Statutory sick pay query letter

The letter

[date]

Dear [who you are writing to],

Query about statutory sick pay

I am writing about my sick pay for [the absence you are asking about].

The amount paid looks lower than I would expect.

Since 6 April 2026 statutory sick pay has been payable from the first qualifying day of sickness, the lower earnings limit test has been removed, and the amount is the lower of the weekly rate or 80% of average weekly earnings.

Could you please confirm how my sick pay was calculated for that absence, and which rules were applied?

If I do not qualify for statutory sick pay, please provide form SSP1 so that I can claim other support.

Yours sincerely,

[your name]

Nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere. Fill it in, take the text, close the page.

What happens next

If your employer will not pay, HMRC has a statutory payment dispute service that can make a formal decision.
Your employer must give you form SSP1 if you do not qualify or when your 28 weeks run out.
Keep a note of the dates you were off and the dates you told your employer.

This letter rests on Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, Part XI. It is a starting point, not legal advice — change anything that does not fit your situation.

Nathan Cole

I write the guides on HoursHQ and check every statutory figure against GOV.UK, Acas and the legislation itself before it goes live. Where the law is genuinely unclear, I say so rather than guessing.