 and challenge it. Being informed is the surest way to receive every penny of support you are entitled to when you most need it.