About this calculator
The Statutory Sick Pay Calculator estimates SSP entitlement from qualifying days, waiting days, average weekly earnings, and the statutory weekly rate. It helps employers and employees understand the minimum sick pay position before checking a contract or payroll record. Use this expanded guide when you need more than a quick result. It explains the assumptions behind the Statutory Sick Pay Calculator, the records to gather, and the decisions the estimate can support. It is especially useful for employees checking minimum sick pay and employers estimating payroll obligations for sickness absence. The strongest use of the page is scenario comparison: change one input at a time, compare the output, and keep a note of which assumption changed.
Statutory Sick Pay calculation method
SSP is based on qualifying sick days after the waiting day rules, subject to eligibility and the statutory weekly rate for the relevant tax year. The calculator result depends on the quality of the inputs and on the rule set or formula selected in the calculator above. For practical use, treat the output as a structured estimate: start with the core inputs, review the main outputs, then test the decision points that matter most to your situation. Key decisions include whether SSP may be payable, how qualifying days affect the amount, whether contractual sick pay is more generous.
- daily SSP = weekly SSP rate / qualifying days per week
- SSP due = payable qualifying sick days x daily SSP
- better estimate = accurate inputs + correct rule set + realistic assumptions
- scenario difference = revised result - original result
How to use the SSP calculator
- Enter the first and last day of sickness.
- Enter normal qualifying days worked each week.
- Enter average weekly earnings if eligibility is checked.
- Review waiting days and payable SSP days.
- Compare the result with any contractual sick pay scheme.
- Gather the main inputs first: sickness dates, qualifying days, average weekly earnings.
- Check supporting records such as absence record and fit note where needed before relying on a final number.
- Enter one realistic scenario first, using conservative assumptions where the future is uncertain.
- Review the main outputs: payable SSP days, estimated SSP amount, waiting-day treatment.
- Run at least one alternative scenario so you can see which input changes the answer most.
- Compare the result with GOV.UK and ACAS Statutory Sick Pay guidance or the relevant contract, bill, statement, or professional document.
- Keep the calculation date and assumptions with your notes so you can revisit the estimate when rates, rules, or circumstances change.
Worked example
Five qualifying days
Input: Weekly SSP rate GBP120, five qualifying days, two payable days after waiting days
Calculation: GBP120 / 5 = GBP24 per qualifying day; GBP24 x 2
Result: Estimated SSP is GBP48 for that week.
Part-week absence scenario
Input: An employee is sick for three qualifying days in a week.
Calculation: The weekly SSP rate is apportioned across qualifying days.
Result: The calculator estimates the amount due for the payable days.
Contractual sick pay scenario
Input: The contract gives full pay for two weeks before SSP-only pay.
Calculation: SSP is compared with the contractual scheme.
Result: The employee may receive more than the statutory minimum.
SSP and company sick pay
SSP is the statutory minimum for eligible employees. Some employers provide contractual sick pay that is more generous. If contractual sick pay applies, the SSP calculation is still useful as a minimum reference point.
What to check before relying on the result
A useful Statutory Sick Pay Calculator result starts with the same evidence you would use if you were checking the answer manually. The calculator can organise the arithmetic, but it cannot know whether a payslip is final, a bill is estimated, a quote excludes fees, or a personal circumstance has changed since the last statement.
Before making a decision, compare the calculator result with the source document that controls the real outcome. For this topic, that usually means checking GOV.UK and ACAS Statutory Sick Pay guidance. If there is a difference between the calculator and an official statement, contract, assessment, or professional advice, treat the official document as the stronger source.
- absence record
- Use this as supporting evidence for the calculation. If it is out of date, estimated, or based on a different period, the calculator output may look precise while still being wrong for the decision.
- fit note where needed
- Use this as supporting evidence for the calculation. If it is out of date, estimated, or based on a different period, the calculator output may look precise while still being wrong for the decision.
- payroll history
- Use this as supporting evidence for the calculation. If it is out of date, estimated, or based on a different period, the calculator output may look precise while still being wrong for the decision.
- employment contract
- Use this as supporting evidence for the calculation. If it is out of date, estimated, or based on a different period, the calculator output may look precise while still being wrong for the decision.
Inputs that usually change the answer
The most important input is not always the largest number on the form. Sometimes a date, threshold, percentage, eligibility flag, or timing assumption changes the result more than the headline amount. This is why scenario testing is more useful than a single calculation.
| Input | Why it matters | What to double-check |
|---|---|---|
| sickness dates | It feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied. | Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated. |
| qualifying days | It feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied. | Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated. |
| average weekly earnings | It feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied. | Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated. |
| SSP weekly rate | It feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied. | Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated. |
| linked absence history | It feeds directly into the estimate or changes which rule is applied. | Check the period, units, eligibility, and whether the figure is final or estimated. |
How to interpret the output
The output should be read as a decision aid, not just a number. For Statutory Sick Pay Calculator, the useful question is often what the result means for timing, affordability, eligibility, comparison, or next steps.
- payable SSP days
- Use this output alongside the other results rather than in isolation. A monthly amount, percentage, date, or payback figure can look acceptable until fees, timing, evidence, or eligibility conditions are added.
- estimated SSP amount
- Use this output alongside the other results rather than in isolation. A monthly amount, percentage, date, or payback figure can look acceptable until fees, timing, evidence, or eligibility conditions are added.
- waiting-day treatment
- Use this output alongside the other results rather than in isolation. A monthly amount, percentage, date, or payback figure can look acceptable until fees, timing, evidence, or eligibility conditions are added.
- contractual comparison prompt
- Use this output alongside the other results rather than in isolation. A monthly amount, percentage, date, or payback figure can look acceptable until fees, timing, evidence, or eligibility conditions are added.
Scenarios worth comparing
A single estimate is a snapshot. A better approach is to save a base case, then adjust one assumption at a time. This shows whether the result is stable or whether a small change in timing, rate, usage, income, or cost creates a very different answer.
| Scenario | Change one assumption | What the comparison shows |
|---|---|---|
| Base case | Use the best current evidence. | Shows the result you would expect if nothing important changes. |
| Conservative case | Use lower income, higher cost, slower growth, or less favourable timing. | Shows whether the decision still works with less optimistic assumptions. |
| Improved case | Use the realistic upside, such as lower cost, better rate, higher usage, or stronger evidence. | Shows the potential benefit without treating it as guaranteed. |
Common mistakes and edge cases
Most errors come from using the right formula with the wrong assumption. Dates can be counted differently, rates can change, official thresholds can move, and real bills or contracts often include conditions that a simple calculator cannot infer automatically.
- Rules changed from 6 April 2026 for eligibility and day-one entitlement.
- Check this point before using the estimate for a payment, claim, purchase, application, employment decision, or health-related decision.
- Linked periods of sickness can affect the calculation.
- Check this point before using the estimate for a payment, claim, purchase, application, employment decision, or health-related decision.
- Contractual sick pay can exceed SSP.
- Check this point before using the estimate for a payment, claim, purchase, application, employment decision, or health-related decision.
- Average weekly earnings must be calculated from payroll records.
- Check this point before using the estimate for a payment, claim, purchase, application, employment decision, or health-related decision.
Next steps after calculating
Once you have a result, write down the key assumptions and compare them with GOV.UK and ACAS Statutory Sick Pay guidance. If the number affects a deadline, tax return, benefit claim, employment issue, medical question, finance agreement, or major purchase, use the calculator as preparation for a more formal check.
For lower-stakes use, the next step may simply be comparing two or three scenarios. For higher-stakes use, the next step should be checking the official guidance, speaking to the relevant organisation, or getting qualified advice before acting.
Important edge cases
- Rules changed from 6 April 2026 for eligibility and day-one entitlement.
- Linked periods of sickness can affect the calculation.
- Contractual sick pay can exceed SSP.
- Average weekly earnings must be calculated from payroll records.
Limitations
This calculator is for general information only and is not employment or payroll advice. This is general employment and payroll information, not legal advice. The calculator is designed to support understanding and planning, but it cannot verify documents, predict future rule changes, or account for every exception. Use it as an estimate and check the official source before acting where the result matters.
- Eligibility depends on employment status and average earnings.
- Linked periods of sickness can change the calculation.
- Check current GOV.UK guidance and payroll records for exact entitlement.
- Check GOV.UK and ACAS Statutory Sick Pay guidance for current rules, rates, definitions, and eligibility where relevant.
- Do not rely on a single scenario where income, costs, dates, rates, usage, or health circumstances may change.
- Keep records of the inputs used so that the estimate can be reviewed later.
Frequently asked questions
Are the first sick days unpaid?
Waiting day rules can mean SSP is not paid for the first qualifying days of a period of incapacity.
Can company sick pay be higher?
Yes. An employment contract or policy may provide more than statutory sick pay.
Do part-time workers get SSP?
They may qualify if they meet the earnings and employment conditions.
Is SSP the same as full pay?
No. SSP is a statutory minimum. Some employers provide higher contractual sick pay.
Do agency or part-time workers qualify?
They may qualify depending on worker status, earnings, and the current SSP rules.
When is a fit note needed?
Employees usually self-certify for short absences and may need a fit note for longer absences under current rules.
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