Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) calculator
Work out UK Statutory Sick Pay under the rules in force from 6 April 2026: paid from day one, no Lower Earnings Limit, and capped at the lower of the flat rate or 80% of earnings.
Gross weekly pay, averaged over the 8 weeks before the sickness.
Qualifying days the employee is off — SSP is paid from the first day (no waiting days from 6 April 2026).
Weekly SSP
£123.25
Daily SSP
£24.65
Total (5 days)
£123.25
Weekly rate = the £123.25 flat rate (80% of earnings would be higher). Daily = £123.25 ÷ 5 qualifying days = £24.65. SSP is payable for up to 28 weeks per period of sickness.
General information, not legal advice. Uses the rules in force from 6 April 2026 and the 2026/27 flat rate (£123.25). Sickness that started before 6 April 2026 still has 3 unpaid waiting days.
What changed on 6 April 2026
The 2026 reform made SSP more generous in three ways. There are no longer any waiting days — SSP is paid from the first qualifying day, not the fourth. The Lower Earnings Limit eligibility test was removed, so every employee qualifies regardless of earnings. And the rate is now the lower of £123.25 a week or 80% of average weekly earnings, so low earners who previously got little or nothing now receive 80% of their pay.
How SSP is worked out
- Weekly rate = lower of £123.25 or 80% × average weekly earnings.
- Daily rate = weekly rate ÷ the employee's qualifying (working) days per week — so a 3-day-a-week worker has a higher daily rate than a 5-day worker.
- Total = daily rate × the qualifying days off sick, up to a maximum of 28 weeks per period of incapacity.
Frequently asked
How much is Statutory Sick Pay in 2026?
From 6 April 2026, SSP is the lower of £123.25 a week or 80% of the employee's average weekly earnings. Lower earners get 80% of their pay rather than the flat rate.
Are there still 3 waiting days before SSP is paid?
No. From 6 April 2026 waiting days were abolished — SSP is payable from the first qualifying day of sickness. (Sickness that started before that date still has 3 unpaid waiting days.)
Is there a minimum earnings level to get SSP?
No. The Lower Earnings Limit eligibility test was removed for SSP from 6 April 2026 — every employee qualifies regardless of earnings.
How long can SSP be paid?
Up to 28 weeks in any one period of incapacity for work. Linked sickness spells (separated by 8 weeks or less) count toward the same 28-week limit.