Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Calculator
Updated August 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate UK Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): the weekly rate, the 3 waiting days, qualifying days, linked periods, and the 28-week maximum — with the eligibility rules that decide whether SSP applies at all.
Quick answer: SSP pays a flat weekly rate (about £118.75 — check gov.uk, it changes each April) for up to 28 weeks, starting from your 4th qualifying day of sickness — the first 3 are unpaid "waiting days" (skipped if a linked period within 8 weeks already served them). Daily SSP = weekly rate ÷ your qualifying days per week.
How SSP Works
Statutory Sick Pay is the legal minimum UK employers must pay during sickness — a flat weekly rate (revised every April) regardless of your salary, for up to 28 weeks per period of sickness. The mechanics:
- Qualifying days: the days you normally work — SSP is only paid for these.
- Waiting days: the first 3 qualifying days of an absence are unpaid; SSP starts on day 4.
- Linked periods: absences of 4+ days within 8 weeks of each other count as one period — the waiting days are served once, and the 28-week clock is shared.
- Daily rate: weekly rate ÷ qualifying days per week (a 5-day worker: ~£23.75/day).
Worked Examples
Example 1 — two-week illness. 5-day worker, 8 working days off, first absence: 8 − 3 waiting = 5 payable days × (118.75 ÷ 5) = £118.75. Two weeks off, one week's SSP — the waiting days bite hardest on short absences.
Example 2 — linked absence. The same worker off again 3 weeks later for 4 days: linked period → no new waiting days → 4 × £23.75 = £95 from day one.
Example 3 — part-timer. A 3-day-a-week worker sick for 6 working days (first absence): daily rate 118.75 ÷ 3 = £39.58; payable 6 − 3 = 3 days = £118.75. Fewer qualifying days = higher daily rate, same weekly money.
Eligibility Checklist
| Condition | Rule |
|---|---|
| Employee status | Employees (including agency and zero-hours with contracts) — not the self-employed |
| Earnings floor | Average weekly earnings at or above the Lower Earnings Limit (~£125/week — check current) |
| Sickness length | 4+ consecutive days (including non-working days) forms a period of incapacity |
| Notification & evidence | Tell the employer per their rules; a fit note is only required after 7 days — self-certification before |
| Maximum | 28 weeks per (linked) period; entitlement ends and Employment Support Allowance may follow |
SSP vs Company Sick Pay
SSP is the floor, not the norm for professional roles: occupational schemes commonly pay full salary for a period (e.g., 4-26 weeks) then half pay, with SSP inside those payments rather than on top. Two practical checks: your contract's sick-pay clause (length of full pay, service requirements) and whether the scheme is discretionary — "may pay" clauses get exercised unevenly, and consistently refusing while paying others invites discrimination claims. If you only get SSP on a decent salary, the income drop is severe — roughly 15-20% of median full-time pay — which is why income-protection insurance exists.
Employer Mechanics
- Paid like wages: through payroll, taxed and NI'd normally — SSP is not a benefit payment.
- No reclaim: since 2014 employers bear SSP cost themselves (the old recovery scheme ended) — one reason small employers watch absence closely.
- Records: keep absence and SSP payment records; disputes go to HMRC's statutory payments dispute team.
- Form SSP1: must be issued when SSP ends or never applied — the employee needs it to claim ESA promptly.
Edge Cases That Decide Real Money
- Holiday during sickness: annual leave continues accruing while off sick (entitlement calculator), and long-term sick employees can carry the core 4 weeks into the next leave year.
- Sickness during holiday: proven sickness converts holiday back to sick leave (and SSP) — the days return to your leave balance.
- Pregnancy: pregnancy-related sickness in the 4 weeks before the due week automatically triggers maternity leave/SMP instead — see the maternity pay calculator.
- Multiple employers: each job's SSP runs independently — qualify in both, receive it from both.
- Ending employment: dismissal doesn't erase an SSP period already running; and dismissing to avoid SSP invites claims.
US Comparison
No federal sick pay exists in the US — state/city accrual laws (typically 1 hour per 30 worked) are the nearest equivalent; that maths lives in the sick leave accrual calculator. The UK's flat-rate model trades adequacy for universality: everyone above the earnings floor gets exactly the same amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is SSP per week?
A flat statutory rate — about £118.75, revised every 6 April (verify the current figure on gov.uk). It does not vary with your salary.
How is SSP calculated per day?
Weekly rate ÷ your qualifying days per week. A 5-day worker gets ~£23.75 per payable day; a 3-day worker ~£39.58 — same weekly total.
What are SSP waiting days?
The first 3 qualifying days of an absence, which are unpaid. SSP starts on the 4th qualifying day — unless a linked absence within the previous 8 weeks already served them.
What is a linked period of sickness?
Absences of 4+ days each, separated by 8 weeks or less — treated as one period: waiting days served once and the 28-week maximum shared.
Who does not qualify for SSP?
The self-employed, employees earning under the Lower Earnings Limit (~£125/week average), those who have exhausted 28 weeks, and new claims within a maternity pay period.
How long does SSP last?
Up to 28 weeks per (linked) period of sickness. When it ends, the employer issues form SSP1 so you can claim Employment and Support Allowance.
Do I need a sick note for SSP?
Only after 7 calendar days of absence — the first week is self-certified. Employers cannot demand fit notes earlier as a condition of SSP.
Is SSP taxable?
Yes — it is paid through payroll like normal wages, subject to tax and National Insurance.
Can my employer pay more than SSP?
Yes — occupational sick pay schemes (full/half pay periods) are common and sit above the SSP floor; SSP is included within them, not added on top.
Does holiday accrue while on sick leave?
Yes — statutory holiday keeps accruing during sickness, and up to 4 weeks can carry over if you were too ill to take it.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: August 20, 2026