Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is a standard rate state benefit payable by the employer from the fifth day of sickness. The first three qualifying days of a period of incapacity for work are called waiting days and there is no SSP payment.

In order to qualify for SSP you must meet the following conditions:

• you have to be sick for at leat four days in a row (including weekends and bank holidays)

• you must earn at least £90 per week or £95 a week from 08/09 tax year. This is to do with National Insurance contributions. (If you have two jobs, you may even be able to get SSP from each of your employers, depending on how many hours hours you work.)

Also you would need to provide your employer with some sort of medical evidence.

The standard rate of SSP is £79.15 a week. The way your employer will work out a daily rate is by dividing the weekly rate by the number of days you would normally work in that week.

It is important to remember that SSP payments is subject to tax and NI just like any other type of earnings.

If your employer does not pay you SSP or pays you less you have to clarify with them the reason.

Company sick pay schemes vary from employer to employer, but most state that you should have been working for at least 3 months before you make your claim for sick pay. After this you would then receive your normal pay during any period that you are off to work due to illness, but this is only up to a specific number of weeks. After that you are probably going to receive only half pay for another further period before taking any sick leave as unpaid.

We hope that you have found this information useful, and if you still have any unanswered questions regarding SSP, please fill free to pop in to our offices in South London, Tulse Hill or Exeter.