Calculate Your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Use this calculator to estimate the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) you might be entitled to in the UK. Ensure you have your average weekly earnings and sick leave dates ready.
What is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)?
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is a minimum amount of money that employers in the UK must pay to eligible employees who are off work due to illness. It is a legal entitlement designed to provide a basic level of financial support during periods of incapacity for work. The current weekly rate for SSP is set by the government and is typically reviewed annually.
This UK sick pay rules system ensures that employees have some income protection, preventing immediate financial hardship when they are too unwell to perform their duties. It's a fundamental part of employee rights and employer responsibilities in the UK.
Who Should Use This Stat Sick Pay Calculator?
Our stat sick pay calculator is an essential tool for:
- Employees: To understand their potential SSP entitlement and verify payments from their employer.
- Employers and HR Professionals: To accurately calculate SSP for their staff and ensure compliance with HR compliance software.
- Payroll Teams: For precise payroll processing and record-keeping.
- Anyone interested in employee sick leave rights: To gain a clear understanding of the system.
Common Misunderstandings About Statutory Sick Pay
Several aspects of SSP are often misunderstood, leading to confusion:
- Waiting Days: Many believe SSP starts from day one of sickness. However, there are typically three "waiting days" at the start of a Period of Incapacity for Work (PIW) for which no SSP is paid.
- Lower Earnings Limit (LEL): Not everyone is eligible for SSP. Employees must earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) for National Insurance contributions in the 8 weeks prior to their sickness. Our stat sick pay calculator specifically checks for this.
- Qualifying Days: SSP is only paid for "qualifying days," which are the days an employee normally works. Weekends or non-working days are not usually qualifying days unless they are part of the employee's regular work pattern.
- Linking Periods: If an employee has multiple periods of sickness close together (within 8 weeks), these can "link," meaning waiting days might not apply again for the subsequent PIW.
- Maximum Duration: SSP is not indefinite; it has a maximum duration of 28 weeks in any linked period of sickness.
Stat Sick Pay Formula and Explanation
Calculating Statutory Sick Pay involves several steps and conditions. The core idea is to determine the number of qualifying days for which SSP is payable after waiting days have been applied.
The Simplified SSP Calculation Logic:
- Check Eligibility: The employee must earn above the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) for National Insurance (currently £123 per week for 2024/2025) and be off sick for at least 4 consecutive days (a Period of Incapacity for Work - PIW).
- Identify Qualifying Days (QDs): These are the days an employee normally works. SSP is only paid for these days.
- Apply Waiting Days: The first 3 qualifying days in a PIW are 'waiting days' and are unpaid. If PIWs link (within 8 weeks of each other), waiting days only apply to the first PIW in the linked series.
- Calculate SSP Payable Days: Count the number of qualifying days within the sick period, subtracting any waiting days.
- Calculate Total SSP: Multiply the number of SSP payable days by the daily SSP rate. The daily rate is the weekly SSP rate (£116.75 for 2024/2025) divided by the number of qualifying days in that week.
- Cap at Maximum: SSP can only be paid for a maximum of 28 weeks (196 days) in any linked period of sickness.
Key Variables for Calculating Statutory Sick Pay
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sick Leave Start Date | The initial date of absence due to illness. | Date | Any valid date |
| Sick Leave End Date | The final date of absence due to illness. | Date | Any valid date (after start date) |
| Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) | Employee's average gross weekly pay for the 8 weeks before sickness. Crucial for SSP eligibility. | GBP (£) | £0 - £1000+ |
| Qualifying Days | The specific days of the week an employee normally works. | Days of week (e.g., Mon-Fri) | 1-7 days |
| SSP Weekly Rate | The fixed weekly rate set by the government for Statutory Sick Pay (e.g., £116.75 for 2024/2025). | GBP (£) | Fixed by government |
| Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) | The minimum weekly earnings an employee must have to qualify for SSP (e.g., £123 for 2024/2025). | GBP (£) | Fixed by government |
| Waiting Days | The first 3 qualifying days of a PIW for which SSP is not paid. | Days | 0 or 3 |
| SSP Payable Days | The total number of qualifying days for which SSP is actually paid. | Days | 0 - 196 |
Practical Examples of Stat Sick Pay Calculation
To illustrate how the stat sick pay calculator works, let's consider a couple of realistic scenarios.
Example 1: Short Sickness Absence (Standard Week)
- Inputs:
- Sick Leave Start Date: Monday, 1st April 2024
- Sick Leave End Date: Friday, 5th April 2024
- Average Weekly Earnings (AWE): £350.00
- Qualifying Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- Linked PIW: No
- Calculation:
- Total Sick Days: 5 days
- Qualifying Days in sick period: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri (5 days)
- Waiting Days: Mon, Tue, Wed (3 days) are unpaid.
- SSP Payable Days: 5 (qualifying) - 3 (waiting) = 2 days (Thursday, Friday)
- Weekly SSP Rate: £116.75 (2024/2025 rate)
- Daily SSP Rate (assuming 5 QDs/week): £116.75 / 5 = £23.35
- Results:
- Total SSP Payable: £23.35 (Thursday) + £23.35 (Friday) = £46.70
- Eligibility: Eligible (AWE > LEL)
In this example, despite being sick for 5 days, only 2 days were eligible for SSP due to the 3 waiting days.
Example 2: Longer Sickness Absence (Including a Weekend)
- Inputs:
- Sick Leave Start Date: Monday, 8th April 2024
- Sick Leave End Date: Sunday, 21st April 2024
- Average Weekly Earnings (AWE): £500.00
- Qualifying Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
- Linked PIW: No
- Calculation:
- Total Sick Days: 14 days
- Qualifying Days in sick period:
- Week 1 (8th-14th April): Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri (5 QDs)
- Week 2 (15th-21st April): Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri (5 QDs)
- Waiting Days: Mon, Tue, Wed (8th-10th April) are unpaid.
- SSP Payable Days: 10 (qualifying) - 3 (waiting) = 7 days
- Daily SSP Rate: £116.75 / 5 = £23.35
- Results:
- Total SSP Payable: 7 days * £23.35 = £163.45
- Eligibility: Eligible (AWE > LEL)
This example shows how SSP is calculated for the qualifying days over multiple weeks, excluding weekends and the initial waiting days. Our stat sick pay calculator automates these complex date and day calculations.
How to Use This Stat Sick Pay Calculator
Our stat sick pay calculator is designed for ease of use and accuracy. Follow these simple steps to get your estimated SSP entitlement:
- Enter Sick Leave Dates:
- Sick Leave Start Date: Select the first day you were unable to work due to illness.
- Sick Leave End Date: Select the last day you were unable to work due to illness.
- Provide Average Weekly Earnings (AWE):
- Input your gross average weekly earnings from the 8 weeks immediately before your sick leave started. This is critical for SSP eligibility.
- Select Your Qualifying Days:
- Check the boxes for all the days of the week you normally work. SSP is only paid for these designated 'qualifying days'.
- Indicate Linked Sickness (if applicable):
- If this period of sickness is within 8 weeks of a previous sickness absence, tick the "Is this sickness linked..." checkbox.
- Then, enter the end date of that previous sickness and any SSP already paid for it. This helps correctly apply waiting day rules.
- Click "Calculate SSP":
- The calculator will instantly display your estimated total SSP, eligibility status, waiting days, and SSP payable days.
- Interpret Results:
- The primary result shows your total estimated SSP in GBP.
- Intermediate results provide a breakdown of eligibility, total sick days, unpaid waiting days, and SSP payable days.
- A table and chart will visually represent your SSP entitlement and payment schedule.
- Copy or Reset:
- Use the "Copy Results" button to easily save or share your calculation.
- The "Reset" button clears all inputs and returns to default values for a new calculation.
Our goal is to make calculate statutory sick pay straightforward and transparent for everyone.
Key Factors That Affect Stat Sick Pay
Understanding the various elements that influence your SSP entitlement is crucial for accurate calculations and managing expectations. This stat sick pay calculator takes these factors into account:
- Average Weekly Earnings (AWE): This is the most critical factor for eligibility. If your AWE falls below the government's Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) (currently £123/week for 2024/2025), you are not eligible for SSP, regardless of other factors.
- Duration of Sickness Absence: SSP is only payable if you are off work for at least 4 consecutive days, forming a Period of Incapacity for Work (PIW). The longer the eligible period, the more SSP you might receive, up to the maximum limit.
- Qualifying Days: SSP is not paid for every day you are sick; it's only paid for your normal working days (qualifying days). If you work fewer days per week, your total SSP for a given period will be lower than someone working more qualifying days.
- Waiting Days: The first three qualifying days of a PIW are unpaid waiting days. This significantly impacts short periods of sickness. If your sickness is very short, you might not receive any SSP after these days are applied.
- Linking Periods of Incapacity for Work (PIWs): If you have two PIWs that are 8 weeks (56 days) or less apart, they are considered 'linked'. In this scenario, waiting days only apply to the first PIW in the linked series, potentially increasing SSP for the subsequent linked PIW.
- Maximum SSP Duration: SSP has a maximum payment duration of 28 weeks (196 days) within any linked period of sickness. Once this limit is reached, SSP payments cease.
- Notification Requirements: While not directly a calculation factor, employees must inform their employer of their sickness within the company's specified time limit (usually 7 days) to qualify for SSP.
- Proof of Sickness: For sickness lasting longer than 7 days, a doctor's fit note (Statement of Fitness for Work) is usually required to continue receiving SSP.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Stat Sick Pay
Q: What are 'qualifying days' for SSP?
A: Qualifying days are the days of the week you normally work under your contract of employment. SSP is only paid for these days, not for weekends or other non-working days unless they are part of your regular work pattern.
Q: Can I get SSP if I earn less than the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL)?
A: No. To be eligible for SSP, your average weekly earnings (AWE) must be at or above the LEL for National Insurance contributions. For 2024/2025, this is £123 per week. If you earn less, you may be able to claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Q: What if I'm sick for less than 4 days?
A: SSP is only payable if you are off work for 4 or more consecutive days, forming a Period of Incapacity for Work (PIW). If your sickness is shorter than this, you will not qualify for SSP.
Q: What are 'waiting days' and how do they affect my SSP?
A: The first three qualifying days in a PIW are called 'waiting days'. You do not receive SSP for these days. SSP only starts from the fourth qualifying day of your sickness. Our stat sick pay calculator automatically accounts for these.
Q: What is a 'linking period' for SSP?
A: A linking period occurs when you have two periods of sickness that are 8 weeks (56 days) or less apart. If periods link, waiting days only apply to the first PIW in the linked series, meaning you might receive SSP sooner in the subsequent linked PIW.
Q: How long can I receive SSP?
A: You can receive SSP for a maximum of 28 weeks (196 days) in any linked period of sickness. After this, your SSP entitlement ends.
Q: Does SSP count towards my pension or other benefits?
A: SSP is subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, just like regular earnings. However, the impact on pension contributions or other benefits can vary, so it's always best to check with your pension provider or relevant benefits office. For detailed information on tax years and benefits, see our tax year dates UK guide.
Q: What if my employer pays more than SSP?
A: Many employers offer a company sick pay scheme that pays more than the statutory minimum. This is known as contractual sick pay. If your employer has such a scheme, they must pay you at least the SSP amount, but they can top it up. You cannot receive SSP and contractual sick pay for the same days if the contractual pay is higher.
Q: What proof do I need for SSP?
A: For the first 7 days of sickness, you can "self-certify" your illness by filling in a form (SC2). For sickness lasting more than 7 days, you will usually need a "fit note" (Statement of Fitness for Work) from a doctor or other healthcare professional.