The 2026 reforms changed Statutory Sick Pay for good: from 6 April 2026 there are no waiting days and no Lower Earnings Limit, so SSP is paid from day one and every PAYE employee qualifies. This calculator applies the £123.25/week rate — and the 80%-of-earnings cap for low earners — to work out SSP for a sickness period.
5 min read·Updated Thu Aug 20 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)·🇬🇧 UK
Calculator
Earnings & Working Week
£
Sickness Period
Or enter the number of qualifying days off sick directly:
Statutory Sick Pay
Your result
Enter your earnings and sickness period, then press Calculate.
Embed this calculator
Add this free calculator to your own site — it stays up to date automatically. Copy the snippet below; it drops in a responsive widget plus a credit link back to the source. Free to use with the attribution link kept in place.
By embedding you agree to keep the visible attribution link intact. The widget loads only the calculator — no ads or site navigation.
Key takeaways
Key takeaways · 2026/27
SSP for 2026/27 is £123.25 a week, paid for up to 28 weeks.
From 6 April 2026 there are no waiting days — SSP is paid from the first qualifying day off sick, not the fourth.
The Lower Earnings Limit qualifier is gone — every PAYE employee is now eligible, whatever they earn.
Low earners get the lower of £123.25 or 80% of their average weekly earnings.
How it works
SSP after the 2026 reforms
Statutory Sick Pay changed substantially from 6 April 2026 under the Employment Rights Act 2025. Two long-standing barriers were removed, extending SSP to around 1.3 million more low-paid workers. This calculator applies the new rules to work out SSP for a sickness period on the 2026/27 rate.
No more waiting days
Before April 2026, the first three qualifying days of any sickness were unpaid "waiting days" — SSP only started on day four. That's gone: SSP is now paid from the first qualifying day you're off sick, so short absences are covered from the start.
No Lower Earnings Limit
Previously you had to earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit to get any SSP, which excluded many part-time and low-paid workers. That qualifier is abolished — every PAYE employee now qualifies. To keep SSP from exceeding normal pay for the very lowest earners, those below the old threshold receive the lower of £123.25 or 80% of their average weekly earnings.
SSP is paid per qualifying day. The daily amount is the weekly rate divided by the days you normally work, so a partial month is just the qualifying days you were off, times the daily rate — no waiting days to subtract for 2026/27.
Sources: gov.uk Statutory Sick Pay guidance and Acas — Statutory sick pay changes 2026. Rate £123.25/week; day-one and no-LEL rules in force from 6 April 2026. Rates last verified 20 August 2026. Estimates only.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is SSP for 2026/27?
Statutory Sick Pay is £123.25 a week for 2026/27, paid for up to 28 weeks in a period of incapacity. It's paid for the days you normally work (your qualifying days), so the daily amount is £123.25 divided by your qualifying days per week. Low earners get the lower of £123.25 or 80% of their average weekly earnings.
What are SSP waiting days?
Waiting days were the first three qualifying days of sickness for which SSP was not paid — you only received SSP from the fourth day. From 6 April 2026 waiting days have been abolished under the Employment Rights Act 2025, so SSP is now payable from the very first qualifying day you're off sick. This calculator uses the new day-one rule for 2026/27.
Do I still need to earn a minimum to get SSP?
No — not since 6 April 2026. The old rule required average weekly earnings at or above the Lower Earnings Limit before you qualified for any SSP, which excluded many low-paid and part-time workers. That qualifier has been removed: every PAYE employee is now eligible regardless of earnings. To protect the lowest earners from receiving more in SSP than they'd normally earn, those below the old threshold get the lower of the flat rate or 80% of their average weekly earnings.
How is SSP worked out for a partial month?
SSP is paid per qualifying day, so a partial month is simply the number of qualifying days you were off sick in that month multiplied by the daily rate (the weekly rate divided by your qualifying days per week). With no waiting days for 2026/27, every qualifying day off sick is paid from the first. Enter your sickness start and end dates, or the number of qualifying days off, and the calculator does the rest.
How long can SSP be paid for?
SSP can be paid for a maximum of 28 weeks for a single period of incapacity (or linked periods). After that, SSP stops, and someone still unable to work may need to claim other support such as Universal Credit or, where applicable, an employer's occupational sick pay scheme. This calculator caps the total at 28 weeks of the weekly rate.
Does my employer have to pay more than SSP?
Only if your contract says so. SSP is the legal minimum; many employers offer a more generous occupational (company) sick pay scheme on top, often full or half pay for a set number of weeks. Check your contract or staff handbook. If you only get SSP, this calculator shows exactly what you're entitled to under the 2026/27 rules.
Disclaimer: Figures are estimates based on 2026/27 rates and rules and may change. Verify with HMRC or a qualified adviser before making financial decisions.