Statutory Sick Pay is the legal minimum sick pay in the UK. When employees are too ill to work, SSP provides basic income protection. Many employers offer enhanced sick pay schemes that go beyond statutory requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for SSP, employees must be classed as an employee and have done some work for their employer. They must earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit, be sick for four or more days in a row (including non-working days), and have told their employer within any deadline set or within seven days.
Duration and Payment
SSP is paid for qualifying days you would normally work, up to a maximum of 28 weeks. The first three qualifying days are waiting days with no SSP payment. After that, you receive the flat weekly rate set by the government, paid on your normal pay day with tax and NI deducted.
Employer Obligations
Employers pay SSP in the same way as normal wages. They can no longer reclaim SSP from HMRC except in specific circumstances. If an employee does not qualify for SSP, employers must provide form SSP1 so they can claim benefits instead.