In April 2026, there will be changes to the statutory sick pay (SSP) system in the UK Statutory sick pay is a form of financial support provided by employers to employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury It is a legal requirement for employers to pay SSP to eligible employees, and the amount is set by the government Here is everything you need to know about statutory sick pay in April 2026.
Firstly, the rate of statutory sick pay is set to increase in April 2026 Currently, the standard rate of SSP is £96.35 per week, but this is set to rise to £100 per week in April 2026 This increase will provide additional support to employees who are off work due to illness or injury, helping them to cover their living expenses while they are unable to work.
In order to be eligible for SSP, employees must meet certain criteria They must have been off work due to illness or injury for at least four days in a row (including non-working days), and they must earn an average of at least £120 per week Employees must also notify their employer of their illness or injury within the required time frame, usually within seven days of their first day off work.
Employers are responsible for paying SSP to eligible employees, and they can claim back a percentage of the SSP payments from the government Small employers with fewer than 250 employees can claim back 100% of SSP payments, while larger employers can claim back 90% of SSP payments This system helps to ease the financial burden on employers while ensuring that employees receive the support they need when they are off work due to illness or injury.
In April 2026, there will also be changes to the rules around SSP for employees who are off work due to Covid-19 Currently, employees who are unable to work due to Covid-19 are entitled to SSP from the first day of their absence However, in April 2026, this provision is set to end, and employees will no longer be entitled to SSP from the first day of their absence due to Covid-19 statutory sick pay april 2026. Instead, they will be subject to the standard SSP rules, which require them to be off work for at least four days before they are eligible for SSP.
Employees who are off work due to Covid-19 may still be entitled to other forms of financial support, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) or the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) These schemes provide financial assistance to employees and self-employed individuals who are unable to work due to Covid-19, helping them to cover their living expenses while they are off work.
In addition to changes to the rate of SSP and the rules around SSP for employees who are off work due to Covid-19, there will also be changes to the process for claiming SSP In April 2026, the government is set to introduce a new online system for employers to use when claiming SSP for their employees This system will streamline the process for employers, making it easier for them to claim back SSP payments from the government.
Overall, the changes to statutory sick pay in April 2026 will provide additional support to employees who are off work due to illness or injury The increase in the rate of SSP will help employees to cover their living expenses while they are unable to work, while changes to the rules around SSP for employees who are off work due to Covid-19 will align SSP provisions with standard rules The new online system for claiming SSP will also make it easier for employers to claim back SSP payments from the government, helping to ease the financial burden on businesses.
In conclusion, statutory sick pay is an important form of financial support for employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury The changes to SSP in April 2026 will provide additional support to employees, with an increase in the rate of SSP and changes to the rules around SSP for employees who are off work due to Covid-19 The new online system for claiming SSP will also streamline the process for employers, making it easier for them to claim back SSP payments from the government Overall, these changes will help to ensure that employees receive the support they need when they are off work due to illness or injury