What is Statutory Sick Pay? How much can I receive? Am I eligible? If you are unable to work because of your health status, you may be able to claim SSP from your employer. Your Benefits will walk you through what SSP is, how to claim it and how much you can receive with Statutory Sick Pay.
How much is Statutory Sick Pay?
As said previously, the amount of Statutory Sick Pay you can receive is £96.35 per week, for a maximum period of 28 weeks. As such, if you are away from work for 28 weeks (~7 months) you may receive £2697,8.
The following were the rates of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for April 2021:
| Statutory Sick Pay rates by 'qualifying days' in a week as of April 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Unrounded Daily Rate | Number of qualifying days in week |
| 13.7642 | 7 |
| 16.0583 | 6 |
| 19.2700 | 5 |
| 24.0875 | 4 |
| 32.1166 | 3 |
| 48.1750 | 2 |
| 96.35 | 1 |
If you do not believe that you are receiving the right amount of SSP, there are a few recourse. In fact, talk about it with your employer. Moreover, if it’s not in your employment contract, amount, you can contact the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) enquiry line. However, you will need certain documents if you reach out to them by phone, post or online.
What is Statutory Sick Pay?
Statutory Sick Pay is a benefit paid by employers to someone who is too ill to work. If you are eligible, the amount of Statutory Sick Pay you are able to get is £96.35 per week. SSP, like normal wages, is paid by your employer, and at the same rate.
For example, if your wage is paid to you in a weekly manner, your SSP will be paid to you weekly. In addition, if you have multiple jobs, you may be entitled to SSP from each of your employers. Tax and National Insurance are deducted from Statutory Sick Pay.
Am I eligible for Statutory Sick Pay?
In order to receive Statutory Sick Pay, a few conditions need to apply:
- You are classified as an employee and have done work for your employer;
- Receive an income averaging at least £120 per week;
- Have been sick or self-isolating for at least 4 days in a row. This includes non-working days.
All agency workers are entitled to SSP.
You might also be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay if you are self-isolating for the following reasons:
- Either you or someone in your household is exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms, or has tested positive for Covid-19;
- You must self-isolate for at least 4 days;
- If your self-isolation started on or after March 13, you can receive Statutory Sick Pay for every day you were isolating;
- If your self-isolating started before March 13, you can get SSP either from:
- The fourth day in self-isolation where you were sick, in the condition that you were exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms;
- 13 March, if the reason for your self isolation was that someone in your household were exhibiting symptoms ;
- Were notified by the NHS that you have come in contact with someone with Covid-19;
- You are eligible for Statutory Sick Pay 4 days after the beginning of your self-isolation;
- You are eligible to receive SSP for every day you were in self-isolation, if it started on or after May 28;
- Someone in your “support bubble” or “extended household” is exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms or was tested positive for Covid-19;
- Your self-isolation must last at least 4 days before you can be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay;
- You might qualify for SSP for every day you self-isolated, if the self-isolation started on or after 6 July;
- Any days spent away from work before 6 July does not qualify you for Statutory Sick Pay;
- You were advised to self-isolate before surgery by a medical professional;
- You must self-isolate for at least 4 days to qualify for SSP. This includes non-working days.;/li>
- You are eligible to receive SSP for every single day you were self-isolating;
- Any day spent in self-isolation before 26 August does not qualify you for SSP.
You might be able to receive SSP for every day that you’re off work for all the reasons cited above. If you are returning to or entering the UK and are self-isolating for this reason (and no other reason), you are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay.
Exceptions: why you might not qualify
There are a few exceptions which will not make you eligible for Statutory Sick Pay. This includes:
- Having received the maximum amount of SSP, which corresponds to 28 weeks;
- Receiving Statutory Maternity Pay;
- As said above, if the reason for your self isolation is only returning to or entering the UK.
For example: you were travelling abroad and tested positive for Covid-19 upon your arrival to the UK. Here, since the reason for your self-isolation is not solely your return to the UK, you may be entitled to SSP.
Despite this, you might still be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay if you recently started a new job and have not yet received your 8 weeks’ pay.
Linked periods of sickness
Sickness that occurs in regular periods is counted as “linked”. In order for a condition to be considered as “linked”, the two following points must be true:
- The condition lasts for 4 days or more each time;
- The condition, or days of sickness, must be 8 weeks or less apart.
If your linked periods of sickness last more than 3 years, you are no longer eligible for Statutory Sick Pay. However, you might then qualify for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
How to claim Statutory Sick Pay
You will first need to let your employer know that you are unable to work. You need to do so before the deadline that the employer themselves have set. If they have not set a deadline, you have 7 days to inform them of your inability to work.
Statutory Sick Pay proof of sickness
If away from work for a period of more than 28 days in a row (including non-working days), you must provide your employer with proof of sickness. You can acquire a fit note (or sick note, but they are the same thing) from your doctor or hospital doctor.
If your sick leave started before 10 December 2021, you need to provide proof of being off work for more than 7 days in a row (including non-working days).
In case of self-isolation before surgery at a hospital, a letter showing the date of your surgery qualifies as proof of sickness. If the reason for your inability to work is self-isolation because of Covid-19, you will need a different document.
If you are off work for 7 or more days, you can acquire an “isolation note” online from NHS 111. You do not need to contact your General Practitioner for this, or go to the hospital. If the NHS or public health authorities contacted you for coming into contact with someone with Covid-19, the notification itself is your proof of sickness.
I do not qualify for SSP or it is ending
If you are unable to work but do not qualify for Statutory Sick Pay, you might earn other benefits. You can claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). In order to support your application, you can fill out form . Form SSP1 must be filled by your employer, in case you are not eligible for SSP, or your SSP is ending. In case of your SSP ending, your employer must either:
- Send you the form within 7 days of the end of your SSP, if your SSP ends unexpectedly while you are still being sick;
- Send you the form on or before the beginning of week 23, if your SSP is expected to end before your sickness.
If you are not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, your employer must still send you form SSP1. They need to do so within 7 days of you being sick and going off work.
