Estimate Statutory Sick Pay under the rules in force from 6 April 2026, or check whether two sickness periods link.
£73.95SSP for 3 qualifying days off sick
The working
SSP is paid from the first qualifying day off sick: the old waiting days were abolished from 6 April 2026, and runs for at most 28 weeks. It is paid through payroll and taxed like normal wages.
Basis: SSP rules in force from 6 April 2026 (2026 to 2027 rates). The engine keeps the unrounded daily rate, then rounds the amount to pay up to the nearest penny in line with the current rate table and manual guidance.
GOV.UK manual SSP calculationGOV.UK 2026/27 ratesGOV.UK Statutory Sick PayUse the lower of £123.25 and 80% of average weekly earnings under the rules effective from 6 April 2026.
Divide the weekly rate by qualifying days in the week, multiply by qualifying sick days and round the amount to pay up to the nearest penny.
Periods with a gap of 56 days or less can link. HMRC keeps the eligibility conditions and rate from the first linked period, so use its manual guidance for payment and remaining entitlement.
Inputs
Working
The SSP estimate for the period is £73.95.
HollyHR keeps sickness dates, notes and documents together, ready for a clear hand-off to the person or system running payroll.
The weekly amount is the lower of £123.25 and 80% of average weekly earnings. There is no lower earnings limit under the rules in force from 6 April 2026.
It is payable from the first full qualifying day of sickness for eligible employees. The previous waiting-day rule no longer applies from 6 April 2026.
The calculator keeps the daily division unrounded, multiplies by qualifying sick days and rounds the amount to pay up to the nearest penny. This matches the published 2026/27 rate-table basis.
SSP can normally be paid for up to 28 weeks. Linked sickness periods share that maximum.
Periods can link when the full calendar-day gap between them is 56 days or less. HMRC applies the eligibility conditions and weekly rate set at the start of the first linked period. This calculator checks the date gap but leaves linked payment and remaining entitlement to the HMRC manual method.
No. It provides transparent arithmetic for common cases. Use payroll software or the official calculator for live payroll, transitional cases or a disputed entitlement.
Keep sickness dates, evidence and notes together, ready for each payroll hand-off and return-to-work conversation.