Log in / Register
You are here:
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is money paid to you by your employer if you are sick and unable to work. You can get it for up to 28 weeks of sickness. After that, if you still cannot work, you can claim Employment and Support Allowance.
Most employees get SSP, including part-time workers and agency workers and workers on a fixed-term contract.
You must earn an average of at least £102 a week to qualify for SSP. If you do not earn enough to qualify for SSP, you can claim Employment and Support Allowance instead.
If you are self-employed, you do not qualify for SSP. Claim Employment and Support Allowance instead.
Even if you qualify for SSP, you do not get it for the first three days you are sick. It is paid from the fourth day. However, if you have already had a period of sick leave in the previous eight weeks, you can usually claim SSP from the first day as it is counted as one period of 'incapacity for work'.
SSP does not depend on your income or savings.
SSP is money paid by your employers. You can spend it on what you want. Your employers will pay SSP in the same way that they pay your wages and at the same time. You have to pay tax on SSP.
SSP is a fixed amount of £81.60 a week. You may get more sick pay on top of this if your contract of employment says you will.
SSP is a taxable benefit. You should get in touch with your tax office if you start claiming SSP.
The way you claim SSP depends on your employer. They can make their own rules about how you should show that you can not work.
Usually, you have to fill in a form provided by your employer for the first week you are unable to work. Or you could write a letter explaining that you are sick (the postmark is taken as the date you informed them) or phone them.
Another option is to fill in Form SC2 (Employee's Statement of Sickness) which you can get from your doctor's surgery or download Form SC2 (PDF file size 66kb link opens in a new window).
After the first week, you usually have to send in a doctor's certificate to get SSP.
ACAS (link opens in a new window) operates a national help line on: 08457 474747. They can help you if you are having problems with your employer about getting SSP.
The website of HM Revenue and Customs (link opens in a new window) has more information about SSP, including an SSP calculator (link opens in a new window). The Citizens Advice website (link opens in a new window) can give you more information about SSP.
Directgov (link opens in a new window), the government website, has more information about SSP.
Find an adviser tool.
Useful links
This information has been produced by Citizens Advice.
Last updated: 6 April 2011
Visit the Elizabeth Finn Care website
Turn2us - to access benefits & grants.
