Statutory sick pay calculator

Statutory sick pay changed fundamentally on 6 April 2026. It is now payable from the first day of absence, there is no longer an earnings threshold to qualify, and the amount is the lower of the weekly rate or 80% of your average weekly earnings.

Most guidance still online describes the old system — a flat weekly rate with three unpaid waiting days and a Lower Earnings Limit. If a figure you have been given assumes waiting days, it is out of date.

Gross, averaged over the eight weeks before the absence began.

The days you normally work. SSP is divided across these.

Qualifying days only. Every one is paid from April 2026.

Northern Ireland sets its own limits.

Weekly SSP £123.25
Total for this absence £123.25

Calculated using England & Wales statutory rules. Figures last checked against source on 21 September 2026.

How this was worked out
Average weekly earnings
£400.00
80% of average weekly earnings
£320.00
Statutory weekly rate
£123.25
Weekly SSP
£123.25 The statutory rate is lower than 80% of your earnings, so the rate applies.
Daily rate
£24.65 Weekly SSP divided by your 5 qualifying days.
Days paid
5 SSP is payable from the first day of absence. There are no unpaid waiting days.

Things that could change this figure

  • Statutory sick pay was restructured on 6 April 2026: payable from day one, no Lower Earnings Limit, and calculated as the lower of the weekly rate or 80% of average weekly earnings. Guidance published before that date describes the previous flat-rate model with three unpaid waiting days. Read the guide
  • SSP is divided across the days you normally work, so someone working three days a week receives a higher daily rate than someone working five. The weekly total is the same. Read the guide
  • Many employers operate a contractual sick pay scheme paying full or half pay for a period, with statutory sick pay underneath it. Check your contract before relying on the statutory figure. Read the guide

Sources

Please read

This is the statutory minimum. Your contract may provide more, and this tool does not check whether you qualify, which depends on your employment status and how your absence was notified.

The April 2026 changes are recent. If your employer is applying waiting days or an earnings threshold, point them to the GOV.UK page linked in the sources.

The short version

Paid from
Day one of sickness. The three unpaid waiting days were abolished on 6 April 2026.
Who qualifies
Any employee. The lower earnings limit was removed in April 2026, so there is no minimum wage to qualify.
How much
The lower of the weekly rate or 80% of your average weekly earnings, divided across the days you normally work.
How long
Up to 28 weeks. Absences separated by eight weeks or less count together towards that.
Evidence
Self-certify for the first seven days. Your employer can ask for a fit note after that.

How to use the statutory sick pay calculator

  1. Enter your average weekly earnings Gross, averaged over the eight weeks before the absence began. This now matters to the amount, not just to whether you qualify.
  2. Enter your qualifying days The days you normally work under your contract. SSP is divided across these, so someone working three days a week gets a higher daily rate than someone working five.
  3. Enter the days you were off Count only qualifying days. Every one is paid — there are no waiting days from April 2026.
  4. Check against your contract Many employers pay contractual sick pay above the statutory minimum. SSP is the floor, not the expectation.

Worked examples

Common questions

What changed in April 2026?

Three things. SSP is payable from day one rather than day four. The Lower Earnings Limit was removed, so low earners now qualify. And the amount became the lower of the weekly rate or 80% of average weekly earnings, rather than a flat rate for everyone.

Do I still have three waiting days?

No. Unpaid waiting days were abolished from 6 April 2026. Any calculator or guidance still applying them is describing the previous system.

How long can I claim SSP for?

Up to 28 weeks in total, including intermittent absences where they are linked. If your entitlement runs out before you return, your employer should issue form SSP1 so you can claim other support.

What are qualifying days?

The days you normally work under your contract. SSP is divided across them, so the daily rate depends on your working pattern rather than being the same for everyone.

Do I need a fit note?

You can self-certify for the first seven days. After that your employer can ask for a fit note from a healthcare professional.

Does my employer have to pay more?

Only if your contract says so. Many employers operate a contractual sick pay scheme paying full or half pay for a period, with SSP underneath it.

What the terms mean

Statutory sick pay (SSP)
The legal minimum an employer must pay an employee who is off sick. Since 6 April 2026 it is the lower of the weekly rate or 80% of average weekly earnings.
Qualifying days
The days you normally work under your contract. SSP is divided across these, so someone working three days a week has a higher daily rate than someone working five.
Waiting days
The first three days of sickness, which used to be unpaid. Abolished on 6 April 2026 — SSP is now paid from day one.
Linked periods
Two sickness absences separated by eight weeks or less. They count as one period for the 28-week limit, and the second has no fresh start.
Period of incapacity for work
Four or more consecutive days of sickness, including days you would not normally work. It is the technical trigger for SSP.
Average weekly earnings
Gross pay averaged over the eight weeks before the absence began. Since April 2026 this sets the amount, not just whether you qualify.
Contractual sick pay
Anything your employer pays above the statutory minimum, under your contract. SSP sits underneath it rather than in addition to it.
Fit note
A statement from a healthcare professional that you are unfit for work. Your employer can ask for one after seven calendar days.
SSP1
The form your employer must give you if you do not qualify for SSP, or when your 28 weeks run out. You use it to claim other support.

Guides on this subject

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Figures on this page are checked against primary sources and dated. They are not legal, tax or financial advice.

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