Precis

Statutory Sick Pay Calculator

UK SSP for 2026/27 — day-one entitlement, no minimum earnings threshold.

  • 2026/27 tax year
  • Instant results
  • Private: runs in your browser
  • Free, no sign-up
From 6 April 2026, SSP is a day-one entitlement — no three-day waiting period and no lower earnings limit — under the Employment Rights Act 2025. You're paid the lower of the flat rate or 80% of your average weekly earnings, for up to 28 weeks.
SSP per week
£0
flat rate applies
Flat weekly rate£123.25
80% of average weekly earnings£0
SSP you'll actually get, per week£0
Total SSP for the period£0

How Statutory Sick Pay is calculated

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the legal minimum an employer must pay an employee who's off work sick. For 2026/27, the rate is £123.25 a week, or 80% of your average weekly earnings if that works out lower — a change introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025 so that the lowest earners don't receive more in SSP than they'd normally take home. The same reform made SSP a day-one entitlement and scrapped the old lower earnings limit, so unlike in previous years, there's no minimum weekly wage you need to be earning to qualify, and payment starts from your first day off rather than after three unpaid "waiting days". SSP is paid for a maximum of 28 weeks in any single period of incapacity (or linked periods within 8 weeks of each other) — after that, or if you don't qualify, Employment and Support Allowance may be available instead. This is the statutory minimum only; many employers offer more generous contractual sick pay on top, so check your contract before assuming this figure is what you'll actually receive.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Statutory Sick Pay in 2026/27?

£123.25 a week, or 80% of your average weekly earnings if that's a lower amount — for example, someone earning £120 a week on average would get £96 in SSP (80% of £120), not the full £123.25 flat rate.

Do I need to earn a minimum amount to get SSP?

Not any more. From 6 April 2026 the lower earnings limit was removed, so SSP eligibility no longer depends on how much you earn — everyone in qualifying employment is covered, with the 80%-of-earnings rule simply capping what very low earners receive.

How long can I claim SSP for?

Up to 28 weeks for any one period of sickness, or for linked periods of sickness that are each 4 or more days long and no more than 8 weeks apart. After 28 weeks, your employer issues form SSP1 and you may be able to claim Employment and Support Allowance instead.

Does SSP start from my first day off?

Yes, for absences from 6 April 2026 onwards — the previous three "waiting days" (unpaid days at the start of a sickness absence) were removed under the Employment Rights Act 2025, so SSP is now payable from day one of a qualifying sickness absence.

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