Statutory sick pay or SSP for short is the minimum amount you need to pay your staff when they are off sick. The amount is determined by the government each year and usually increases by a couple of pence or pounds. In 2022/23 tax year this amount is £99.35
There is a qualifying earnings level for SSP which is £120, this means that if a person doesn’t earn this amount on average per week, they won’t be entitled to SSP. Your employer will let you know this by sending you an SSP1 form.
SSP is paid based on the employees working pattern (the days in which they are required to work, and those they are not).
At the start of each absence there are 3 waiting days, these are unpaid days and must be allocated to days the employee usually worked. For instance someone who works Mon-Fri and calls in sick Monday morning, wouldn’t be paid anything for Mon- Wed with their first day of payment being Thursday - if they are still sick.
S - Non working day
S - Non working day
M - £19.87 Waiting day
T - £19.87 Waiting day
W - £19.87 Waiting day
T - £19.87
F - £19.87
S - Non working day
S - Non working day
M - £19.87
T - £19.87
W - £19.87
T - £19.87
F - £19.87
But if I/ the employee only works 3 days a week?
Well, they would still have 3 waiting days, these are applicable to each individual absence no matter how many days they worked, however, SSP is also paid at the same rate and not prorated for those days. For example an employee works Sunday- Tuesday.
S - Non working day
S - £33.1122 - Waiting day
M - £33.1122 - Waiting day
T - £33.1122 - Waiting day
W - Non working day
T - Non working day
F - Non working day
So the employee receives the same amount each week but it’s split over the number of days worked.
The following week would look like this:
S - Non working day
S - £33.11
M - £33.11
T - £33.11
W - Non working day
T - Non working day
F - Non working day
Sickness can only be paid for a maximum number of 28 weeks, after this time, if you remain unwell, your employer should provide you with an SSP1 form which tells you that you have reached the limit and you may be entitled to universal credits or employment and support allowance (ESA).
This blog is about statutory sick, depending on your contract you may be entitled to Occupational Sick Pay (OSP), this is where the employer may have agreed to pay you for more than the minimum. Always refer to your contract if in doubt!
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