UK Employer's Guide to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is a legal requirement in the United Kingdom, which means employers must provide it to eligible employees who are unable to work due to sickness or injury. SSP is intended to provide financial support to sick employees and help prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the workplace.

How much is statutory sick pay?

• Since 6th April 2023, the rate of statutory sick pay is £109.40 per week.
• The previous rate was £99.35 per week
• It is paid by the employer for up to 28 weeks.

SSP is paid by the employer in the same way as regular wages, usually at the same intervals (e.g. weekly or monthly).

Who is eligible for SSP?

To be eligible for SSP, an employee must be classed as an employee (not a worker or self-employed), earn an average of at least £123 per week before tax, and have been ill for at least 4 consecutive days (including non-working days).

When must an employer be told about employee sickness?

To be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), your employee must inform you of their sickness or injury as soon as possible, usually within 7 days of the first day of absence. This can be by phone, email, or any other means that has been agreed upon with the employee.

If an employee fails to inform their employer within the specified time frame, their entitlement to SSP may be affected.

Is evidence required for SSP?

A self-certification form from the employee is needed for the first 7 consecutive days of absence.

Employers require evidence of sickness from an employee in the form of a fit note after 7 consecutive days of absence. A fit note (previously known as a sick note) can be obtained from a healthcare professional.

Is the rate of statutory sick pay changing?

Statutory sick pay increased from £99.35 per week to £109.40 per week on 6th April 2023. Please note, the government regularly reviews SSP rates and eligibility criteria, usually to take effect from 6th April.

What is the difference between sick pay and SSP?

Sick pay and Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) are related concepts, but they are not the same thing.

Sick pay is a general term that encompasses any payment made by an employer to an employee who is absent from work due to illness or injury. Sick pay can be provided voluntarily by an employer, or it may be required by law in the form of SSP.

SSP, on the other hand, is a specific type of sick pay that is required by law in the UK.

How is statutory sick pay different to paid time off (PTO)?

Paid time off (PTO) is a type of leave that an employer may provide to an employee to cover a variety of reasons, such as holiday, personal or family matters, or sick leave.

The key difference between SSP and PTO is that SSP is a legal requirement that employers must provide to eligible employees, while PTO is a discretionary benefit. While both benefits provide paid time off, they serve different purposes and have different eligibility criteria and rules.

Do you require assistance with SSP as an employer? If you are an employer, the Shorts Payroll service can take care of administering your payroll including Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) on your behalf. Our team is fully equipped to handle the calculations and processing of SSP payments, as well as keep all the necessary records of SSP entitlement and payments that are made. Our team aims to save you time and ensure that your SSP responsibilities are handled efficiently, accurately and in compliance with legal requirements.