Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Calculator

Work out UK Statutory Sick Pay for an employee under the post-April 2026 rules: no waiting days, paid from the first qualifying day, up to the 28-week maximum payment period.

SSP Calculator
The first day the employee was off sick (including weekends)
The day they returned / last day claiming SSP
Select all the days the employee normally works
In a linked PIW (counts toward 28-week max)
£
SSP is the lower of £123.25/wk or 80% of this figure. Leave blank to use the flat rate.
SSP Calculation
Enter dates above to calculate.
Total SSP Due
£0.00
SSP Days
0

paid qualifying days

Daily Rate
£0.00
How SSP Works
  1. The employee must have been ill for at least one full working day to start a Period of Incapacity for Work (PIW).
  2. From 6 April 2026 there are no waiting days – SSP is paid from the first qualifying day of sickness absence.
  3. The weekly SSP amount is the lower of £123.25 or 80% of average weekly earnings; this is divided by qualifying days per week to get the daily rate.
  4. SSP can be paid for a maximum of 28 weeks per PIW.
  5. Separate PIWs within 8 weeks are "linked" and count towards the same 28-week limit.
Frequently Asked Questions

Statutory Sick Pay is the minimum amount UK employers must pay to eligible employees who are off work sick. From 6 April 2026 the rate is the lower of £123.25 per week or 80% of the employee's average weekly earnings. It is paid for up to 28 weeks in a Period of Incapacity for Work (PIW).

To qualify for SSP you must: be classed as an employee and have done some work for your employer; have been ill for at least one full working day; and notify your employer within their deadline (or 7 days if none). Following the Employment Rights Act 2025 reforms (in force from 6 April 2026), there is no longer a minimum earnings threshold – the old Lower Earnings Limit eligibility rule has been abolished, so even the lowest-paid employees now qualify. The self-employed are still not eligible for SSP.

No. From 6 April 2026 the 3 "waiting days" rule was abolished. Eligible employees are now entitled to SSP from their first full day of sickness absence, rather than having to wait until the fourth qualifying day as under the old rules.

SSP is payable for up to 28 weeks in any one Period of Incapacity for Work. Separate periods of sickness can be "linked" if they are 8 weeks or less apart – linked PIWs count towards the same 28-week maximum.

The weekly SSP amount is the lower of £123.25 (the 2026/27 flat rate) or 80% of the employee's average weekly earnings. This weekly amount is divided by the number of qualifying days the employee has in that week to get the daily rate. Example: an employee with average weekly earnings of £140 would get the lower of £123.25 or £112.00 (80% of £140) – so £112.00 per week. With 5 qualifying days, that is £22.40 per day.

Yes – many employers provide "Occupational Sick Pay" (or "Company Sick Pay") which is more generous than SSP. Your employment contract sets out what you are entitled to. SSP is a legal minimum only.
SSP Rates
Qualifying days/wkDaily SSP (at flat rate)
7£17.61
6£20.54
5£24.65
4£30.81
3£41.08
2£61.63
1£123.25
Weekly rate: lower of £123.25 or 80% of average weekly earnings (2026/27)
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Disclaimer

This calculator is intended as a guide for UK Statutory Sick Pay using HMRC 2026/27 rules. Always check HMRC guidance or use HMRC's official SSP calculator for payroll purposes.