Statutory Sick Pay Calculator 2026/27
SSP is £123.25 a week (or 80% of your average weekly earnings if lower), paid from the first day you are off sick — the old 3 waiting days were abolished on 6 April 2026. Enter your working pattern and absence to see what you get. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
- Rates: GOV.UK — checked 5 Nov 2026
- Tested against HMRC worked examples
- Your salary never leaves your browser
Your qualifying days — the days SSP is paid on.
Maximum 28 weeks for one period of sickness.
Average gross weekly pay over the 8 weeks before your absence. SSP is the lower of £123.25 a week and 80% of this figure.
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Your Statutory Sick Pay
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- Per week
- —
- Per qualifying day
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- Payable days
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| Weekly SSP rate | — |
|---|---|
| Waiting days excluded | — |
| Payable days | — |
| Total SSP | — |
Rates checked 5 November 2026.
Every figure checked against HMRC's own examples.
Your salary never leaves your browser.
Rates re-checked by hand after every Budget.
Rates: GOV.UK — last checked 5 November 2026 See the official rates
How this is calculated
Weekly SSP is the lower of the 2026/27 flat rate (£123.25) and 80% of your average weekly earnings, divided by the number of days you normally work each week to give a daily rate. Every qualifying day of your absence is paid — zero waiting days are excluded, because the 3 waiting days, the lower earnings limit and the 4-day minimum were all abolished on 6 April 2026 under the Employment Rights Act 2025. SSP runs for a maximum of 28 weeks. Many employers pay more than the statutory floor through occupational sick pay — this calculator shows the legal minimum. Figures use the 2026/27 rates, last checked against GOV.UK on 5 November 2026. See the full method on How we calculate.
Example — 5 days a week, 2 weeks off, £500 a week earnings
| Step | Working |
|---|---|
| Weekly SSP (lower of £123.25 and 80% × £500) | £123.25 |
| Daily rate (£123.25 ÷ 5 qualifying days) | £24.65 |
| Waiting days excluded (2026/27: none) | 0 days |
| Payable days (2 weeks × 5 days) | 10 days |
| Total SSP | £246.50 |
Under the old rules, 3 waiting days would have been stripped out and only 7 days paid (£172.55). The 2026/27 change is worth £73.95 on this example — and it matters most on short absences, where the old waiting days used to wipe out most of the payment.
Related calculators & reading
- Statutory Sick Pay: what you actually get, day by day — the full explainer behind this tool.
- Statutory Maternity Pay calculator — the 39-week SMP schedule.
- Take-home pay calculator — your normal pay, for comparison.
- UK tax rates 2026/27 — every band, threshold and allowance behind these figures.
Questions
How much Statutory Sick Pay will I get?
£123.25 a week, or 80% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower — split across the days you normally work. So if you normally work 5 days a week, that is £24.65 a day. Your employer may pay more through occupational sick pay; this calculator shows the statutory floor.
When does SSP start? Is there a waiting period?
From the first day you are off sick. The old rule — 3 unpaid waiting days before SSP started — was abolished on 6 April 2026, along with the lower earnings limit and the rule that you had to be off for at least 4 days. If a payslip or an older article still mentions waiting days, it is out of date.
How long can I get SSP for?
Up to 28 weeks for one period of sickness. After 28 weeks SSP stops, though you may be able to claim other benefits, and your employer's own sick-pay scheme may run longer.
Do I qualify for SSP?
Since 6 April 2026 there is no minimum earnings limit — SSP is available to all employees who are off sick, whatever they earn. You must be an employee (not self-employed) and follow your employer's notification rules. Agency and zero-hours workers qualify too, based on their normal working pattern.
Is my information sent anywhere?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to a server, stored, or shared.
The rates behind this calculator: 2026/27 rates, sourced from GOV.UK.