Statutory Sick Pay Calculator United Kingdom

If you are too ill to work, your employer must usually pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), a minimum set by the government. It is modest, so this calculator shows what you would receive in 2026/27 for a period off sick and where the limits apply.

How SSP works

SSP is a flat weekly amount paid by your employer for the days you are off sick, for up to 28 weeks in a single period of sickness. It is treated as earnings, so Income Tax and National Insurance apply. SSP used to be unpaid for the first three waiting days of an absence; that wait has been removed, so SSP is paid from the first qualifying day. The calculator applies the weekly rate for each week you are off, up to the 28-week cap.

Who qualifies for SSP

You must be classed as an employee, have done some work under your contract and be off sick on qualifying days. The old minimum earnings condition has been replaced by the 80% rule below, which brings the lowest earners into SSP. You have to tell your employer you are sick within their deadline (or seven days if they have none), and for absences of more than seven calendar days most employers ask for a fit note. If you do not qualify, your employer should give you form SSP1 so you can look at other support such as Universal Credit or new style Employment and Support Allowance.

The low-earner percentage

Where 80% of your average weekly earnings is less than the flat SSP rate, you receive that 80% instead, so the lowest earners are not paid more in sick pay than they normally earn, while everyone above that level gets the full flat rate. Enter your average weekly earnings in the advanced option to see the low-earner figure; leave it blank and the calculator uses the flat rate.

What SSP does not cover

At the flat rate SSP is far below most people’s normal pay, and it stops after 28 weeks, after which you may need Universal Credit or other support. Many employers pay contractual sick pay that is more generous than SSP, so check your contract; the calculator shows only the statutory minimum. If your illness is long-term, plan for the point at which SSP ends.

A worked example

Four weeks off sick pays £123.25 a week, £493 in total. An absence of 30 weeks is capped at 28 weeks of SSP, about £3,451, with nothing further under SSP. A low earner with average weekly earnings of £100 receives 80% of that, £80 a week, because it is below the flat rate.

How to use the calculator

Enter the number of weeks you expect to be off sick. If you are a low earner, add your average weekly earnings in the advanced option to apply the 80% rule. The result shows your weekly SSP, the weeks paid (capped at 28), the total, a monthly equivalent and the statutory maximum.

Common mistakes and how to read the result

SSP is not a percentage of your salary; above the low-earner level it is a flat cash amount whatever you normally earn. The 28-week cap applies to a single period of sickness, and separate absences eight weeks or less apart can be linked and counted together towards it. Treat the result as a gross planning figure: SSP is taxed like wages, so less will reach your bank once PAYE and NI are deducted. Contractual sick pay from your employer usually includes the SSP rather than being paid on top. Compare the weeks paid with the maximum to see how close a long absence is to using up SSP.

If a long absence looks likely, plan for the 28-week point before you reach it. When SSP ends your employer should give you form SSP1, which you can use to claim new style Employment and Support Allowance or support a Universal Credit claim, and applying a little early avoids a gap in income. Check whether you have income protection cover, personally or through your employer, as it can replace income after a waiting period.

Assumptions and limitations

This is an estimate. It applies the 2026/27 flat weekly rate, the 28-week maximum and the low-earner percentage, and assumes each week entered is a full qualifying week. It does not check the qualifying conditions, model linked periods of sickness, apply contractual sick pay or deduct the Income Tax and NI due on SSP. SSP is paid per qualifying day in practice; this tool works in whole weeks. The rate and maximum are stored as parameters sourced from gov.uk and reviewed each year.

About This Statutory Sick Pay Calculator

Use this statutory sick pay calculator to get an instant, accurate estimate. The figures follow official GOV.UK guidance and every rate and threshold is kept up to date for 2026. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.