Off sick and not being paid? What Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) you're owed in the UK – and how to get it

You were ill, you stayed at home – and your payslip shows nothing for those days? It happens a lot, including to Polish and Romanian workers in warehouses, factories and agency jobs. Many people simply don't know that Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is a legal right. Here is how much SSP is, who qualifies and what to do if your employer refuses to pay.

How much is SSP in 2026

• Up to £123.25 a week or 80% of your normal weekly earnings – whichever is lower.
• It's paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.
• You're paid for every full day off sick that you would normally have worked.
• Your employer uses your average weekly earnings over an 8-week period. If you started recently and haven't had 8 weeks' pay yet, you can still qualify.
• SSP is paid the same way as your wages (weekly or monthly, for example), and tax and National Insurance are deducted.
• If you have more than one job, you may get SSP from each employer.

This is the legal minimum – you can't get less. If your employer has its own company sick pay scheme, you may get more. Check your contract.

Who qualifies for SSP

To get SSP you must:

1. be classed as an employee,
2. have done some work for your employer,
3. have been ill for at least one full working day.

Agency workers may be entitled to SSP too. Don't accept "the agency doesn't pay sick pay" as the final answer.

You won't qualify if you've already received the maximum 28 weeks of SSP or you're getting Statutory Maternity Pay.

How to report sickness

• Tell your employer before the deadline they set – or within 7 days if they haven't set one. Reporting late could cost you some of your SSP.
• If you're off for more than 7 days in a row (including non-working days), you must give your employer a fit note. You can get one from a GP or hospital doctor, a registered nurse, a pharmacist, a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist. It can be printed or digital.
• Keep a copy of how you reported it (text, email, agency app message) – it's your evidence.

Didn't get your SSP? 4 steps

1. Talk to your employer or agency and ask why you weren't paid SSP, or why the amount is lower.
2. Form SSP1: if your employer decides you don't qualify, they must send you form SSP1 within 7 days of your first day off sick. You can use it to support a claim for Universal Credit or ESA.
3. Make a written request for your SSP – short and clear, with your dates of sickness and your fit note details.
4. Contact HMRC: if you still think you're not getting the right amount, contact the HMRC enquiry line. You can also get help from Acas or Citizens Advice.

How Ask Elon will help

Ask Elon is currently in integration and testing and will be available soon. In the app you will:

• upload your payslip and an automatic check looks at things like whether SSP has been paid,
• get a ready-made "SSP payment request" letter template in English, with the explanation in Polish or Romanian if you prefer,
• keep your contract and payslips in one place, so your evidence is always at hand.

Want to know what else to check on your payslip? Read: How to read your payslip and spot underpayment.

Ask Elon is not a trade union and does not replace legal advice or representation. In serious matters, contact Acas, Citizens Advice or a solicitor.

Source: gov.uk – Statutory Sick Pay, as of 23 October 2026. The SSP rate usually changes in April.

This article in other languages: Chorobowe (SSP) – ile Ci się należy (Polski) Indemnizația de boală (SSP) – cât ți se cuvine (Română)