Guide to Sick Pay in the UK

Introduction to sick pay

Generally, if you’re employed in the UK you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay if you’re unable to work due to illness. The ‘statutory’ minimum is a figure set by the government and employers must pay at least this amount to staff who fit certain criteria.

A lot of organisations and private companies pay a lot more than this. Some employers will pay your full wage if you are off sick.

Self-employed people are not entitled to sick pay.

What is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)?

By law, employers must pay sick or ill employees SSP for up to 28 weeks. This is the minimum firms must pay – some will pay more.

For the 2024/25 tax year, SSP is £116.75 a week. SSP rates usually change each April at the start of the new tax year. You’ll be paid SSP for all the days you’re off sick that you normally would have worked, except for the first three days.

Eligibility for SSP

Sick pay eligibility rules mean you must:

• Be an employee
• Have started work with your employer
• Earn an average of £123 a week or more
• Have been ill for at least four days in a row (including non-working days)

As well as full-time employees, other classes of employee can claim SSP as long as they earn at least £123 a week on average. This includes people who:

• Work part-time
• Are on a zero-hours contract
• Are on a fixed-term contract
• Are agency workers

If you’re too sick to work, you should tell your employer as soon as possible that you will not be working.

You’re still entitled to sick leave if you are on holiday.

Who is not eligible for SSP?

You can’t get SSP if you:

• Are self-employed
• Had SSP for 28 weeks and the 28 weeks ended within the past eight weeks
• Were paid Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in the past 12 weeks
• Are in the Armed Forces
• Are in legal custody, detained either by the police or in prison
• Are receiving Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) or Maternity Allowance (MA)

There is a different sick pay scheme for some agricultural workers. It is called Agricultural Sick Pay (ASP). You only have the right to this if you were employed in agriculture before 1 October 2013 and it says so in your contract.

How is SSP paid?

SSP is paid by your employer in the same way as your normal wages. For example it will normally be paid:

• Weekly or monthly
• From each employer if you have more than one job
• With tax and National Insurance deducted

Claiming sick pay

To claim SSP, you need to tell your employer as soon as possible that you are too sick to work. You will normally need to tell your employer within seven days of becoming ill, but some employers have a shorter deadline. You might tell your employer about your illness by phone, email or a letter.

The way you claim SSP depends on your employer. The process should be set out in your contract. Some workers may need to fill in form SC2 and give it to their employer. You can complete this form online or get it from your doctor’s surgery.

You will need the following information to fill in the SC2 form:

1. Your National Insurance number
2. Your phone number
3. Details of your sickness, including the dates you were sick
4. The date of the last working day before your sickness began
5. Your clock or payroll number

When you’ve filled in the form, give it to your employer and keep a copy for your own records.

You’re still entitled to sick leave if you fall ill on holiday or annual leave.

What is self-certification?

If you’re off work for less than seven days, you may be asked to ‘self-certify’ your sickness. There are various ways of doing this, such as filling in a form or sending an email to your employer confirming why you are sick.

What is a GP fit note?

If you are off sick for more than seven days you will normally need a GP ‘fit note’ to give to your employer.

This is a statement from a registered healthcare professional giving their medical opinion on your fitness for work. You can get a fit note from a:

• Doctor
• Nurse
• Occupational therapist
• Pharmacist
• Physiotherapist

There is an alternative to a fit note. Your employer may agree to you getting an Allied Health Professional (AHP) Health and Work Report from a physiotherapist, podiatrist or occupational therapist.

What happens if I am not eligible for SSP?

If you are not eligible for SSP, your employer must tell you why in writing. They must send you an SSP1 form within seven days of your first day off sick. If you are not entitled to SSP, you might be entitled to benefits or financial support to help with living costs.

Understanding your sick pay rights

UK sick pay eligibility rights are summarised on the following table:

What are qualifying days and waiting days?

If you are eligible for SSP, you will be entitled to SSP for the days you would have worked, except for the first three. The days you would have worked are called 'qualifying days'.

The first three qualifying days are called 'waiting days'. Only qualifying days can be waiting days. For example, if you work a normal Monday to Friday week and were first sick on Friday, then that Friday and the following Monday and Tuesday would be qualifying days. The weekend wouldn’t count. You can claim SSP from Wednesday onwards.

If you don’t have a regular pattern of work, you will need to agree with your employer which days count as qualifying days.

What is a linked period of sickness?

If two or more periods of sickness absence are linked, there are only three waiting days in total. To be linked, the periods of sickness must:

• Last four or more days
• Be eight weeks or fewer apart

Company sick pay: What you need to know

Some employers offer more generous sick pay rights than SSP. These are called company sick pay schemes. Company sick pay must be at least the level of SSP (£116.75 a week for 2024/25).

Company sick pay is also known as:

• Contractual sick pay (CSP)
• Occupational sick pay

Your company’s sick pay policy

Your company’s sick pay policy should be included in your employment contract. This should tell you:

• How much sick pay is
• How long sick pay can last
• Any rules the employer has for using sick pay
• When sick pay begins

If your contract doesn't mention sick pay or you don't have a contract, you can find out about it by:

• Asking your employer’s human resources (HR) department
• Speaking to your line manager
• Looking for details in your staff handbook or company intranet

How company policies may differ

Different companies have different sick pay policies. An enhanced sick pay policy is seen as a way to keep the workforce healthy and attract quality staff.

With some employers, you might get company sick pay from your first day off sick up to a certain number of weeks.

Some organisations, including the NHS and other public sector organisations, pay you your usual full pay when you’re sick.

Other firms might pay a sick employee a proportion of their salary (e.g. 75%) for a set period (six months or one year).

With some organisations, sick pay entitlement increases with length of service. You might not get company sick pay during a probationary period.

Some company sick pay schemes have exclusions. For example, you might not get company sick pay if you are injured taking part in professional sport.

Some company sick pay policies are ‘discretionary’. This means the employer offers better pay for some sickness circumstances, but not for others.

Frequently asked questions about sick pay

What’s the difference between SSP and company sick pay?

SSP is a basic employee right in UK law. The level of SSP is set by the government.

The rules about sick pay are set out in the Employment Rights Act 1996. The House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee has called for a substantial overhaul of the SSP framework in the next couple of years, as it can be a struggle to live on SSP.

Occupational or company sick pay is a contractual right arising from your employment contract. It needs to be at least the level of SSP but is often higher.

What happens if I am sick for more than 28 weeks?

After SSP runs out, you may be able to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit.

If you're going to be off work for more than 28 weeks, your employer can complete an SSP1 form, which means you could apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) before your SSP ends.

You still build up the right to paid annual leave or holiday leave if you’re off sick. You might be able to use your holiday entitlement if your sick pay runs out.

Does sick pay reset every year?

Your SSP allowance doesn’t reset on a fixed date such as the beginning of the calendar or financial year. Instead SSP is reset 12 months after the initial sickness-related absence.

Can I get sick pay if self-isolating?

The government has ended the laws about sick pay and self-isolation that were applicable during the Covid pandemic. There is no longer a legal obligation to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid, but your employer may have a company policy about self-isolation.

If you’re able to work, and your company doesn’t ask you to self-isolate, you don’t have the right to get SSP just because you’re self-isolating. However, if you are sick with Covid symptoms, then normal sick pay rules apply.

What if I'm not eligible for SSP?

If you are not eligible for SSP, your employer must fill in form SSP1and give it to you. You will need this form to claim state benefits via JobCentre Plus. You might be able to claim Universal Credit, which is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions.

You should use a benefits calculator to check which benefits you might be able to get.

If you need long-term help doing everyday tasks, you might also be able to get Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

How can I dispute being turned down for SSP?

If your employer says you are not entitled to SSP, but you think you are, you can contact HM Revenue and Customs’ Statutory Payment Dispute Team to discuss your employee rights.

You can call the HMRC team on 0300 322 9422 (Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm, Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm).

You’ll need the following information for the call:

• Your name, address and National Insurance number
• Your employer's name and contact details
• Your payroll number
• Details of when you were off sick
• What your employer said when you asked for SSP and the SSP1 form

You may also be able to get support from your trade union, Citizens Advice or ACAS.

What is long-term sick?

The government classes any worker off work sick for more than four weeks as ‘long-term sick’. If you are on long-term sick leave, you will be entitled to either SSP or occupational sick pay, depending on what’s written into your contract.

Your employer has the right to contact HMRC’s Medical Services to independently assess the state of your health if you’re off sick for:

• Extended periods
• Four or more times of four to seven days in a single year

HMRC’s Medical Services may then contact your doctor to confirm that you have been away from work for a good reason. If your doctor says you are fit to work, your employer can stop paying you sick pay.

Income protection is a type of insurance policy that can provide an income if you are too ill to work on a long-term basis. But you will need to have a policy in place before you are sick – it won’t pay out if you buy it after becoming ill.

How does long-term sick leave impact sick pay?

Some companies might choose to pay SSP or company sick pay for longer than 28 weeks. It is up to each company as to how much long-term sick pay is paid and how long they pay it for.

Some companies might offer a phased return to work to make it easier to get back to work. They might also change your duties or allow flexible working.

Summary: Navigating sick pay in the UK

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is a legal requirement in the UK. If you have a job, it’s important to understand your rights about sick pay. Many companies and public sector employers offer company sick pay schemes that pay more than SSP.

Sick pay might not be enough money to live on. Our article about How to save money might help.