Once the employee has been off for 3 working days in a row, they will start receiving SSP on the 4th day. This is called a linked period of sickness, and waiting days may not apply. These first 3 waiting days are the days when your employer does not have to pay SSP. Those who qualify for SSP will receive a weekly sick https://www.softarmy.com/46497/download-windows-password-breaker-enterprise.html pay rate of £118.75 in 2025 which is paid directly to them.
If an employee has more than one period of sickness within an 8 week period, they may be classified as linked periods of sickness. SSP linked periods can be particularly confusing for both employers and employees. Sick employees who are unable to take their holiday can carry over up to four weeks’ entitlement to the next year, which must be used within 18 months.
- Eligible workers are entitled to whichever rate is lower.
- The amount of SSP is fixed, regardless of whether an employee is full-time or part-time – meaning part-time employees receive SSP at the same rate as full-time employees.
- Their employer should agree with them which days count as qualifying days.
- You can fill this out if you are an employer, or an employee unsure if your sick pay has been correctly worked out.
- Our guide on statutory sick pay and linked periods of sickness clearly explains linked periods of sickness and SSP entitlements.
So the employer must pay statutory sick pay for Thursday, Friday and Monday. As they do not work weekends, their qualifying days are Thursday, Friday and Monday. If a worker is eligible, they are entitled to statutory sick pay from the first day of sickness absence. Workers who pay their own tax through self assessment are not eligible to receive statutory sick pay. Statutory sick pay is the minimum amount employers must pay. Both of the periods of sickness should be for 4 or more consecutive days for this exception to apply.
Who Doesn’t Qualify For SSP?
These arrangements allow employees to gradually increase their working hours or duties until they are ready to return to their full role. You’re no longer eligible for SSP if you have a continuous series of linked periods that lasts more than 3 years. An employer should be understanding if there’s a delay getting a fit note. An employer might ask a worker for a fit note before they’ll pay statutory sick pay. In a linked period of sickness, the initial period’s average weekly earnings will be used for subsequent calculations. Average weekly earnings are calculated based on the 8 weeks before the sickness absence.
Qualifying Days
Graduating in 1998, her studies fuelled a deep interest in the evolution of the laws that support safe and fair workplaces in the UK. Her interest in workers’ rights was sparked while studying industrial history at Stirling University. Calculating and applying the criteria for SSP should be based on the situation at the time of the first PIW.
Being off sick for the same reason more than once might be a ‘linked period of sickness’. Eligible workers are entitled to whichever rate is lower. Due to the lower earnings limit, Ash didn’t receive statutory sick pay before 6 April. Some workers might not have a regular pattern of work. Before the law changed, the first 3 qualifying days were called waiting days.
Linked periods of sickness
It is paid from the first full day of sickness absence, for up to 28 weeks. However, they are entitled to statutory sick pay for any qualifying days from 6 April onwards. Their employer should agree with them which days count as qualifying days. An eligible worker is entitled to statutory sick pay from 6 April if this was a qualifying day.
For sickness absences that started before 6 April 2026
Statutory sick pay can be paid for a maximum of 28 weeks, after which time your right to sick pay will run https://ishanmishra.in/how-to-optimize-your-casino-website-for-maximum-conversions/ out. The payment is the minimum amount employers should pay workers who are off work due to sickness. Statutory sick pay is paid out to eligible employees when they are off ill.
Understanding Linked Periods
If your employer does not offer occupational sick pay, every penny counts during an absence due to sickness. This can cause confusion, so it is important to be aware of your rights to make sure you get all your entitlements. There are also some scenarios where workers will not have any waiting days to https://www.softforsale.com/68629/download-vodusoft-zip-password-recovery.html claim SSP. Statutory sick pay (SSP) is a statutory employment right for workers entitled to the payment. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.