Statutory Sick Pay in 2026/27: who gets it, how much and from when
Published · 3 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
Statutory Sick Pay is the minimum sick pay an employer must give eligible employees. This guide explains the 2026/27 weekly rate, the April 2026 changes, who qualifies, how long it lasts and what to do if it is wrong.
What Statutory Sick Pay is
Statutory Sick Pay, often called SSP, is paid by your employer when you are too ill to work. It is a legal minimum. Some employers have their own company sick pay scheme and pay more, but they cannot pay less than SSP.
In this guide, "as of 11 October 2026" means the date the figures were checked on the official pages listed at the end. The rates below apply for the 2026/27 tax year, which runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027.
What changed in April 2026
From 6 April 2026, two rules were removed. Before then, SSP only started on the fourth day off sick. It is now paid from the first full working day of sickness absence. The minimum earnings limit, which was £125 a week, has also gone, so eligible employees can get SSP whatever they earn.
These changes apply across the whole of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. Different rules apply to some absences that began before 6 April 2026, for example if you were off sick continuously from 21 September 2025, or had received Employment and Support Allowance in the 85 days before 6 April 2026. Your employer or the official guidance can explain how that applies.
How the weekly rate works
SSP is the lower of two amounts: a flat weekly figure of £123.25, or 80% of your average weekly earnings. The official examples show how this works. If average weekly earnings are £185, 80% is £148, which is more than the flat rate, so £123.25 is paid. If average weekly earnings are £145, 80% is £116, which is lower, so £116 is paid.
Who it applies to
- You are classed as an employee. Agency workers may also be entitled.
- You have done some work for your employer.
- You have been ill for at least one full working day.
- You have not already been paid the maximum of 28 weeks of SSP.
Telling your employer and fit notes
You usually need to tell your employer you cannot work by their deadline. If they have not set one, the deadline is within 7 days. Telling them late can reduce the SSP you get. It can help to check how they want to be told. If they need it in writing, form SC2 can be used.
If you are off for more than 7 days in a row, including days you would not normally work, you must give your employer a fit note.
Linked sickness periods
Two periods of sickness are linked if each lasts more than one full working day and they are 8 weeks or less apart. Linked periods count together towards the 28 weeks. You stop being eligible if a continuous series of linked periods lasts more than 3 years.
If you think SSP is wrong
Many people start by talking to their employer. You can ask them for the reason for their decision. If that does not settle it, you can contact the HMRC Statutory Payment Disputes Team.
Check before you act
Rates and rules change, and your own situation may differ from the general picture here. It can be worth confirming the details on the official GOV.UK pages linked below, or with your employer, before relying on any figure.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
