Statutory Sick Pay: FAQ and myths
The questions below are the ones employees and small employers ask most about SSP, answered under the rules from 6 April 2026. Where an old rule is the source of the confusion, the answer says so plainly.
Do I have to be sick for 4 days before I get SSP?
No — not any more. That was the pre-April 2026 rule. From 6 April 2026 you need at least one full working day of sickness. A one-day absence can now attract SSP, provided you are an employee, have done some work, and gave notice on time.
Are the first 3 days unpaid?
No. Waiting days were abolished on 6 April 2026. SSP is payable from the first qualifying day of sickness. If your employer still deducts 3 waiting days from a fresh absence, the calculation is wrong under the current rules.
Do I need to earn a minimum amount to qualify?
No. The Lower Earnings Limit was abolished on 6 April 2026. Earnings now affect how much you get — 80% of average weekly earnings below about £154.06 a week — not whether you qualify.
I am self-employed. Can I get SSP?
No. SSP is paid by an employer to an employee. Self-employed people do not qualify; if you cannot work, the relevant support is usually Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, subject to their own tests, and you should seek advice promptly rather than waiting.
I am on a zero-hours contract. Do I qualify?
Yes, if you are classed as an employee and meet the other conditions — see agency and zero-hours workers. Your qualifying days follow your actual working pattern, and your weekly amount follows the 80% rule if your average earnings are below the cap.
Do I need a fit note from day one?
No. You self-certify for the first 7 days, including non-working days. A fit note can be asked for only if you are off for more than 7 days in a row.
Is SSP taxed?
Yes. SSP is paid through payroll like wages, with income tax and National Insurance deducted. The £123.25 figure is gross, not take-home pay.
Can I get SSP from two jobs?
Yes. Each employer assesses and pays SSP separately. You can also be unfit for one job and fit for another, if the work is genuinely different.
Does my holiday stop accruing while I am sick?
No. Statutory annual leave accrues while you are off sick, however long you are off, and your employer cannot force you to take annual leave instead of sick leave.
Can my employer reclaim SSP from the government?
Not generally. The old reclaim scheme ended in April 2014. The exception is employer insolvency, where HMRC pays SSP in the circumstances set out in SSP vs company sick pay. An inability to reclaim is not a reason to refuse SSP.
My employer refuses SSP. What do I do?
Ask for the reason in writing and for form SSP1, which your employer must send within 7 days of your first day off sick if you do not qualify. If the reason is wrong — for example, it relies on the old four-day rule — raise it in writing, then contact the HMRC Statutory Payment Disputes Team. Full steps are in when SSP ends.
How long can SSP last?
Up to 28 weeks for a period of sickness, including linked periods. After that, Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit are the usual next steps, supported by form SSP1.