It is paid from the first full day of sickness absence, for up to 28 weeks. However, they are entitled to statutory sick pay for any qualifying days from 6 April onwards. Their employer should agree with them which days count as qualifying days. An eligible worker is entitled to statutory sick pay from 6 April if this was a qualifying day.

• This can cause confusion, so it is important to be aware of your rights to make sure you get all your entitlements.
• It can seem a little overwhelming trying to figure out all the jargon around linked periods and SSP.
• You will not be paid for the first 3 days of being ill, when eligible it will begin from day 4.
• If an employee has been off work sick, and another period of sickness takes place within 8 weeks, then they may be considered to be linked.
• This is called a linked period of sickness, and waiting days may not apply.

Being off sick for the same reason more than once might be a ‘linked period of sickness’. Eligible workers are entitled to whichever rate is lower. Due to the lower https://getusainvest.com/panel-for-managing-servers-web-hosting-advantages-and-application.html earnings limit, Ash didn’t receive statutory sick pay before 6 April. Some workers might not have a regular pattern of work. Before the law changed, the first 3 qualifying days were called waiting days.

• Due to the lower earnings limit, Ash didn’t receive statutory sick pay before 6 April.
• It can be difficult to understand the rules around your entitlement to this payment.
• Some employers may offer company sick pay, but this cannot be lower than the SSP amount.
• Statutory sick pay is the minimum amount employers must pay.

Graduating in 1998, her studies fuelled a deep interest in the evolution of the laws that support safe and fair workplaces in the UK. Her interest in workers’ rights was sparked while studying industrial history at Stirling University. Calculating and applying the criteria for SSP should be based on the situation at the time of the first PIW.

If you’re not eligible or your SSP ends

These arrangements allow employees to gradually increase their working hours or duties until they are ready to return to their full role. You’re no longer eligible for SSP if you have a continuous series of linked periods that lasts more than 3 years. An employer should be understanding if there’s a delay getting a fit note. An employer might ask a worker for a fit note before they’ll pay statutory sick pay. In a linked period of sickness, the initial period’s average weekly earnings will be used for subsequent calculations. Average weekly earnings are calculated based on the 8 weeks before the sickness absence.

The days they are contracted to work for class as qualifying days. Once you understand how periods of incapacity work, you can better understand ssp waiting days. Anything under 4 days does not count as a period of incapacity for work. Everyone should understand how SSP works and how it is calculated to ensure statutory rights in the workplace are being met.

If you do not qualify for SSP, your employer must send you form SSP1 within 7 days of your first day off sick. You can use form SSP1 to support your application. 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). If you have regular periods of sickness, they may count as ‘linked’.

• SSP entitlement is an integral part of UK employment law.
• Our guide on statutory sick pay and linked periods of sickness clearly explains linked periods of sickness and SSP entitlements.
• The amount of SSP is fixed, regardless of whether an employee is full-time or part-time – meaning part-time employees receive SSP at the same rate as full-time employees.
• Eligible workers are entitled to whichever rate is lower.

Linked periods of sickness

If your employer does not offer occupational sick pay, every penny counts during an absence due to sickness. This can cause confusion, so it is important to be aware of your rights to make sure you get all your entitlements. There are also some scenarios where workers will not have any waiting days to claim SSP. Statutory sick pay https://seonote.info/how-to-achieve-maximum-success-with/ (SSP) is a statutory employment right for workers entitled to the payment. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Telling your employer

Phased returns to work are a common approach used by employers in the UK to support employees who are recovering from illness or injury. The only time SSP may be paid during waiting days is when an employee has received SSP within the last 8 weeks. Our guide on statutory sick pay and linked periods of sickness clearly explains linked periods of sickness and SSP entitlements. If an employee has been off work sick, and another period of sickness takes place within 8 weeks, then they may be considered to be linked.

It can seem a little overwhelming trying to figure out all the jargon around linked periods and SSP. You will not be paid for the first 3 days of being ill, when eligible it will begin from day 4. SSP entitlement is an integral part of UK employment law. Sign up for our weekly payroll newsletter to keep informed about all the changes in the payroll industry. These days do not need to be working days, and they can include weekends and public holidays. To qualify for SSP, an employee must be off work for at least four consecutive days due to illness which constitutes a PIW.