Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
The minimum amount UK employers must pay eligible employees who are off work sick, set by the government and reviewed each April.
Statutory Sick Pay is a legal minimum, not a benefit — it's paid by the employer, not the government, though employers can sometimes reclaim a portion. Most employees who are too ill to work are entitled to it, regardless of the reason for their illness.
SSP changed significantly from 6 April 2026: the previous three unpaid 'waiting days' were abolished, so eligible employees are now paid from day one of sickness, and the Lower Earnings Limit that previously excluded the lowest-paid workers from qualifying was removed — bringing an estimated 1.3 million additional low-paid workers into eligibility.
Many employers offer contractual (occupational) sick pay on top of SSP — often full pay for a set period — as part of their own sick pay policy. SSP is the statutory floor beneath whatever an employer chooses to offer.
Key facts
- Weekly SSP rate for the 2026/27 tax year: £123.25 (or 80% of average weekly earnings if lower)
- Paid from day one of sickness absence — the old 3-day unpaid waiting period was abolished from 6 April 2026
- The Lower Earnings Limit eligibility threshold was removed from 6 April 2026, extending SSP to roughly 1.3 million previously-ineligible low-paid workers
- SSP is a legal minimum — many employers pay more generous contractual sick pay on top
Checked 2026-08. Rates and thresholds change — always confirm current figures on GOV.UK before relying on them.
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