Statutory Sick Pay Explained: 2026/27 Rate and Rules

If you are employed and have to take time off sick, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your employer. Big changes from April 2026 mean far more workers now qualify, and it is paid from the very first day off. This guide explains what Statutory Sick Pay is worth in 2026/27, who can get it, the recent reforms, and what to do if it is not enough.

What Statutory Sick Pay is

Statutory Sick Pay, or SSP, is money your employer must pay you when you are off work sick, if you qualify. It is a legal minimum, so some employers pay more generous company sick pay on top, but SSP is the floor everyone entitled to it receives. It is paid through your normal payroll, in the same way as your wages, and it is taxed and has National Insurance taken off like ordinary pay.

How much you get in 2026/27

For 2026/27, Statutory Sick Pay is £123.25 a week. Following a change from April 2026, if you are a lower earner, you receive either this flat rate or 80% of your normal weekly earnings, whichever is lower, so that sick pay does not come to more than most of your usual wage. SSP can be paid for up to 28 weeks. It is not a large amount, so if you rely on it alone, money can be tight during a longer illness.

Paid from day one

One of the most important changes from April 2026 is that Statutory Sick Pay is now paid from the very first day you are off sick. Until then, the first three days of sickness were unpaid waiting days, and SSP only started on the fourth day. Removing the waiting days means you are supported from day one of your absence, which makes a real difference for short illnesses and for people who cannot afford to lose any pay.

More workers now qualify

The other major change is that the lower earnings limit has been removed. Previously, you had to earn above a set weekly amount to qualify for SSP at all, which excluded an estimated 1.3 million lower-paid workers. From April 2026, that threshold has gone, so employees qualify regardless of how much they earn. This has extended sick pay to many part-time and low-paid workers who were shut out of it before.

Who can claim

To get Statutory Sick Pay you must be classed as an employee and be off sick. You need to have been off sick for the qualifying days, tell your employer you are sick within their time limit, and provide evidence if you are off for more than seven days, usually a fit note from a healthcare professional. For the first seven days you can self-certify, meaning you confirm you were sick without needing a fit note.

If you are not eligible

Some people cannot get Statutory Sick Pay, for example if you are self-employed, as SSP is only for employees. If you cannot get SSP, or it is not enough to live on, you may be able to claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance if you have paid enough National Insurance, or Universal Credit depending on your income and circumstances. It is worth getting a benefits check, as there is usually some support available when illness stops you working.

SSP and Universal Credit together

You can receive Statutory Sick Pay and Universal Credit at the same time if you are on a low income. SSP counts as earnings for Universal Credit, so it is taken into account when your Universal Credit is worked out, but the two together may still leave you better off than SSP alone. If you are off sick long term and on a low income, claiming Universal Credit alongside your SSP is well worth checking.

How long it lasts

Statutory Sick Pay can be paid for up to 28 weeks for a single period of sickness, or for linked periods of sickness that are close together. If you are still unable to work when your SSP runs out, your employer should give you a form to help you claim other support, and you should look at New Style ESA or Universal Credit. Planning ahead for when SSP ends helps you avoid a gap in your income during a long illness.

Company sick pay

Many employers offer their own company or occupational sick pay, which is more generous than Statutory Sick Pay and often pays your full or part wage for a period. Your contract or staff handbook will say what you are entitled to. If you have company sick pay, it usually includes any SSP you are due rather than being paid on top. It is always worth checking what your employer offers, as it can make a big difference during sickness.

Telling your employer

To get Statutory Sick Pay, you need to tell your employer you are sick within their time limit, which is often by a certain time on the first day. Follow your workplace's sickness reporting process, and keep a note of when and how you reported your absence. Reporting sickness properly and on time protects your right to sick pay and avoids any dispute about whether you followed the correct procedure.

If your employer will not pay

Occasionally an employer wrongly refuses to pay Statutory Sick Pay, or disputes that you qualify. If this happens, ask them in writing to explain why, as they should give you a form setting out the reason. If you still think you are entitled, you can ask HMRC to look into it, as they can make a decision on whether SSP is due. Do not just accept a refusal if you believe you qualify, as you have the right to have it checked.

In short

Statutory Sick Pay is £123.25 a week in 2026/27, now paid from the first day you are off sick after the waiting days were removed, and available to employees regardless of earnings now the lower earnings limit has gone. It lasts up to 28 weeks. If it is not enough, or you cannot get it, check whether you can claim New Style ESA or Universal Credit.

Plan for a long absence

If it becomes clear that your illness will keep you off work for a long time, it pays to plan ahead rather than wait for your sick pay to run out. Look early at what you will move on to when Statutory Sick Pay ends, whether that is company sick pay, New Style ESA or Universal Credit, and get a benefits check. Planning the transition in advance helps you avoid a sudden drop in income and the stress that comes with it.

Look after your wider wellbeing

Being off sick, especially for a long period, can affect your finances and your wellbeing, so it is worth making sure you are getting all the support you are entitled to, not just sick pay. Speak to your employer about a phased return when you are ready, and get advice about benefits and any help with costs. Tackling the practical side can ease some of the pressure and help you focus on recovering.

Where to get help

Citizens Advice and your employer's HR can help with Statutory Sick Pay questions. See our guides to New Style ESA and the Universal Credit for help if you are off sick longer term.

The information on this site is for general guidance and education only and is not a substitute for professional welfare or legal advice. Benefit rates, thresholds and rules change frequently (usually each April) and can differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Figures are believed correct at the time of writing; always check the current rules at GOV.UK and consider getting free, personalised help from Citizens Advice or a benefits adviser before making a claim or acting on anything you read here.

Statutory Sick Pay explained: what you get when you're off sick