Employment Rights

Sick pay from day one — the April 2026 SSP rule change explained

If you get sick in 2026, the rules are drastically different. The government has finally abolished the dreaded "waiting days", meaning you are now entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your very first day off.

For decades, the UK's Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) system was heavily criticized. Before April 2026, if you got sick, you received absolutely nothing for the first three days of your illness (known as the "waiting days"). You only started getting paid on day four.

This meant millions of workers simply couldn't afford to take a few days off for the flu or a severe cold, forcing them to go to work sick. The Employment Rights Act has finally fixed this.

What exactly has changed?

There are two massive changes to SSP that came into force in April 2026:

  1. Waiting days are abolished: You are now entitled to SSP from the very first qualifying day of your illness. If you miss one shift due to sickness, you get paid for that day.
  2. The lower earnings limit is removed: Previously, you had to earn at least £123 a week on average to qualify for SSP. If you were a part-time worker earning £100 a week, you got zero sick pay. This limit has been completely removed. All employees now qualify for SSP regardless of how little they earn.

Calculate your exact sick pay

Because the rules have changed, it can be confusing to know exactly how much you should be paid for a week off sick. We've built an updated 2026 calculator to do the math for you.

SSP Calculator →

How much is SSP in 2026/27?

The standard rate for Statutory Sick Pay in the 2026/27 tax year is £123.25 per week. This is paid by your employer in the same way as your normal wages (with tax and National Insurance deducted if applicable).

If you are a part-time worker who earns less than the standard rate (for example, you normally earn £80 a week), you won't get £123.25. Instead, you will receive a percentage of your normal average weekly earnings. The exact percentage is calculated to ensure you don't earn more on sick leave than you do when working.

What if my employer offers Company Sick Pay?

SSP is the legal minimum. Many employers offer "Occupational" or "Company" sick pay, which is usually much better than the legal minimum (for example, paying your full salary for the first 4 weeks of illness).

If your employer's scheme is more generous than the new SSP rules, you will receive the company sick pay. The new rules simply ensure that nobody falls below the safety net of day-one SSP.

How to claim

You don't need to apply to the government for SSP. You simply need to:

  • Tell your employer you are sick within the deadline they set (or within 7 days if they don't have one).
  • Self-certify for the first 7 days of your illness.
  • Provide a "fit note" (sick note) from a doctor if you are ill for more than 7 consecutive days.