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Who can get Statutory Sick Pay

If you're working for an employer under a contract of service (even if you've only just started), you're entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if the following apply:

• Statutory Sick Pay - eligibility and what days you will be paid for

How to get Statutory Sick Pay

To get SSP you must:

• tell your employer that you are sick
• provide your employer with some form of medical evidence

Please read 'SSP - telling your employer you are sick and providing evidence' for more information.

• Statutory Sick Pay - telling your employer you are sick and providing evidence

How much do you get

The standard rate for SSP is £79.15 a week.

Your employer will work out a daily rate of SSP if necessary by dividing the weekly rate by the number of days you’d normally work in that week. For working out SSP the week begins with a Sunday.

How it's paid

SSP is usually paid on your normal payday in the same way as your normal earnings.

SSP is subject to tax and National Insurance contributions. However if you only receive SSP your earnings may not be high enough to pay tax unless you get other payments on top of your SSP.

What happens if SSP is not payable or it comes to an end?

If you cannot get SSP or SSP has ended your employer must fill in form SSP1 and give this to you. On the form, your employer must say why SSP has not been paid or why it is ending and the last date of payment. Form SSP1 is used to support a claim for Employment and Support Allowance.

You can download form SSP1 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website. There are two versions of the form, one you can print and then complete using a pen, or one you can complete online and then print.

• Download Statutory Sick Pay form SSP1 (print form to fill in with a pen) (PDF, 205K) Opens new window
• Download Statutory Sick Pay form SSP1 (complete form online and then print) (PDF, 204K) Opens new window
• Employment and Support Allowance - introduction (disabled people section)

Occupational sick pay schemes

If your employer has a sick pay scheme, which is equal to, or more than SSP, they do not have to operate the SSP scheme. They may also have different rules for payment, which you must keep to.

Please read 'sick pay rights' for more information about occupational sick pay schemes.

• Sick pay rights (employment section)

If you are sick after 28 weeks of occupational sick pay, or if this ends earlier and you are not entitled to SSP, your employer must give you form SSP1 for you to claim Employment and Support Allowance.

• Employment and Support Allowance - introduction (disabled people section)

Information for agency workers

SSP is payable to you in exactly the same way as it is payable to others who are classified as employees, if you meet the qualifying conditions for payment.

It remains payable while you are working on an assignment or under contract with your agency. Your employer can't end your contract of service to avoid paying you SSP.

How benefits and Statutory Payments affect SSP

SSP can affect some other benefits and payments that you may be entitled to. Please read 'SSP - effect on other benefits and payments' for more information.

• Statutory Sick Pay - effect on other benefits and payments

What else you should know

If you go into hospital, SSP isn't affected.

If you work abroad, you may be able to get SSP if your employer pays National Insurance contributions for you.

If you go abroad to visit, you may still claim SSP if you can prove you're still sick.

Serving members of the Armed Forces cannot get SSP, but members of their families may be able to get it.

Please read 'Claiming benefits in Europe' for more information.

• Claiming benefits in Europe

SSP and insolvency

If your employer does not pay you SSP because they are insolvent, payment will be made by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). They will only do this when your employer has been formally declared insolvent. HMRC will take over the payment from and including the week of insolvency. Any payments before that date must be paid by your employer.

If your employer is insolvent, you should telephone the Statutory Payments Disputes Team on 0191 225 5221. They will need to know:

• your name and address
• the date your employer became insolvent
• details from your payslips of any payments received and the period covered by the last payment
• the date the statutory sick payment ends or the date you intend to go back to work

You may also be asked to provide some of this information in writing.

If you disagree with the decision on your SSP

If you think your employer's decision not to pay you SSP is wrong, or that you’re not getting the right amount, ask them for the reason.

If you still disagree, you can contact the HM Revenue and Customs employees enquiry line on 0845 302 1479 for advice.

Please read ‘Statutory payments - if you think your employer's decision is wrong' for more information.

• Statutory payments - if you think your employer's decision is wrong

More useful links

• Employed or looking for work benefit information
• If you are in work and become disabled (disabled people section)