The 2026 rate
SSP is currently £118.75 per week (2025/26 tax year). It is reviewed each April. SSP is taxed and National Insurance is deducted in the normal way — it appears on your payslip and goes through PAYE.
SSP is the legal minimum. If your contract says you get full pay for the first 4 weeks of sickness, the employer pays the contractual rate (which absorbs SSP), not on top.
Who qualifies
- You are classed as an employee (PAYE) — not self-employed
- You have been off sick for 4 or more days in a row (Period of Incapacity for Work), including non-working days
- You earn at least £125 per week on average (the Lower Earnings Limit — being phased out under the Employment Rights Act 2025)
- You have told your employer within their notification deadline (or within 7 days if no deadline is set)
Agency workers, zero-hours workers and casual workers can qualify as long as the earnings test is met for the relevant pay reference period.
Day 1 from 2026
Until the Employment Rights Act 2025 reforms, SSP was only payable from the 4th qualifying day of absence — the first 3 were unpaid "waiting days". The Act removes waiting days. SSP is now payable from day 1 of sickness, and the Lower Earnings Limit is being scrapped on a phased basis so the lowest-paid workers also qualify.
This is the most important change for anyone with a fluctuating or relapsing condition (ME/CFS, Long Covid, endometriosis, migraine) — short, repeated absences are now paid.
How to claim
You don't apply to anyone — SSP is paid by your employer through normal payroll. The mechanics:
- Tell your employer on day 1 in the way your contract requires.
- Self-certify days 1–7 with form SC2 or the employer equivalent.
- Get a fit note from day 8 onwards — see our fit note guide.
- SSP appears on your payslip from the pay date that covers the qualifying days.
If your employer refuses
If your employer says you do not qualify, ask in writing for form SSP1 with their reason. They must give it to you within 7 days of refusing. SSP1 is the document HMRC needs to rule on a dispute.
Then call HMRC's Statutory Payments Disputes Team on 0300 322 9422. HMRC can issue a formal decision that SSP is owed and recover it from your employer. There is no charge.
If you have been off because of a disability and your employer's sickness procedure puts you at a disadvantage, that may also be discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 — separate from the SSP dispute.
After 28 weeks
SSP runs out after 28 weeks. Your employer must give you form SSP1 about 6 weeks before the end so you can apply for the next benefit. Most people then move onto one or more of:
- New Style ESA — contributory, based on National Insurance. Pays £92.05/week (assessment phase) then £142.25/week (support group).
- Universal Credit — means-tested. Pays the standard allowance plus a limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) element of £423.27/month if assessed.
- PIP — non-means-tested, based on functional impact, paid whether you work or not. Up to £737.20 every 4 weeks. See our complete PIP guide.
Frequently asked questions
›How much is Statutory Sick Pay in 2026?
SSP is £118.75 per week for 2025/26, paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks of sickness absence. The rate is reviewed each April.
›Are there still waiting days?
No. Under the Employment Rights Act 2025 the 3 waiting days were scrapped — SSP is now payable from day 1 of sickness, not day 4.
›Do I qualify for SSP?
You qualify if you are classed as an employee, have been off sick 4 or more days in a row (including non-working days), and earn at least £125 per week on average. The earnings test (Lower Earnings Limit) is also being scrapped under the 2025 Act, with implementation phased in.
›What if my employer refuses to pay SSP?
Ask in writing for form SSP1 stating why they will not pay. Take SSP1 to HMRC's Statutory Payments Disputes Team on 0300 322 9422 — they can rule that SSP is owed and recover it.
›Can I get SSP if I'm self-employed?
No. SSP is only for employees. If you are self-employed, you may qualify for New Style ESA instead — apply via gov.uk.
›What happens after the 28 weeks of SSP?
Your employer issues form SSP1 about 6 weeks before SSP ends. You then claim New Style ESA and/or Universal Credit. Your employer may also continue company sick pay if your contract provides it.