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 If a figure you have been given assumes waiting days, it is out of date.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 5 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 — that 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.

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.

Guides on this subject

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

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