Occupational and Statutory Sick Pay
What is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)?
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks if you're too ill to work.
Am I eligible for SSP?
To get SSP, you must:
- be an employee (this includes if you're an agency worker or part-time worker)
- earn an average of £123 a week or more
- have been ill for at least four days in a row.
If you're on a zero-hours contract, you can still claim SSP. If you do not have an employer (if you're unemployed or self-employed), you cannot get Statutory Sick Pay, but you may be able to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit instead.
SSP is the minimum amount employers must pay. If your employer gives you occupational sick pay, the SSP you get will usually count as part of your occupational sick pay.
After the first seven days of being off sick, you'll usually have to send a doctor's certificate, known as a fit note, to your employer.
How much is SSP?
Statutory Sick Pay is £116.75 a week. You will not be paid for the first three days you're off sick, unless you received SSP within the last eight weeks, and that already included a three-day waiting period before you were paid SSP.
SSP can be paid for up to 28 weeks – either in one period of sickness, or in several periods. Each period must last at least four days in a row, and be separated by eight weeks or less.
Long-term sickness
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 a form called SSP1 which means you could apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) before your SSP ends.
What is occupational sick pay?
Occupational sick pay is a general term for money from your employer, if you're off work because of your illness. Whether you get occupational sick pay depends on what your employment contract says. You should check your contract or speak to your manager or human resources department to find out.
If your employer does not provide occupational sick pay, they must still pay you SSP if you qualify.
How do I claim sick pay?
If you've told your employer that you're off sick or going to be off sick, your occupational sick pay or Statutory Sick Pay should be paid to you in the same way as your normal wages.
You must usually tell your employer you're unable to work before the deadline they set (or within seven days of being off sick if they have not set one). You could lose some of your sick pay if you do not tell your employer by the deadline.
Do I need a fit note?
If you've been off sick from work for more than seven days in a row (including non-working days) then you must give your employer a doctor's 'fit note'. This is sometimes called a sick note or doctor's note.
The note will either say you 'may be fit for work' or you're 'not fit for work'. If it says you 'may be fit for work' then your employer should talk to you about any adjustments that will make it easier for you to return to work. This could be changes like temporarily working different hours, or giving you tasks which are easier to manage.
You can get a fit note from your GP. If you're getting hospital treatment, you can ask your hospital for one. If your employer agrees, you can get a similar document from a physiotherapist, podiatrist or occupational therapist instead of a fit note. This is called an Allied Health Professional Health and Work Report.
Where can I get help?
If you're worried you're not getting the sick pay you're entitled to, speak to your employer. If this does not work, you can contact HMRC using any of the following methods:
- Call the HMRC employee enquiry line: 0300 200 3500 (textphone 0300 200 3212).
- Call the HMRC Statutory Payment Dispute Team: 0300 322 9422 (textphone 0300 200 3212).
- Write to HMRC: Statutory Payment Dispute Team, PT Operations, North East England, HMRC, BX9 1AN, United Kingdom.
If you cannot get sick pay, check what benefits you might be entitled to.
Marie Curie have an information page about work and terminal illness.
Help from other organisations
- Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 provides general information about benefits and finances.
- Citizens Advice has trained advisers you can speak to and provides information on your rights, including benefits, housing, employment, debt, consumer and legal issues. Search the site for your nearest bureau in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Acas has advisers you can speak to if you live in England, Wales or Scotland. Acas offer information on employment subjects such as sick pay, working hours, redundancy and discrimination.
- Labour Relations Agency has advisers you can speak to if you live in Northern Ireland, and they provide information about sick pay and employment practices in Northern Ireland.
See our list of useful organisations for more places to go for benefits advice and information.
Did you find this page useful?
Help us be there for anyone with an illness they're likely to die from by telling us what you think.
If you are completing this survey using a desktop computer, hold down the Ctrl button to select multiple options.
About this information
This information is not intended to replace any advice from health or social care professionals. We suggest that you consult with a qualified professional about your individual circumstances. Read more about how our information is created and how it's used.
