What is Statutory Sick Pay?

Who is eligible for statutory sick pay?
In order to be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, an employee must meet certain criteria*:

• The person must be clssed as an employee and have done some work for the relevant employer
• The employee must have been ill for at least four days in a row
• The employee must earn an average of at least £123 per week.

How much is statutory sick pay?
Statutory Sick Pay is currently set at a mimimum of £99.35* per week for up to 28* weeks. It is paid by employers in the same way as wages, usually on the employee's normal pay day.  Different rules apply to agricultural workers.

How to claim statutory sick pay
In order to claim Statutory Sick Pay, an employee must inform their employer within the deadline they set, or within 7 days if the employer has not set one.

You must give your employer a fit note if you're off work for more than 7 days in a row (including non-working days).

You can get a fit note (also referred to as a sick note) from your GP, hospital or other relevant healthcare professional

Once the employee has informed their employer, the employer will then decide whether or not to pay the employee Statutory Sick Pay. If the employee is eligible, the employer will pay the employee the full amount due.

What happens if I am not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay?
If an employee is not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, they may be able to claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). These are benefits provided by the government for people who are unable to work due to illness or disability.

In conclusion, Statutory Sick Pay is a benefit administered by the UK government and paid by employers to employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury. In order to be eligible, the employee must have been employed by the employer for at least four days in a row before they became ill or were injured and must earn at least £123 per week. If an employee is not eligible, they may be able to claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance.

* = All information correct at the time of writing, please check :https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay for the most up-to-date guidance.