Information » Money » Money while you work » Sick Pay
- You get statutory sick pay (SSP ) from your employer for up to 28 weeks if you are off work sick and aged 16 and over
- You must be able to prove that you cannot work because you are too ill or disabled. Discuss what you need to do with your employer
- The 28 weeks you are off sick do not have to run together. For example, if you are off sick with gaps of eight weeks or less, your days off sick are added together to count towards the 28 weeks. If you are off sick more than once with more than eight weeks in between, the periods you were off sick are not added together and the 28 weeks starts being counted again each time
- To qualify for SSP, you must earn as much each week as the national insurance lower earnings limit (See NATIONAL INSURANCE)
- If you are self-employed, you are not entitled to SSP
- You cannot get SSP if you are getting maternity allowance or statutory maternity pay
- You will not get SSP for the first three days you are unable to work
- SSP is set at a fixed rate. See the Citizens Advice Bureau's Advice Guide for the current rate
- If you are off work longer than 28 weeks, you might be able to claim incapacity benefit (See INCAPACITY BENEFIT)
- If you are not sure if you are entitled to SSP, talk to your employer or the Citizens Advice Bureau
