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Sick Pay Calculator (UK)

Off sick? Enter your pay, your working days and how many days you were off to see your Statutory Sick Pay, the daily rate and how much is left, under the new rules from 6 April 2026.

average over the last 8 weeks
your qualifying days
only days you would have worked
in sickness spells 8 weeks or less apart
Statutory Sick Pay before tax
–

Last checked: 1 October 2026

How SSP works from 6 April 2026

Weekly SSP = the lower of £123.25 or 80% of your average weekly earnings

Paid from day one for every qualifying day you are off sick, up to 28 weeks. Daily rate = weekly SSP ÷ the days you normally work per week.

Example

You earn £600 a week and work Monday to Friday. You are off sick Tuesday to Friday, 4 working days. 80% of £600 is more than the cap, so you get £123.25 ÷ 5 = £24.65 a day: £98.60. Under the old rules the first 3 days were unpaid and you would have got just £23.75.

Weekly SSP by average weekly pay

Average weekly payWeekly SSP nowBefore April 2026
£100£80.00£0 (under £125)
£125£100.00£118.75
£150£120.00£118.75
£200£123.25£118.75
£300£123.25£118.75
£500£123.25£118.75

Rates for England, Scotland and Wales. "Before" shows a full week of SSP once the 3 waiting days had passed.

Related

Want to know what you earn per week? Use the hourly to salary calculator. You keep building up holiday while off sick: see the holiday entitlement calculator. Counting your sick days? The working days calculator skips weekends and bank holidays. Expecting a baby? See the maternity pay calculator.

FAQ

How much is Statutory Sick Pay in 2026?
From 6 April 2026, SSP is £123.25 a week or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. So anyone earning about £154 a week or more gets the full £123.25. It is paid for each qualifying day you are off sick, for up to 28 weeks.
Is SSP paid from the first day of sickness now?
Yes. The Employment Rights Act 2025 removed the 3 unpaid waiting days from 6 April 2026. SSP is now paid from your first qualifying day off sick, also for short absences of one or two days.
Do I need to earn a minimum amount to get SSP?
Not any more. Until 5 April 2026 you had to earn at least £125 a week (the lower earnings limit). That limit was removed, so lower earners now get 80% of their average weekly pay instead of nothing.
How is the daily SSP rate worked out?
Divide the weekly SSP by the number of days you normally work in a week (your qualifying days). With 5 working days and the full rate that is £123.25 ÷ 5 = £24.65 a day. With 3 working days it is £41.08 a day.
What are linked periods of sickness?
Two spells of sickness of at least 4 days in a row that are 8 weeks or less apart count as one period. The 28-week maximum then applies to both together, which is why you can enter the weeks of SSP you have already had.
Is SSP taxed?
Yes. SSP is paid by your employer through payroll like normal pay, so income tax and National Insurance are taken off where they apply. Many employers also pay more than SSP under company sick pay in the contract.
What happens after 28 weeks of SSP?
Your employer has to tell you SSP is ending (form SSP1). You may then be able to claim Universal Credit or new style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Legal basis and sources

For information only. Your contract or specific circumstances may change the result.

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