Statutory Sick Pay
What is Statutory Sick Pay?
Statutory Sick Pay or SSP is not really a welfare benefit; employers will pay their employees SSP if they are too unwell to work.
Can I claim SSP?
You do not need to put in a claim to get SSP as employers have to pay you SSP for a maximum of 28 weeks if you meet the criteria - this is the law. You get £96.35 per week if you get SSP, but some employers will pay more. This is called contractual sick pay - you should check your employment contract to see what your employer will pay you if you get sick. Your employer will send you a form called an SSP1 when your SSP is about to end, and you should claim Employment and Support Allowance if you are still too unwell to work when SSP stops.
You do not need to put in a claim to get SSP as employers have to pay you SSP for a maximum of 28 weeks if you meet the criteria – this is the law.
You can't get SSP if you are getting any of the following benefits:
- Employment and Support Allowance,
- Incapacity Benefit,
- Severe Disability Allowance,
- Contribution based Jobseeker's Allowance,
- Statutory Maternity Pay,
- Maternity Allowance,
- Statutory Paternity Pay,
- Statutory Shared Parental Pay, or
- Statutory Adoption Pay.
