Helping UK employees and employers understand Statutory Sick Pay
Statutory Sick Pay is one of those areas of employment law that affects almost every worker in the United Kingdom at some point, yet remains poorly understood by many. When illness strikes, people need clear answers quickly: Am I eligible? How much will I receive? How long does it last? The rules governing SSP are not straightforward, and official guidance, while accurate, can be dense and difficult to navigate under the stress of illness.
This calculator was built to bridge that gap. It provides a simple, free tool that allows employees and employers alike to estimate SSP entitlements in seconds, without needing to wade through pages of government documentation. Whether you are an employee who has just been told you need time off, an employer working out payroll obligations, or an HR professional managing sickness absence, this tool is designed to give you a clear starting point.
This is a small site run by one person, not a law firm or an advisory service. The figures here follow the official gov.uk guidance on Statutory Sick Pay, but the site cannot advise on your individual circumstances.
Since 6 April 2026, SSP is the lower of two figures: £123.25 a week, or 80% of the employee's average weekly earnings. Both arms of that test always apply, so £123.25 is a ceiling rather than a flat entitlement. An employee who normally earns £140 a week receives £112 a week in SSP, because 80% of their earnings is less than the cap.
There is no longer an earnings threshold for SSP. The Lower Earnings Limit qualifying test was abolished on 6 April 2026, so there is no minimum you have to earn before you are entitled. The qualifying conditions are now that you are classed as an employee, that you have done some work for your employer, and that you have been ill for at least one full working day.
The three unpaid waiting days were also abolished on 6 April 2026. SSP is now payable from the first qualifying day of absence. A qualifying day is a day on which you would normally be required to work, so someone on a standard Monday-to-Friday pattern who falls ill on a Monday is paid SSP for that Monday.
Linked periods still matter for the 28-week limit. If an employee has two separate spells of sickness within eight weeks (56 days) of each other, those spells are linked and treated as a single period of entitlement, so the 28-week maximum runs continuously across both absences.
The weekly amount is divided by the number of qualifying days in the week to produce a daily rate. For a five-day worker on the full £123.25, that works out to £24.65 per qualifying day; if 80% of earnings is the lower figure, the daily rate is lower to match. SSP is subject to income tax and National Insurance deductions, just like regular pay.
For reference, the weekly SSP rate was £116.75 in 2024/25 and £118.75 in 2025/26. Both are historical figures and neither applies to absences on or after 6 April 2026.
SSP rates and rules are reviewed by the government each year, typically taking effect at the start of the new tax year in April. Keeping this calculator accurate means following HMRC announcements, Budget statements, and any legislative changes that affect sick pay entitlements.
For the 2026/27 tax year, the key figures are:
Rate history: £116.75 in 2024/25, £118.75 in 2025/26, and £123.25 (or 80% of average weekly earnings if lower) in 2026/27.
There is also a blog covering SSP news, employment rights during sickness, and practical guidance for navigating the sick pay system. The SSP guide and frequently asked questions page go into more detail.