Category: Sickness absence and disability · Reviewed by Matt Bartlett, Director · Founder · Last reviewed 2026-06-10
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the statutory minimum payment payable by an employer to a qualifying employee absent from work because of sickness. SSP is governed by Part XI of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982. SSP is payable for up to 28 weeks at the statutory weekly rate (£116.75 for 2024/25, increasing each April with CPI), commencing from the fourth qualifying day of absence (the first three “waiting days” are unpaid).
Category: Sickness absence and disability Also known as: SSP Statutory basis: Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, Part XI Related concepts: SSP, Group income protection, Deferred period group IP
Most employees are entitled to SSP. The principal eligibility conditions are: a contract of employment; minimum average weekly earnings of the lower earnings limit (£123 for 2024/25); a period of incapacity for work of at least four consecutive days. SSP is paid by the employer through PAYE; the cost was historically reimbursed in part to small employers via the Percentage Threshold Scheme but that mechanism was abolished from 6 April 2014.
Statutory Sick Pay sits in Part XI of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (ss.151–166). Operational detail is in the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982 (SI 1982/894). The Coronavirus Act 2020 temporarily expanded SSP rights during the Covid pandemic; those temporary expansions expired by 2022.
SSP is a minimum floor. Most mid- and large-sized employers operate occupational sick pay that pays more, typically at full pay for a defined period (e.g. 12 weeks) followed by half pay (e.g. 12 weeks). Group income protection cover often picks up after the SSP period expires, with a 26-week deferred period commonly chosen to align with the end of SSP entitlement.
An employee falls ill on Monday 1 January. The first three working days (Mon–Wed) are unpaid waiting days. From Thursday 4 January, the employee receives SSP at the statutory rate (£116.75 per week / £23.35 per day for 5-day weeks). SSP continues until return to work or expiry of the 28-week maximum. If incapacity continues, the employee moves to Employment and Support Allowance (or in some cases UC) administered by the DWP.
This entry is part of the Apex Insurance Wiki. Last reviewed by Matt Bartlett on 2026-06-10. Next review: 2026-12-10.
Apex Insurance Brokers Limited. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 724952. Registered in England and Wales, Companies House 07014570. This entry provides general information about UK insurance concepts and is not regulated advice. Consult your insurance broker on your specific position.
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