How UK Statutory Sick Pay works in 2026/27 — qualifying days, the weekly rate, and who’s eligible.
Who qualifies
Employees earning above the Lower Earnings Limit who’ve been off sick for at least 4 consecutive days, including non-working days.
The weekly rate
SSP is paid at a fixed weekly rate for 2026/27, for up to 28 weeks — worth checking the current figure directly since it’s reviewed annually.
Waiting days
The first 3 qualifying days of any sickness period are unpaid “waiting days” — SSP itself only starts from day 4, though many employers offer contractual sick pay that covers this gap.
Work out SSP entitlement with the Payslp SSP calculator.
What happens with intermittent sickness
If sickness periods are separated by fewer than a set number of days, they can be linked together as a single period for SSP purposes — worth understanding this rule specifically if an employee has several short absences close together, since it changes how waiting days and the 28-week limit are calculated.
Frequently asked questions
Do zero-hours workers qualify for SSP?
Yes, provided they meet the earnings and qualifying conditions — employment type alone doesn’t exclude someone from SSP eligibility.