Statutory Sick Pay 2026/27: how much you get

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) in 2026/27 is the lower of £123.25 a week and 80% of your average weekly earnings, paid by your employer from your first full day off sick, for up to 28 weeks. That is the rate GOV.UK gives for 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027.

Most people on a normal wage get the full £123.25. If you earn less than about £154.07 a week on average, you get 80% of what you earn instead. Your employer can pay more than this under a company sick pay scheme, but never less.

What changed on 6 April 2026

Three things changed for sickness that starts on or after 6 April 2026 (GOV.UK, Acas):

1. SSP is paid from the first full day off sick. The three waiting days at the start, which used to be unpaid, are gone.
2. There is no minimum earnings limit. You no longer need to earn a set amount a week to qualify.
3. The rate is the lower of two amounts. It is the flat weekly rate or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is less. So if you earn little, you get 80% of what you earn.

If your sickness began before 6 April 2026 and carried on after it, GOV.UK has separate guidance on which rules apply. Use the link above.

How much SSP you will get

Your SSP is worked out from your average weekly earnings over the 8 weeks before you fell ill. The weekly rate is then the lower of the flat rate and 80% of that average. The figures below are worked out by the SumLark SSP Calculator, which we tested against GOV.UK's own calculator.

• On £500 a week, off for a full Monday to Friday week: £123.25 for the week, which is the full weekly rate. That is £24.65 for each working day.
• The same job, but only off on Wednesday to Friday: £73.95 for those three days.
• On £100 a week, off for a full week: £80.00. That is 80% of £100, because it is lower than the flat rate.
• Working Monday, Wednesday and Friday on £150 a week, off for all three days: £120.00 for the week, which is £40.00 a day.

How SSP is paid

SSP is paid for each day you are off sick that you would normally have worked. These are called qualifying days. If you are off for part of a week, you get the weekly rate shared across your qualifying days, for the days you were off. Each week's payment is rounded up to the nearest penny.

Your employer pays it with your wages, on the same schedule, so a monthly-paid worker gets SSP monthly. Tax and National Insurance are deducted from SSP, as they are from wages, according to GOV.UK. If you have more than one job, you may get SSP from each employer.

SSP is a weekly rate. GOV.UK gives no monthly or hourly figure, so we do not quote one: use the daily figures above, or the calculator, for your own days.

Who can get SSP and what to do

You can get SSP if all of these are true (GOV.UK):

• you are classed as an employee (agency workers may also be entitled) and have done some work for your employer;
• you have been ill for at least one full working day;
• you tell your employer before their deadline for reporting sickness. If they have not set one, you have 7 days. Telling them late can reduce your SSP.

You cannot get SSP if you have already had the full 28 weeks, or you are getting Statutory Maternity Pay. GOV.UK also says you are not eligible if you received Employment and Support Allowance in the last 85 days. Acas says workers who pay their own tax through self assessment are not eligible either.

There is no claim form to fill in. You tell your employer, and they pay it. If your employer needs notice in writing, GOV.UK points to form SC2. Acas says your employer can ask for a fit note, and that you need one after more than 7 calendar days off.

If you think your employer is wrong not to pay SSP, or you are not getting the right amount, talk to them first and ask for the reason. If that does not solve it, GOV.UK says to contact HMRC's Statutory Payment Disputes Team.

How long SSP lasts and what happens when it ends

SSP is paid for up to 28 weeks. If you are off sick again, and the gap since the last time is 8 weeks or less, the two periods are linked and count towards the same 28 weeks. SSP stops altogether if a run of linked periods lasts more than 3 years.

When SSP ends, or if you cannot get it:

• Your employment continues. Acas says your contract carries on, and your holiday keeps building up while you are off sick. Our holiday entitlement calculator works out how much.
• You may be able to apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit. Form SSP1 can support the application, so ask your employer for it.

Frequently asked questions

How much is SSP per day?

It depends on how many days you work. The weekly rate is shared across your qualifying days, so for a five-day week the full rate is £24.65 a day. The second table above shows other patterns.

When does SSP start?

From the first full day you are off sick, for sickness that starts on or after 6 April 2026.

Who pays SSP?

Your employer, through your normal pay.

Does sick pay affect holiday?

You keep building up holiday while you are off sick, according to Acas.